charity – Houston Kiltmakers Blog

It’s a great time to be Scottish folks! Well its always great being a Scot but there are just so many exciting things happening right now! There has been a big yellow ball up in the sky for sometime now and its turning all us pasty Scots a bit pink and freckly! We are of course referring to THE SUN! Anyone who has visited Scotland will know that sun is a rare phenomenon in our country but it has made wedding season all the better in Scotland! There is nothing better than the sun shining on your special day! As a kilt maker and highland outfitter it’s a very busy spell for us! With wedding season in full swing love is in the air and kilts are being worn all over the world! It’s been a busy few weeks at Houstons! We’ve had orders placed from USA, Australia, Belgium, London, Zimbabwe, Dubai, Wales and we have had visitors in store from the Channel Islands, Cyprus and Norway! With so much badness happening in the world it’s nice to hear of so many couples getting married and of course we are delighted that kilts are part of the occasion!

: Customer wedding in sunny Mexico

It fills us with pride to know that kilts are so popular around the globe and so many of you want to honour your Scottish heritage. Kilts are not just for weddings, they can be wore to any occasion… even marathons! We were recently contacted by Jamie who was part of a team organizing America’s first ever nonstop running relay from Los Angeles to Boston. The event was created to raise funds and awareness for The One Fund Boston which supports victims of the tragic events of this year’s Boston and their families. Jamie wanted to have a kilt sent to his accommodation in New York so he could wear it during media interviews and for the marathon, and we were only too happy to oblige! We delighted that Jamie wanted to honour his Scottish roots and that a Houstons kilt could play a part in such a fantastic event!

: Jamie running for the One Fund Boston charity in his Houstons kilt

Jamie recently got in touch to thank us for our support and provided pictures of the event. Everyone wanted a photo with the man in the kilt! Houston’s would like to congratulate all who took part, participants collectively raised $91,000 an incredible amount of money!

There is a lot going on in Scotland as we prepare to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It will be great for the country and a great opportunity for many Scottish sportsmen and women training to compete for the games! Above all it will enhance Scottish patriotism as we cheer together at the games!

Yes folks it truly is a great time to be Scottish so wear your kilts (and trews) with pride! One customer summed it up perfectly for us when he said,

‘Kilts are a great conversation starter wherever in the world you are. Ladies love them.. And my Houston tartan trousers in my picture!’ Customer Scott Carmichael.

: Scott Carmichael in his tartan trews

Houston's Own Modern Bute Heather Tartan

The Kilt Walk is a wonderful Scottish Charity which supports various Scottish children’s charities including Yorkhill Children’s Hospital and CLIC Sargent. The Kilt Walk charity is rapidly progressing with sponsored walks taking place all over Scotland. All funds raised are divided between 6 core partner charities. Donations are made to other children’s charities when a group nominate which organisation they wish their sponsorship monies to be granted too.

The walks take place in three length options in 26 miles, 13 miles and a 10K to suit all participants. Hundreds of people took part in the most recent Hampden kilt walk on 21st April 2013 and naturally in our line of business we though it was a delight to see such a large crowd in their kilts and the prospect of them all gathering in order to raise money for sick and disadvantaged kids was just the icing on the cake!

Now, as you can imagine one of the most prominent features in the kilt walk is of course, the kilt! So when one of the participants Antonio Vezza FORGOT to hire a kilt the initial reaction was SHOCK! HORROR! …Enter Houston Kiltmaker’s! Not only had Antonio forgot to hire but he was out the country for the week before the event. However; help was at hand! Thanks to Tony’s trusty work colleagues and a helping hand from Houston’s (and the wonders of modern technology) we were able to collect all his measurements while he was in Spain and arranged to have his kilt collected for him ready to wear for the kilt walk!

Tony was delighted with his kilt and could not get over the perfect fit considering we didn’t fit him personally in store… what can we say? we’re good! Tony sent on his personal thanks to Houston’s and was good enough to send on picture of him in his kilt. His colleagues all commented on the beautiful tartan and excellent quality, it seems Tony turned a few heads in his Houston’s Own Modern Bute Heather Tartan!

We were happy to help. Houston’s have an extensive hire stock which is available to hire as late as the day of your event; although we always advise you book as far in advance as possible to get exactly what you are looking for.

Houston’s would like to wish a hardy well done to all who participated in the kilt walk!

For any kilt hire or buy inquiries please call +441418894879 or email us on shop@kiltmakers.com