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The Herald Scotland
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Can Scotland's kilts be saved by a new generation of makers?
There are no sewing machines humming, no conveyor belts. Just the thread being pulled through wool and the quiet concentration on their craft. Twenty-seven-year-old Kayleigh Ivanov and 20-year-old Zoe Walker may not look like the saviours of one of Scotland's oldest traditions and yet, they may well be. Apprentice kilt maker Kayleigh Ivanov (Image: ScotClans) For they are among a very rare breed of young apprentices learning to hand stitch kilts – a craft that, despite the garment's status as Scotland's national dress, is at risk of slipping away. Classed as an "endangered" craft by Heritage Crafts, the charity overseeing traditional UK skills with King Charles as patron, it's estimated that only between 11 and 20 professional traditional kilt makers remain who rely on it as a full-time livelihood. And while there are signs of increasing demand for handmade kilts - especially from international customers - there is a stark shortage of young people entering the trade. That issue was highlighted recently by Inverness kiltmaker Ian Chisholm, of Chisholms Highland Dress. Now 79, he is anxious over where the next generation of kilt makers might come from. Zoe Watson, 20, is believed to be Scotland's youngest traditional kilt maker (Image: ScotClans) He recently told local newspaper, the Inverness Courier, of his struggle to find an apprentice and an experienced kiltmaker to help keep the traditional craft going. 'It does get more difficult to get young people interested,' he said. 'When we've started with young apprentices in the past, sometimes they've found it's not right for them. 'They really need to have an interest in tailoring and learning the skills of needlework. 'At the moment, we're looking for another kiltmaker and an apprentice - but time will tell.' Although tartan is rarely out of fashion - from last year's Christian Dior fashion event in Perthshire to this week's launch of a new Commonwealth Games 2026 tartan - he is not the only one to have struggled to find new blood to work with it. Leith training workshop The Kiltmakery, where Kayleigh and Zoe learned their skills, was founded in 2017 by English businesswoman, Amanda Moffet, after she struggled to find a traditional kilt maker for her Highland dress and clan products business, ScotClans. 'My kilt maker was retiring and everywhere I looked (for a replacement) I hit a dead end,' she says. A kilt making workshop at The Kiltmakery (Image: ScotClans) 'The message was that hand-sewn was finished. 'People said 'why would you want to make kilts by hand? You won't make any money'. 'But I knew as soon as I touched a machine-made kilt that it was different. It wasn't what I was used to seeing being made and what I had been selling. 'I remember thinking 'this is just awful'.' Frustrated, she embarked on a kilt making course and learned uncomfortable truths about the business of kilt making on the way. Read more by Sandra Dick: 'I found out why kilt making was in such a bad state,' she says. 'In the past, every kilt store would have had a workshop attached. But, when hire kilts and machine-made kilts came along, it was cheaper to have people work from home.' As well as shutting down traditional routes for apprentices to learn skills beside experts, she found surprising secrecy within the industry around kilt making techniques that stifled collaboration and learning. The closure of tartan and tweed producing woollen mills further eroded skills and threw the door open to cheaper foreign imports. Particularly troubling was how the skill of the kilt makers – usually women working alone at home – was grossly undervalued. Scotland is in the grip of a shortage of skilled traditional kilt makers (Image: ScotClans) 'There was a dark side to it,' Amanda says. 'There was a level of bullying that was shocking. 'Making a kilt is one of the hardest things you will learn to sew but while it might retail for £700, the average pay for the kilt maker could be only around £70 for three days of work. 'I heard of one woman who was paid just £45 per kilt. When questioned why, the response was that women were doing it just for 'gin money'.' 'I thought this was outrageous. The consumer doesn't know this, yet this is the national dress of Scotland.' She launched The Kiltmakery with tutor Nikki Laird, at that time the country's youngest traditional kilt maker. Since then, they have passed on the skills of kilt making to dozens of others, mostly hobby makers looking for a new interest. Amanda Moffet launched The Kiltmakery after becoming frustrated at the lack of traditional kilt makers (Image: ScotClans) Kilt making as a hobby appealed to both Kayleigh and Zoe as they navigated the stress of the pandemic. Having never considered it as a potential career, both became hooked on the rhythmic action of pleating, stitching and folding. Their natural flair and enthusiasm led to apprenticeships at ScotClans. For Kayleigh, who was diagnosed with autism after graduating in graphic design from Napier University, the gentle process of kilt making has improved her general well-being, boosted her confidence and calmed her anxiety. Read more by Sandra Dick: 'It's not something I ever thought of as a career but I'm so glad I found it,' she says. 'It's surreal when I see a customer wearing a kilt that I've made. It's humbling to think that I made that from cloth a few days earlier.' There's satisfaction in engaging in a timeless skill too, she says. 'People come in with their grandfather's kilt that doesn't fit them, and I can give it a new lease of life. 'You open it up, and you can see how old it is inside, and how other people have worked on it. 'Sometimes the kiltmaker has put their name on it. 'I can add my name to it so when it's altered in years to come, the next person will see who has worked on it.' Alongside her, Zoe – now Scotland's youngest traditional kilt maker - got her first taste of the craft aged 16 alongside her mum, Jo, an experienced sewer. 'There's a certain state of mind you get into when making a kilt, particularly when you're doing the pleats,' says Zoe. Apprentice kilt maker Zoe Watson works on hand stitching a kilt (Image: ScotClans) 'It's repetitive, but you are creating a garment at the end and that fills you with self-confidence. 'Before this, I was so anxious that I would not walk to the shop by myself. The process of making a kilt with my hands has been good for my mental health.' Jo, meanwhile, was so shocked by the lack of opportunities for young people to learn the craft that she has now launched a new heritage textiles course through Callander-based charity Làmhan, offering free sessions for young people to learn kilt making. Another Englishwoman who's made Scotland her home, she finds it hard to grasp how such a unique element of Scottish culture has come close to slipping away. Apprentice kilt maker Kayleigh Ivanov (Image: ScotClans) 'Kilt making in Scotland is in a terrible state, and it's depressing that it's like that,' she says. 'We found there's an SVQ in Kilt Making at SCQF level 6 but couldn't find anywhere near us for Zoe to do it. 'Then it turned out that the only external verifier for the whole of Scotland had retired." The course is also structured to support students mainly seeking work in producing machine made kilts, with only a small element devoted to hand skills. 'It's desperate,' she adds. 'The kilt is an iconic garment so closely associated with culture for hundreds of years and we are not training people to make it. 'If we don't do something now to get young people interested and give them the opportunity to learn in school and colleges, the craft will be lost.' Kilt maker and Great Sewing Bee contestant Ailsa Lyall says young people are often not aware that crafts can become a career (Image: Genevieve Gates) In Glasgow kilt maker and 2024 Great Sewing Bee contestant Ailsa Lyall, says creative skills tend to be under-appreciated leaving young people assuming there is no career path. 'I think generally creative career paths can sometimes be seen as less valuable than academic ones. 'That certainly felt like the case when I was in school, and despite having an interest in fashion and textiles I definitely felt pushed to pursue a business focused line of study. 'It's taken me a long time to break free of some of those ideas and discover that creativity can be more than a hobby. Kilt maker Ailsa Lyall blends traditional methods with contemporary styling (Image: Genevieve Gates) 'Sometimes you don't know a career path even exists until you see an example of someone doing it.' Traditional routes of learning crafts in the home have also been lost, she adds. 'Somewhere along the line and probably in connection with the rise of fast fashion, people have become disconnected with the skill that it takes to make clothing and the importance of how to care for them long term. 'They are then not able to pass on this knowledge to their children, and that's where these vital skills start to get lost. 'Sadly, you can really see this in kilt making. For years it was a skill that would have been passed down through generations verbally.' Read more by Sandra Dick Hand-sewn kiltmaking was officially added to the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts in 2021. Mary Lewis, Head of Craft Sustainability at Heritage Crafts, says that while awareness has grown and ignited interest among people wanting to learn, actual full-time practitioners remain few. 'A lot of people are learning but most who go on to make kilts will do it as a small sideline to another part of a business,' she says. Ailsa Lyall wears one of her longer length traditionally made kilts (Image: Genevieve Gates) 'The pool of people we would consider to be time-served kilt makers is being lost. 'It's like Saville Row, it's the top end that is endangered. The people who have the high-end skills are few and far between, so the quality is affected.' She says change requires a shift in how society values craft and ensuring the chance to learn isn't only available to those who can afford expensive training courses. 'Craft is not often taken seriously in schools, yet it's a much bigger sector than people imagine, and underpins a lot of other occupations. 'But because young people are not exposed to it, we are losing skills that have been part of our cultural heritage for many generations and were once easily very accessible.' Meanwhile in Inverness, Alastair Robinson of Chisholms Highland Dress says the business is still searching for new blood to continue its long tradition of kilt making. 'We have two kilt makers who are amazing and who Mr Chisholm pays very well. But they only have so much time left to teach someone and it's hard to find the right person to take on as an apprentice. 'We are trying to appeal to younger generations and people who are already skilled in needlework, that this can be a job for them. Demand is said to be surging for hand made kilts, particularly from international customers (Image: ScotClans) 'Most people going into textiles as a career are advised to not necessarily focus on kilt making, and they are being told they need a much broader range of skills.' Back in Leith, ScotClans' order books for hand made kilts is filling up, including a major commission from a US Air Force unit for almost 200 hand-stitched kilts. 'For that kind of order, you need people in-house to maintain quality,' Amanda says. 'We need to fill the gap to get kids and teenagers interested in Scottish heritage and textiles.'
Glasgow Times
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow reacts to 'shocking' Commonwealth Games 2026 mascot
It was confirmed earlier this month that 2014 mascot Clyde would be retiring from the role, and his replacement has now been confirmed as a unicorn named Finnie. Finnie features a traffic cone as her unicorn horn, inspired by the Duke of Wellington statue, and she has stars on her arms, legs and nose as a nod to the Barrowland Ballroom. We took a photo of the purple-maned mascot to the streets of the city centre, and people were divided over the design. Finnie was revealed on top of the Finnieston Crane this morning (Image: Craig Watson) READ MORE: Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games mascot revealed as unicorn A girl said Finnie looked "nice", while another added that she thought the mascot was "very pretty." However, one man compared Finnie to another mascot in the city, he said: "I thought the Partick Thistle mascot was bad, but this is something special." One pair of women thought that Finnie was "quite cute" and "lovely", while another pair recoiled back on first glimpse of the unicorn, admitting that they didn't like it and "don't think children will like to look at that, to be honest." "Not impressed", was the first response from another woman, and a pair of men sitting on one of Sauchiehall Street's benches declared they "didn't like the colours." The majority of responses were along the lines of one man, who said: "Yeah, it's alright." But the overarching theme we found was that we had to explain the details of the mascot to most, as the majority were a little confused by Finnie's design. Glasgow reacts to 'shocking' Commonwealth Games 2026 mascot (Image: Craig Watson) READ MORE: Historic city pub forced to close after ceiling collapses READ MORE: LIVE: Fault causing travel chaos for commuters this afternoon Once her name, mane and all the other intricate details had been explained, people did seem to warm up to the idea of Finnie. It also helped that we mentioned how Finnie was imagined with the help of 76 children from 24 schools across Glasgow and brought to life ahead of next year's games. Once people were aware of the thought behind the mascot, most came around to be more complimentary of her. One woman changed her view and said: "Having said all that, given what's been put into it, I think it's quite good. "Because of the difference in that cone on there and the other bits, I can understand why it's been done like that." #commonwealthgames #finnie #glasgow2026 ♬ original sound - Glasgow Times @glasgowtimes ❓🦄❓The new mascot for the 2026 Commonwealth Games was revealed today, but people in the city are a bit confused by it. Finnie the unicorn was unveiled this morning, and we took a photo of the purple-maned mascot to the streets of the city centre to see what they made of her. #glasgow READ MORE: New speed camera to be switched on in busy Glasgow area next week Another pair said: "It all makes sense when you explain it. It's just my initial reaction to it... It's a bit shocking." One man rounded off the chat by saying: "It's okay, actually, certainly screams Glasgow." The mascot's arrival marks the start of the one-year countdown to the games, in a statement released alongside the launch, Finnie said: 'I'll be at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games next summer with a grin, a wave, maybe even a wee dance. I'm here to turn the nerves into excitement, stir the cheers and help turn every moment into something magic as Glasgow 2026 swings into the city.'
Glasgow Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
AI-powered timetables improve Glasgow bus services
The group said the investment in new timetables—powered by AI-driven software—has boosted punctuality by 13.5 per cent across more than 60 routes in Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire. The software creates more accurate and reliable schedules by factoring in real-life conditions such as traffic congestion and roadworks. Read more: Commonwealth Games 2026 mascot Finnie revealed - but people are confused Duncan Cameron, managing director of First Bus Scotland, said: "The results speak for themselves. "Our buses are now more reliable and timely, providing our customers with a service they can depend on. "We're proud to say that these changes mark a significant improvement in our Glasgow services, something we will continue to build on as we look to embrace more modern technology." The company aims to operate a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035 and believes improved reliability will help encourage more people to use the bus. Mr Cameron said: "It is vital more people start to consider bus as an attractive, sustainable travel option and we hope these results go some way to achieving that. "However, the lack of sufficient bus priority measures forces us to allocate significant funds just to maintain reliability amidst increasing congestion. "With better support from city infrastructure, we could invest more in expanding our network or lowering fares, making bus travel even more accessible and affordable." The company believes the £3 million investment highlights a broader challenge—congestion. Without improved bus priority measures, First Bus argues that money is being spent on maintaining reliability rather than growing the network or reducing fares. The most improved routes include the East Kilbride to Clydebank service 6, which saw a 23.1 per cent rise in punctuality. Other notable gains include service X11 from Buchanan Bus Station at 25.9 per cent, service 4 at 27.5 per cent, and service 4a, which saw the highest improvement at 32.8 per cent.
Daily Record
08-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Junk food sponsorship deals 'should be banned from 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow'
Obesity Action Scotland said 170 experts had signed its petition demanding no deals with unhealthy food and drink companies at next year's Games. Junk food sponsorship deals should be banned at next year's Commonwealth Games, health campaigners have urged. Obesity Action Scotland said more than 170 individuals and groups had signed its petition demanding the change at the 2026 Games in Glasgow amid "alarming" childhood obesity rates. Twenty per cent of Scottish kids are now at risk of being overweight by the time they enter primary one. The group, which is led by clinicians, said allowing high fat, sugar and salt products to be marketed at sporting events "undermined" public health and risked worsening the obesity crisis. Irn-Bru was the chief drinks sponsor at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Writing to Commonwealth Games 2026 CEO Phil Batty, Dr Shoba John, head of OAS and convener of the Scottish Obesity Alliance, called on next year's event to be a "junk-food free event" for families. She said: 'There is overwhelming evidence that advertising and marketing techniques powerfully influence food preference, choice, and consumption in children, thus harming their health. 'We also know that the wider food environment heavily influences what people consume. 'When food marketing and the wider food environment lead us towards increased consumption of soft drinks and junk food, we see corresponding increases in obesity rates. 'Therefore, we need healthy food and drink to be available and affordable, and for it to be front and centre at every opportunity.' Dr John commended the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which Mr Batty was also involved in, for ditching junk food sponsors and urged Glasgow to follow suit. She also called for unhealthy food and drinks outlets to be prohibited at or near sporting venues. It follows controversial sponsorship deals at the 2012 London Olympics with brands like McDonald's and Coca Cola. As part of its promotion at the event, McDonald's launched its biggest ever restaurant in the heart of the Olympic village, prompting fury from health campaigners. Latest research shows young Scots from the most deprived parts of the country have double the risk of experiencing obesity than those living in the most affluent areas. Last week, the Food Standards Scotland agency said ministers' efforts to tackle the nation's weight problem was "too slow and not far-reaching enough". It warned public health had been 'taking a back seat to commercial interests' and said Scotland was 'lagging behind' other parts of the UK in measures to tackle junk food. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Scots face some of the poorest diet-related health outcomes in Europe including obesity, type 2 diabetes and other non-communicable diseases. Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: "Ensuring everyone in Scotland eats well, has a healthy weight and is physically active is a key priority for the Scottish Government 's public health agenda. "As a part of this action, we are restricting the promotion of foods high in fat, salt and sugar." Phil Batty, chief executive of Glasgow 2026, said: "Sporting events play an important role in promoting active and healthy lifestyles. "We met with Obesity Action Scotland and representatives of the NCD Alliance Scotland last month and we look forward to working with them to build shared plans for the Games next summer."
NDTV
29-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Babita Phogat Disappointed As Wrestling Not A Part Of Commonwealth Games 2026
Former wrestler Babita Phogat participated in the 'Fit India Sundays on Cycle' initiative in New Delhi. She expressed her disappointment over the absence of wrestling in the Commonwealth Games 2026. She highlighted the challenges faced, particularly for women wrestlers, and emphasised the potential for India to win more medals if wrestling were included. While speaking to ANI, Babita Phogat said, "I have been a three-time Commonwealth medalist, and I feel very sad because it was very difficult for us, especially for women's wrestling. We had a chance in 2010, and we have played continuously since then, up until 2018-2022. It is a sad thing that there is no wrestling in the Commonwealth. If there was wrestling, our country would have won more medals." In a massive blow to India's medal chances, cricket, field hockey, badminton, wrestling, among others, have been dropped from the programme for the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, which will be held from July 23 to August 2, 2026. The sporting event's return to the Scottish city after a 12-year absence would not be as bright for the Indians, as some of their best medal-scoring sports have been removed from the schedule. The CWG 2026 will feature only 10 sports across four venues placed within an eight-mile corridor. The 10-sport itinerary for Glasgow 2026 includes athletics (track and field), swimming, 3x3 basketball, track cycling, weightlifting, lawn bowls, artistic gymnastics, netball, boxing and judo. The para variants of the first five will be part of the integrated para programme at the 2026 CWG. Four venues will host the game, including Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena (which features the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome), and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). The list of sports for the 2026 CWG is way thinner than the 2022 edition in Birmingham, which had 20 sports.
