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Kinloch Anderson
Describing Deirdre Kinloch Anderson as passionate about tartan is a bit like saying Pavarotti could carry a tune.
She lives and breathes tartan and Scotland’s national dress – a fact recognised by the OBE she received in 2010 in recognition of her seven-year campaign to establish a Scottish Register of Tartans requiring an Act of Parliament in order to create an official register, belonging to the people.
And she has recently published a book all about tartan and Highland Dress, tailoring and kiltmaking. ‘A Scottish Tradition’ charts the history of the family firm, Kinloch Anderson, trading in Edinburgh since 1868 and now known throughout the world.
Deirdre and her husband Douglas are the fifth generation of the Company, now into the sixth generation of family management with John Kinloch Anderson as Chief Executive and Peter Kinloch Anderson as Director of Brand Development. The Company may operate in the traditional dress market but it is innovation that has kept it going and growing while many others have fallen by the wayside. At one time, in the 1930s, the firm was one of 17 bespoke tailors operating in George Street. To the horror of fellow tailors, Kinloch Anderson took the unmentionable and bold step of selling offthe-peg suits. Needless to say, only one of the 17 tailors now exists…
In the 1940s, Deirdre’s father-in-law went on long travels to Canada to service the uniform requirements for military officers there – and this led to the establishment of a wholesale business to provide Scottish clothing to the enormous expatriate population there and in the USA.
Deirdre said: “After World War II my father in law used to go out to Canada by ship – it took five to six weeks – to service the Canadian regiments. We were premier military tailors to the Highland regiments in the early 1900s and we’ve always been outward-looking. It was the first step into looking overseas for business, and that is something we have been doing successfully ever since. The way in which we operate changes, but our desire to grow and find new markets never does.”
The firm is proud of its Royal Warrants, and counts the Royal Family amongst its clientele along with many other famous people in Britain and overseas. The firm’s premises in Dock Street in Leith provide a spacious, calm and high quality environment for those seeking the very best of Scottish traditional dress and Scottish clothing – menswear, ladieswear or children’s wear as well as fine ranges of accessories and gifts.
Nowadays, much of the international activity focuses on the growing emerging markets of the Far East, and the firm now has some 300 shops in Japan, Taiwan, Korea and China. China is a key focus, with growth being enjoyed and further growth planned.
Deirdre said: “We make the products under licence with very high quality manufacturers and they are sold in freestanding shops, shopping malls and concessions in Department stores. Using our knowledge and the reputation of our brand in this way has allowed us to reach many more countries.”
The firm’s presence in North America is also very important, and their links with the upmarket US Brooks Brothers store is a source of pride – in particular the firm’s presence in the flagship store on Madison Avenue, New York.
As well as their retail and wholesale operations, the firm also works in the corporate market, designing tartans for a wide range of clients
Deirdre said: “People ask how we manage the sheer longevity of the firm, and I think there have been and continue to be a number of factors: innovating and being prepared to change how we do things; staying specialist and
focused on our niche market; our willingness to marry traditional skills with modern technology and a balance of activities operating in retail, manufacturing and wholesale, corporate identity and brand development.
“In addition to all of that I think there is a real integrity. We believe in our brand, and in what it stands for. As Scotland’s national dress changes and evolves we have been market leaders in that evolution. We take what we do very seriously and people come to us knowing how much we care about providing quality of product, professional advice and best service.”
“We were premier military tailors to the Highland regiments in the early 1900s (so) and we’ve always been outward-looking (and international). It was the first step into looking overseas for business, and that is something we have been doing successfully ever since. The way in which we operate changes, but our desire to grow and find new markets never does.”