In with the new as kilt designer quits family firm

Published on Monday 9 February 2009 23:31

SCOTLAND'S kiltmaker to the stars has split up the family business to set up on his own – and escape the shadow of Edinburgh's "tartan tat" kings.

Howie Nicholsby, who has designed kilts for Robbie Williams, KT Tunstall, Alan Cumming and Vin Diesel, had admitted the growth of the Gold Brothers' empire on the Royal Mile is one reason for his breakaway from his parents' business.

He has had growing business differences with his father, saying trying to sell his 21st Century Kilts alongside the traditional ones sold by Geoffrey Nicholsby was "a bit like selling Porsches next to a horse and cart".

The pair have spoken of their "amicable split" after more than ten years working together, with Howie – who travels the world to design celebrity outfits and stage fashion shows – revealing that his new showroom on Thistle Street will be available for corporate events and catwalk shows.

Geoffrey (Tailor) Kiltmakers, run by Geoffrey and Lorna Nicholsby, was set up in 1971 and went on to become one of Scotland's leading kiltmaking firms.

Howie launched 21st Century Kilts at London Fashion Week in 1999, after creating his first "fashion" kilt when he was just 18.

However he admitted to growing frustration at being unable to develop 21st Century Kilts properly and at the way the Royal Mile has changed.

He and his wife Charlie will run the new showroom. Howie has set up his own company, with sole use of the 21st Century Kilts brand.

He said: "

What I do is very different to my mum and dad's business selling traditional kilts. Selling 21st Century Kilts alongside them is like trying to sell a Porsche alongside a horse and cart."

Howie's father has been involved in a long-running feud with members of the Singh family, who run the Gold Brothers chain. It came to a head in 2007, when he was involved in a heated exchange over customers in a much-publicised incident.

Howie added: "The whole business with the Gold Brothers has been a factor for me moving from the Royal Mile.

"There has never been any kind of restrictions put in place by the council on what kind of businesses operate there, and people have been allowed to get away with selling all kinds of junk and playing loud music."

Mr Nicholsby snr said: "Howie felt the time was right to do his own thing. It's very much an amicable split."

No-one from Gold Brothers, which has 12 shops, was available for comment.

Tom Buchanan, economic development leader at the city council, said: "I'm sorry to hear Howie Nicholsby is critical of the council over the Royal Mile and the way it has developed."