1. Determine if you want a traditional kilt or a fashion/casual kilt?
2. Research at least two companies and make sure you compare ‘apples to apples’.
3. Choose your tartan: Please contact MacIsaac Kiltmakers for assistance in choosing tartan.
4. Solidify your position in the kilt maker’s schedule: Deposit required
5. Provide your measurements to the kilt maker.
6. MacIsaac Kiltmakers will contact you to explain your options for accessories.
7. Invoice balance to be settled prior to shipment.

A traditional kilt is a kilt made from Scottish worsted wool, using 8 yards of heavyweight tartan cloth, hand stitched, hand pleated, . A kilt made this way using traditional methods preserves the Scottish tradition and preserves the art of traditional kilt making.

There are several reasons why traditionalists prefer this type of kilt versus a light weight or a more casual kilt. It is no secret that a full 8 yard kilt will “hang” and “swing” better than the 5 yard kilt as the full 8 yards allows for deeper pleating at the back.

Traditionally, all kilts were fully hand stitched by kilt makers, which is a lengthy process, taking on average approximately 15 hours for one kilt. Customers have often commented on how great it makes them feel knowing that the hands of a kilt maker have hand-stitched their kilt. There is no doubt that, when compared, like for like, a hand stitched kilt is still superior in finish to a machine-stitched kilt. Even though the difference is not noticeable to the untrained eye the difference is still evident to people who understand the subtleties.

MacIsaac Kiltmakers provides a complimentary Kilt Passport with every new kilt and in this passport are the details about who actually made the kilt, where it was made, for whom it was made, and when it was made…...information that will be very significant when this heirloom begins its journey down through the generations. This passport provides you space to document where and when you wear your kilt for the first times, and it also provides information on ‘How to care for a kilt’. This is also very important to the “newcomers” of the “kilted” world.

Highland Wear styles depend on the type of functions where you intend to wear your kilt. Kilt outfits are distinguished by the style of jacket worn, and although the kilt remains constant, the overall look of the entire outfit can take on a number of “different looks”. The most common choices are the Prince Charlie jacket which is a more formal look, worn as evening wear or to 'black tie' occasions; or the Argylljacket which is semi-formal day or evening wear, and often thought of as more the equivalent of a two-piece suit or business attire.

The next difference between the outfits is the type of sporran worn with it. There are three main categories of sporrans: Full Dress sporrans, mainly worn with a formal Prince Charlie outfit; Semi-Dress sporrans, suitable for most occasions, perhaps with an Argyll jacket; and Daywear sporrans, which are less formal and can also be worn with an Argyll jacket, sweater, or an open neck shirt.

High Quality is really left up to interpretation. Any company can say it, right! The following points represent some guidelines that most kilt makers would agree on when crafting a custom kilt.

• Hand-sewn: Small, even, tight, hidden stitches
• Custom made for maximum comfort and perfect fit
• The finest worsted wool tartan from Scotland
• Top Quality leather buckles and straps for adjustments
• Meticulous Hand workmanship
• A user-friendly and accurate measuring system

These are the areas where MacIsaac Kiltmakers have excelled and have built their business on. Our 100% Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee gives you the peace of mind that the above list is followed.

Rosemary MacIsaac grew up on Cape Breton Island and began sewing very intricate and complex garments at the young age of 14. After completing 4 years of university studying pattern making, tailoring and textiles at St. Francis Xavier University (One of Canada’s top universities), she graduated with a degree in Home Economics (BSc. H Ec.). Rosemary decided to learn the art of kiltmaking when her daughter started Highland Dancing at the age of 5. She was taught the ancient craft from Kay Phillips in Sydney, Cape Breton. In 1995, Rosemary officially began her kiltmaking business and now is considered to be one of the finest traditional kiltmakers in the world. In March, 2006 she completed her 1000 th custom made kilt. That experience speaks volumes for Rosemary’s commitment and capability, not to mention the demand around the world for her unmatched quality garments.

Kelly Gillis was taught to sew by her grandmother when Kelly was 5 years old. Her hands have never looked back or stopped moving. She began to refine her sewing skills in Junior High and continued sewing after university making office clothing for herself. Kelly learned the art of Quilting in the early 1990’s and has since made many quilts for herself, her family, and non-profit organizations for fundraisers. She always loved the process of hand quilting and the challenge of how many hand sewn stitches she could get into 1 inch (usually 11 to 13 stitches per inch). It was like a dream come true when Kelly was given the opportunity to apprentice as a kilt maker under the guidance of MacIsaac Kiltmakers. Rosemary and Kelly are enjoying a career in a field they absolutely love, and they feel very proud and honored to tell others that their occupation is a “Kilt Maker”. So! Let me ask you, “Do you have any doubts that your kilt will be traditional, authentic, the highest quality, and made with the hands from a passionate kiltmaker who cares about the art of kiltmaking?”

The short and absolute answer is, “yes”. We take the measuring function extremely seriously. It is the backbone to ensuring we receive accurate measurements and appropriate information. You will realize very quickly if you research other kiltmakers on Internet that MacIsaac Kiltmakers has invested a lot of time and resources into ensuring the highest degree of measurement accuracy. We guarantee it 100%.

The kilt is without a doubt one of the most versatile and forgiving garments that exist today. Our kilts are made using the traditional methods built into the design which will allow for adjustments that will accommodate weight loss, weight gain, or possibly even weight shift. The buckles also provide room for adjustment, so please don’t ever feel threatened by future shifts or changes in your body. MacIsaac Kiltmakers have performed some miraculous accomplishments for many, many people who thought that their “old kilts” couldn’t be worn again. These future adjustments can be accommodated if the kilt is originally constructed using the traditional kilt making methods so please keep this in mind when deciding who will have benefit of your kilt order.

There are some accessories that we recommend as a way to finish off your kilt….some would say the minimum requirement when wearing a kilt. People normally wear a kilt as part of an outfit and some accessories complete the outfit the same way a necktie finishes a man’s suit. These accessories include a sporran, kilt belt, buckle, kilt hose (socks),and hose flashes.

Optional accessories include a kilt shirts, kilt pins and other jewelry, Glengarry or Balmorals (head wear), Ghillie brogues (shoes), and a Sgian Dubh (knife). Of course the Prince Charlie jacket ( with waistcoat or vest ), the Argyll jacket, or the Tweed jacket are all appropriate items to consider when looking for that perfect image.

Please refer the Accessories section of the website. (link)

Ghillie brogues are like any other type of footwear, in that they are available in many different qualities and values. We don’t offer the cheaper versions because they are not going to provide the longevity nor comfort that the better qualities will provide. That being said, the ghillies that we offer are made using the finest leather upper, lining, and soles. The heels come complete with a steel “heel saver” that ensures many years of comfortable outings. The Ghillie design is unique in that it is made with no tongue, and it has long laces that start by twisting the laces four times, then pull tight to produce a vertical thong about one inch long. Wrap the laces around behind your ankle a couple of wraps, and tie at the outside with the remaining lace and toggle left to dangle.

Kilt Hose are generally thicker than normal socks, so it is wise to allow an extra half size when choosing brogues or shoes to wear with them. They should be pulled to about 2-3 finger widths beneath the knee cap.

Flashes are brightly colored strips of wool, cotton or matching tartan that hang down from the folds in the kilt hose. They are in effect a decorative garter that assists in holding the hose up. Bring the hose cuff down to cover half the flash with only the bottom half showing.

Ever since Queen Victoria reputedly used her hat pin to secure a gentleman soldiers kilt on a blustery day, a kilt pin has been worn with a traditional kilt. Its style is entirely a matter of your personal choice. It should be on the right hand side of the kilt, pinned through the front apron only (to prevent tearing) about 4 inches from the bottom of the kilt and 2 inches in from the fringe.

Firstly, please contact us for our price list. All of our kilts are custom made and prices vary. More importantly, we never compromise on quality. Our kilts, like all our products, are made to the highest standards in the industry, both in their materials and in their manufacture and our kilts and outfits are competitively priced. We have never had a customer complain about MacIsaac Kiltmakers’ kilts being priced too high.

We offer a 100% Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee. MacIsaac Kiltmakers built their business by word-of-mouth which is even more important than our 100% Satisfaction guarantee. The last thing we can afford is an unhappy customer speaking poorly about our service and quality. Because of this, you are guaranteed to receive a high quality kilt built to our high standards. We are trusting that you will also tell your friends and family about your kilt outfit, and your experience in dealing with MacIsaac Kiltmakers.

We would welcome a visit from you at any time. As matter of fact, there is no need to call ahead. Feel free to drop in at anytime, we would be glad to show you our kilt shop.

Note: You may want to call ahead if you are expecting to meet with a particular person from MacIsaac Kiltmakers. We are periodically traveling to Scottish Games and Highland Dance Competitions throughout the year (mostly weekends). Weekdays are typically when a kiltmaker will be present, so please stop in for a chat and a quick demonstration of our work.

From the date of shipment, you have 30 days to evaluate your purchase. Provided it has not been damaged, used, or worn (other than to try on for size) and no labels have been removed, you may return it in its original packaging for an exchange or repair at your discretion.

This applies to all goods EXCEPT those made-to-order (e.g. most tartan products and including cut fabrics) which will be refunded or exchanged only if defective or not conforming to details explicitly advertised on our site. Please note that we will refund our original shipping charges or the costs of your return (e.g. postage or re-import duties) only if the goods are in some way faulty. For other returns you will be responsible for all return costs, including any re-importation duties or other taxes.

In our experience, deliveries mostly arrive without further duties or taxes being charged. But your local customs authorities may charge import duties in individual cases. Like all international retailers, we can take no responsibility for such taxes, or for any goods seized by import authorities due to local regulations. If you are in any doubt, please check with your local authorities before placing any order.

Deadlines are extremely important to meet since they are often a result of a special occasion. Let’s discuss the delivery date right away. We do not miss delivery dates once we have put you in our schedule. We have a process that works well and we are happy to share it with you once you have made contact with us.

We often have enough flexibility in our production schedule to accommodate a rush order. We will never compromise another customers delivery date for a second rush order.

If you are at a point in the process where you feel the need for a rush order, we would recommend the following:

• Decide soon so you can begin the process and so you can be entered into the production schedule. (see 7 steps to buying a kilt )
• Speak to MacIsaac Kiltmakers to make sure that delivery can be guaranteed.

Note: There are no surcharges for a RUSH order unless kilt fabric has to be expedited from our weavers.

Some delivery services such as FedEx offer online order tracking, but this is not available with free or lower priced shipping methods. If you select such a service we will email you the tracking number at the time of dispatch. You will also find this information in our Club Members' section - register or log-in at the top of any page, using the same email address used for your order.

• How do I get to feel and see the actual tartan material?
• Where do you purchase your tartans from?
• Why do colour shades of tartans vary?

Selecting a tartan can be bewildering at first sight. But choosing is easy and fun once you know how. We suggest you first decide on the following issues.

• Do you want a tartan associated with your family background, or do you care more about the colours? If the family link is important to you, read further here about finding family or clan tartans, and what to do if no exact match exists.
• What weight of material do you want? Once you've decided whether you want the most common Heavy weight wool, or would prefer Medium weight wool, you will have simplified your choice greatly. Most mills stock only a selection of tartans in only some weights. So if your heart is set on a special pattern you may have to be flexible on the weight of cloth that is available. But in general we suggest choosing the ideal weight first and then we will proceed from there.
• Is the exact shade important to you, for example, to match another garment? If so, it is best to find out which weaving mill manufactured that other fabric, as the "same" tartan produced by two different mills can vary greatly. The reason is historical, as colours and 'thread counts' were often only loosely defined. Also, just like paints and wallpapers, one batch can be different to the next. And computer monitors seldom display perfectly. So we strongly advise that you order a swatch of the tartan/s you like (before having your kilt made) to check the actual colour.

Most people prefer a family tartan for reasons of tradition. But if you can't find one you like, there are many alternatives. To find your family tartans, just key your surname into one of the following sites:
http://www.tartans.scotland.net
http://www.tartansauthority.com/web/site/home/home.asp

Unless your name is fairly common, and spelled in the most orthodox way, the chances are that you may not find a tartan under the exact same name. Don't worry! The spelling of names was only recently formalized, and names mutated as members migrated. So many spelling variations exist for the same family name. It's still the same family by blood, so please don't get hung up on spelling.

Also, Scottish clans have a tradition of ' Septs'which are other families by descent or alliance to which a Clan gave protection. If your family name appears as a Sept of one of the official clans, it conventionally entitles you to wear their tartan. Our tartan finder is designed to help you identify such associations, but it might do no harm to try keying in alternative spellings of your family names.

It is also common to choose a tartan derived not with your 'current' surname, but perhaps with your mother's maiden name, or that of another forebear such as a grandparent. Or you might choose to select the tartan from a member of your partner's lineage instead. We would encourage you to look widely, and choose a pattern that is not just historically 'correct' but also pleasing to you!

There are many different weights of tartans available but, in our opinion, there are only two that are suitable when having a man’s kilt made for you, so tartan weights are extremely important to decide on quite early in the decision making process. We do not use light weight tartans because they don’t hang or swing properly, and really don’t stay sharp, crisp, and straight. We’ve heard it said that after a relatively short time being seated, the lightweight kilts look like they’ve been slept in…!!! Perhaps not the look you’re hoping for. Most kilt wearers can tell right away who is wearing a lightweight kilt. Lightweight fabrics of all kinds are used mostly in non-traditional kilts or fashion kilts. We do not make fashion kilts since most, if not all, are made with machines and that is against our belief.

We use tartans that are woven in a range of weights from Medium Weight (13-14 oz) to Heavy Weight (15-16 ounce). For a kilt, most people choose Heavy weight, which gives the ideal balance of warmth, pleat crease-retention, durability, swing, and ease of wear.

This is a great question that deserves an answer that is usually difficult to find. There are well over 4000 tartan designs that are registered. However, there are only about 500 tartans that have ever been woven. You are often led to believe that you can pick any of these 4000 tartans for your kilt, which is not quite true. They are available….technically, but you often must order a significant amount of tartan that results in higher costs and extended wait times. There are advantages to choosing a tartan that is already woven, but only a quick contact with the weavers will determine this so, please ask us, we would appreciate the opportunity to help in your research and decision making process .

That being said, we do offer a special weave service whereby MacIsaac Kiltmakers can have special tartans designed, woven, and registered uniquely for you and your family. Please don’t hesitate to ask us, we would be most happy to help you determine the possibilities available to you.

You may find that the actual colour of a piece of tartan fabric differs from what you expect, compared to what you've seen on a computer display; or compared to the 'same' tartan from a different weaving mill; or even compared to a previous piece from the same source. This is not uncommon and is becoming consistently a marketing approach for the weavers who want to build loyalty to “their shades” of colors in the tartans.

Tartans are made up of two main ingredients namely the sett [a number of threads crossed by a number of threads that make up the actual design] and the colors. The sett is the foundation of the tartan and this is what controls the tartan after its design is completed and registered with the Tartan Authority. It is this registered sett that the weavers must adhere to in order that the authenticity of the tartan remains constant, regardless of which reputable weaver actually weaves the cloth. Without this commitment to maintaining the designs as they’ve been registered, eventually we could see several clearly different tartans that are supposed to be the same but have drifted from the standard because of someone’s personal interpretation.

Even today, just as with any textile manufacturer such as carpet, one batch might not quite match another exactly, but with technology finding its way into the weavers’ looms, the consistency we experience from our weavers is extremely good. However, when viewing “actual” samples on your computer screen, well these can never display reliably... just look at a range of television sets in the shop side by side, and see how the colours vary!

So the only advice we can give is that if you are making a major purchase such as a kilt and you are concerned with exactly what the colours will be, please order a fabric swatch from us in advance. We do not charge for these sample swatches.