Kiltmaking Craft & Couture: Dye, Weave, Pleat at Scottish Textiles Showcase

This collaboration between the Scottish Textiles Showcase, bespoke kiltmaker Andrea Chappell and the Dye, Weave, Pleat project celebrates what is now an endangered craft, looking at the practice of kiltmaking, traditional pleating techniques and their contemporary translations.

Located on St Mary’s Street just off Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, Scottish Textiles Showcase offers a curated collection of Scottish knitwear, coats and homeware that blends heritage craftsmanship with contemporary design - aligning perfectly with the ethos of the Dye, Weave, Pleat collective which promotes a sustainable way of making new kilts and creating true couture pieces using traditional techniques.

The boutique will be the venue for two Edinburgh Fringe events this August. The first is an opportunity to hear Andrea Chappell talk about her practice of kiltmaking and how she incorporates vintage fabrics and deadstock alongside classic tartans and heritage tweeds. The second event looks at the collaboration of three Scottish textile traditions: natural dyeing, hand weaving and hand-stitched kiltmaking. Andrea will be joined by colourist Cavan Jayne and hand weavers Chantal Allan and Christopher McEvoy of Glasgow micro-mill VEVAR - Cavan and VEVAR have worked with fashion brands including Hermès and Alexander McQueen. Each maker will talk about their own practice as well as the process of combining the crafts, blending their heritage skills to create contemporary kilts.

Ahead of the events, the store will display a selection of kilts created by the Dye, Weave, Pleat artisans, allowing visitors to enjoy these truly exceptional garments and gain an insight into how they are designed and made. The window display will be dedicated to a selection of the collective’s handstitched kilts with contemporary kilt pins by silversmith Kristin Beeler.

Contemporary Kiltmaking: What Makes a Kilt is on Monday 17 August and Contemporary Kiltmaking: the Dye, Weave, Pleat Collaboration is on Tuesday 18 August, with tickets for each event priced at £10. An installation of couture kilts will run from 25 June until 30 August, admission free. Both events and the display of kilts take place at the Scottish Textiles Showcase, 20 St Mary's Street, Edinburgh.