The Big Interview with Kilts 4 U
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From a garage in Glasgow to three stores, a global Scotland tartan waitlist and the only kiltmaker with the official licences for Celtic, Rangers and the Scottish national team, Kilts 4 U’s Iain reflects on rewriting what Highland dress looks like.
YSW: How did Kilts 4 U begin and evolve?
It began very humbly from our garage. We recognised mainly two things – there was very little unique product or design in the market and virtually no matching children’s outfits. Those were the gaps we set out to fill. Over the years, we’ve set ourselves apart from the competition by listening to and focusing on the ever-changing trends and styles in the sector. We’ve always tried to be ahead of what’s coming rather than catching up with what’s already happened.
YSW: Unlike many kiltmakers, you focus on entire wedding parties. How does that change the planning process?
We always start the groom or partner. It’s the biggest day of their life too and that focus shapes everything else. Once we have their vision, we build the rest of the party around it. The logistics of coordinating kilts for a full wedding party – groomsmen, ushers and fathers – is a big job but we always remember that most couples have never done this before. Once we’ve spoken through the logistics of the day and where every family member is travelling from, we build that into collection times as well as pre-wedding fittings. Nobody gets left behind.
YSW: How do couples typically decide between hiring and buying?
Many of our couples wish to buy so there’s no limit on choice. We build the guests’ outfits around the colour and spec of the groom or partner’s outfit to match the colour theme of the wedding. When everything is coordinated from that starting point, it just works.
YSW: Tell us about Frank’s Gold Room. What makes the made-to-measure experience there different?
We rolled out the concept in all our stores around five years ago. The vision was simple. There are two people getting married so why can’t two dream outfits be created from head to toe, exactly as the partner wishes? After speaking to our suppliers, we made the dream a reality. We truly create some very special outfits. The best bit is the day of the final fitting, when we see some incredible reactions.
YSW: You also offer a wedding day dressing service. How does that work?
We send a team out to the venue on the morning of the wedding to dress all the groomsmen. Many people have never worn a kilt before so this relieves a lot of stress. It also makes a huge difference to the photos. When everyone is dressed properly and feels confident, it shows.
YSW: Have attitudes towards wearing kilts shifted over the years?
Definitely. We’ve set many trends with colours, style and feel – we’ve made the kilt outfit more on point and up to the minute. The days of Prince Charlie jackets and shiny buttons are long gone.
YSW: What actually happens at a fitting, especially for those who’ve never worn a kilt before?
Not all wedding parties are the same – some choose a mix of components to make certain members of the party stand out. That flexibility is part of what makes each wedding feel individual. But our process is standardised in that we build outfits around the kilt first. The choice of jacket and accessories comes later.
YSW: How do people choose a tartan when outfitting multiple people with different family connections?
Some still choose family tartans but many don’t match the colour, theme or vibe of the wedding. Our exclusive tartans are very on trend and many are chosen to purchase, which makes it very easy to style the whole wedding party. If the partner is having one of our own tartans, everything flows from there.
YSW: You hold the official licences for Celtic FC, Rangers FC and the Scottish national team. How does that connect to weddings?
Rangers and Celtic weddings do happen. And, as you can imagine, it creates a real buzz when either party comes in for fittings, especially in Glasgow. The Scotland tartan journey is still very early and I have to say it’s been incredible to be part of it. We’ve been astonished by the demand and have sent kilts to every corner of the planet.
“We’ve always tried to be ahead of what’s coming rather than catching up with what’s already happened.”