Kilt

While I can't speak for the price of a kilt, not having purchased one, I will say that last October while in Scotland, I found the best prices at the Edinburgh Woolen Mill shops. They have stores in both cities and towns and I found their prices on cashmere sweaters and scarves to be the most reasonable and the quality is excellent.

The tourist mark up. Is there such a thing? And if there is, how much would it add to the cost of the kilts? I can assure you that two kilts will be very expensive, tourist mark up or not. I paid a good deal of money for a kilt in Glasgow many years ago, which I never wore. Not once. Will your sons actually wear their kilts?

My sons wear their lava lavas they have. They will definitely wear the kilts.

The Royal Mile in Edinburgh , and along Princes Street in the New Town as well , are lined with shops from end to end selling all kinds of Scottish souvenirs . ( It reminds me of the electronics and faux antique places that line Fifth Avenue in NY City ) They are selling this stuff to tourists , and there is no additional mark up based on being able to identify you as one . A kilt in one of these places is , by nature , likely to be of mediocre quality and overpriced for what it is . There are shops ( you would have to search them out ) that cater to people wanting the " real thing " . Kilts for sale in these establishments are quite expensive , and generally not " pret a porter " , as the French say ( ready to wear ) . They are very classy , bespoke items . My point here , is be aware of what you are looking at before you buy . I would agree with Norma , you will probably find they are of limited use for your sons .

Sorry , we were posting simultaneously . Actually , you could get them sporrans to wear with the lavalavas - that would be quite an interesting and eclectic combination !! ( No offense intended , I couldn't resist ;--) ) In any event enjoy your trip to Scotland , it is wonderful !!

Google "Highland Games Oregon" to find people near you who actually DO wear their kilts (and wear their clan tartan proudly, not as a fashion statement or souvenir. ) The games association might be able to suggest reputable vendors in Edinburgh, or local sellers.

https://www.geoffreykilts.co.uk/
this is probably one of the top places to buy a kilt in Edinburgh, this company does quite a lot of stuff away from the norm.
https://www.mccalls.co.uk/
this is another good place but away from the main tourist area though not that far.

As a Scot I don't own a kilt but just hire them on the occasions that I need to and have hired from Geoffrey tailor in the past.

The other big name is Hector Russell. If you are going made for measure this will not be cheap, but as they are adult sizes you may be able to get some of the VAT back. But names like Hector Russell and the ones mentioned by Unclegus are likely to have a supply of ready made ones if you are flexible with size and tartan.

I own mine, bought it from a small company above a fishmongers in Glasgow, that has since moved to an industrial estate in the middle of nowhere. For made to measure to bring the price down you are going to need to go on a bit of a tour away from the bright showrooms.

BTW there are places in Edinburgh where you can get a whole outfit for £99, don't even think of it,they are of a similar quality to cheap dish cloths but not as stylish.
I am sitting here in my office with a picture on my wall of myself, my brother my nephews all resplendent in out Heart of Midlothian tartan kilts and Prince Charles jackets with my dear old mum in the middle.

I fully endorse Unclegus' dishcloth comment. It is likely those outfits will also have been made by workers in bad labour conditions.

you quite often see groups of young males usually on an English language course( we get loads of groups like that in the city) in the city that buy these really cheap kilts and wear them around the town, quite a laugh, but as long s they are having fun who am I to complain.

I don't think it's a tourist mark up. I think that there is just a shock about the price. The best kilts are made from beautiful tartan. And because there are so many pleats there is a lot of material and that means that that they are not cheap. But they are wonderful! I am pretty sure that I bought my kilt back in the 70's at Geoffrey's. I am sure that I went there because my Scottish relatives sent me there. :)

But he should make sure that he gets the stuff that goes with a kilt. He definitely needs a sporran--think pockets. And he needs to get proper socks to wear with the kilt. And he should explore what shirt he wants to wear. For dress there are really good looking jackets. My dad had a full kilt for Scottish country dancing and he loved it. When he died we donated it to the local Scottish Country Dance group as none of his grandsons wanted it--fools that they are!

Ditto on the suggestion for Geoffrey's. My husband had them make a kilt in his family tartan a number of years ago, and wears it proudly to Highland Games and Clan Gatherings in the States. Our daughter even asked him to wear it when he walked her down the aisle at her wedding. Geoffrey's will fix your sons up with the appropriate accessories also. Yes, their kilts are pricey, but you'll only buy them once!

Hah! One of my nephews borrowed his grandfather's kilt for Prom! :)