Inverness kiltmaker to the stars on the hunt for an apprentice
By Elizabeth Hunter
One of the world's leading kiltmakers has shared his most memorable moments from his decades-long career as he searches for an apprentice.
Ian Chisholm (79) started at Chisholms Highland Dress at the age of just 10 when parents Duncan and Charlotte took him on as a message boy - and went on to make kilts for Hollywood stars.
The company, based in Castle Street in Inverness, is one of Scotland's - and the world's - best-known kiltmakers.
One of four sons, Ian quickly fell in love with the art of kiltmaking, and began learning every aspect of the business - eventually taking charge in 2000.
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He says the business, which was started in 1956, started to see success in the mid-1970s and in the years since has continued to grow, eventually attracting celebrity customers like Charlton Heston and Doctor Who's Tom Baker.
But he says one struggle is getting young people interested in joining the trade and finding apprentices.
"I started many years ago - and the time's flown by," he said.
"When we started, I would have been about 10 years old. I was a message boy, and then I worked through various stages of the business, mainly in the kiltmaking side of things.
"I took over around 25 years ago as managing director.
"My father, who has passed, had retired, and it was just myself, and my brothers Duncan and Alan in the business.
"Alan operated our shop in Elgin until he died and we closed it down after that.
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"I was operating the business from that period onward.
"We were making kilts for the old Scottish entertainers - the likes of Calum Kennedy, the Alexander Brothers, and various others that we supplied kilts to. That's certainly continued all the way through."
Despite the willingness of the younger generations to wear Highland dress, Ian has struggled to find an apprentice to continue the trade.
"The trade has always been in the family, and it's definitely something we want to continue," he said.
"It does get more difficult to get young people interested.
"When we've started with young apprentices in the past, sometimes they've found it's not right for them.
"It has been difficult to get folk interested - they really need to have an interest in tailoring and learning the skills of needlework.
"Often we say it wouldn't matter the age - if someone's keen and able to learn, we would always consider anybody.
"At the moment, we're looking for another kiltmaker and an apprentice - but time will tell."
Ian's career has led to several memorable moments - including when Tom Baker, who played the fourth iDoctor Who, wore a Chisholm's kilt for a photoshoot outside Inverness Castle.
"He was a bit of a character - we dressed him for the front cover of the Television Times," Ian recalled.
"I remember that day - we got him dressed up and we were outside of a castle for the shot.
"It was outside, and the midges were wicked.
"It didn't seem to bother him - but the film crew were getting eaten alive!
"He really enjoyed wearing the kilt, and he was quite a flamboyant character, so he really suited it."
Chisholms ships kilts all over the world - with many orders in recent years from families in Germany, the Netherlands and the USA.
Despite concerns that the business would struggle after the economic challenges of the Covid lockdowns, Ian says there has been an unprecedented demand in recent years.
He and his 14 staff help their customers to find or create their perfect tartan - and build their kilts with longevity in mind.
"Even now, in the last two years, it's got exceptionally busy,” Ian said.
"I think that because folk are so casual now, they like to get dressed up for special occasions, and that's where the Highland dress comes into its own.
"We're very fortunate in the workshop at the moment, because the tartans are stacked to the ceilings for orders for kilts."
Ian says there has been a surge in younger generations buying their own kilts - although their tartan choices have become less traditional.
"There still is the strong element of folk wanting to wear their family tartan, but younger people often like to pick a tartan in shades they like,” he said.
"The plainer tartans have been popular - the black, the charcoal, and also the red."
Ian, who currently works five days per week, hopes to take on some younger staff to teach them the tricks of the trade - although he has no plans to retire soon.
"The staff we've got at the moment would certainly be interested in continuing the business, and I'd be happy for them to do that," he said.
"We put the finest quality of tailoring into our kilts, use the finest quality linings and trimmings, and all of this goes into making a high quality item.
"I'm getting on in years - fortunately I've been in good health, and as long as my health keeps up, I'll continue.
"Kiltmaking itself is a labour of love - you've really got to enjoy what you're doing."
