Kiltmaker discovers £5000 garment she made is for Sir Sean Connery

Published on Tuesday 31 March 2009 09:44

SHONA THOMAS knew it was no ordinary job when the order came in for a hand-sewn cashmere kilt.

As if working on the world's most expensive kilt was not nerve-wracking enough, she then found out who it was for – probably the most famous living Scot.

The East Lothian kiltmaker had no idea the 5,000 garment she was stitching in her shop in Gifford was destined to be worn by Sir Sean Connery.

The 48-year-old's handiwork was designed for the James Bond star to wear during the Dressed to Kilt fashion show in New York last night.

Ms Thomas said: "Of all the people I've made kilts for, he has to be the most famous. It was a real privilege to make it."

Ms Thomas has been making kilts for over 25 years, having trained at The Kilt Shop on George IV Bridge.

She has been running her own business on Gifford High Street for nearly four years and is regularly commissioned to do work for tartan designers and other kiltmakers.

Despite being kept in the dark about who the kilt was for, Ms Thomas knew the unusual garment was destined to be worn by a high-profile model.

She said: "The cloth is 100 per cent Mongolian Cashmere and cost 5000. I believe it is the most expensive kilt ever made in Scotland.

"I didn't know who the kilt was for but I knew it must be someone famous."

The tartan's range of colours was inspired by the Scottish countryside, including dark navy blue signifying the River Tweed and fir green representing Scots Pines.

The tartan, woven from pure Mongolian cashmere, was designed by Peebles knitwear firm Holland & Sherry to celebrate 172 years of operation in the Borders town.

Ms Thomas continued: "When I was asked to make it I had never seen that type of material before. When Holland & Sherry gave me the material I said, 'Oh, it feels like a cashmere scarf' and they just laughed.

"I had never sewn cashmere before and it was very soft. It was beautiful to work with."

Ms Thomas spent hours carefully pressing the delicate fabric before hand sewing the kilt to Sir Sean's measurements.

She added: "It is all hand sewn using nine yards of tartan. It took me about 11 hours. I was terrified when I was making it because it is a lot of money."

Sir Sean's cashmere kilt was just one of many unusual outfits showcased at the Dressed to Kilt event, which marks the start of New York's Tartan Week celebrations.

Also on show was the world's first wooden kilt, which was designed by East Lothian furniture designer turned kiltmaker Anselm Fraser.

Some more well-known fashion houses from both sides of the pond were also featured.

These included designs from Vivienne Westwood, Vivienne Tam, Victoria's Secret, 21st Century Kilts, Lochcarron of Scotland, Michael Kaye Couture, Nicole Romano, and Slanj.

&#149 Also at the glittering event was former X Factor winner Leon Jackson, from Whitburn, who made his catwalk debut modelling alongside stars like Andie MacDowell and Mike Myers.