Peeblesshire News | News | Shock as new regiment kilt order could go abroad

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Friday, 24th February, 2006 10:58

Shock as new regiment kilt order could go abroad

TWEEDDALE tartan makers may be forced to play a tug of war with cut-price sweat shops to keep the order for army kilts Scottish.

Peebles mill, Robert Noble, has spun the traditional combat kilts and trews for the last 30 years and have a history of providing for the Scottish regiments since 1850.

But the MOD now say they may be taking their business abroad.

New plans to kit out the recently formed Royal Regiment of Scotland have led army chiefs to choose a cheaper light weight cloth for their kilts which can be more easily manufactured.

And the decision leaves their contract with the March Street Mill, and its traditional methods, hanging by a thread.

Mill Boss Roland Brett told the Peeblesshire News:

“The Scottish regiment should have a product made in Scotland. It doesn’t make logical sense to go elsewhere.

“Our products are of a very high quality and we want to be involved with making the new military kilts but if it comes down to cost we may not be able to match other factories.”

And he believes the favoured worsted tartan is definitely the worst option. He explained: “The worsted tartan is a lighter weight cheaper product.

“The cloth we have traditionally used for the army uniforms is woollen spun. It is more expensive but better and we have already spent a lot of money over the last 30 years perfecting the product.

“I would say it is altogether better for an army kilt because it lasts longer, it’s warmer and it wouldn’t get as wet in the rain which is important because the regiment can spend a lot of time standing around outside.

In my opinion the appearance of it is also a lot better.”

Robert Noble have been involved with designs for the RRoS kilts which will be a new spin on the Black Watch government tartan.

And they fear vast sums of money spent on machinery to meet army demand for their cloth, may now be wasted if the cloth is manufactured using cheap looms and labour in other parts of the world.

Robert Noble is one of only a few mills to weave their woollen spun cloth on a dobcross loom using a technique unique to Scotland.

Locals are furious that the MOD want to wave goodbye to the Tweeddale tartan traditions.

And the blow concerning the making of the new uniform for the RRoS follows outrage about the formation of the regiment itself.

MSP for Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale Jeremy Purvis said: “This would be a slap in the face for the internationally renowned company in Peebles who have provided the highest quality woollen cloth for the regiment for generations.

“It would also be an outrageous insult to be added to the injury of abolishing the regiments where many of my constituents and former soldiers of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and Royal Scots were furious with the amalgamation.”

Jeremy Purvis has appealed to the MOD about the matter but received a letter stating that once the final specification is agreed an advertisement will be published inviting suppliers to bid for the contract.

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