| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARGARET STRUTH-GAFF, KILTMAKER, Barrie Ontario Canada
MASTER kiltmaker Margaret, 47, left school at 16 and took just two and
a half years to complete an apprenticeship that normally takes five-years.
Margaret started a new life in Canada and is now one of the most respected
kiltmakers in North America.
The Job: I run the operation for Burnetts & Struth based in a town
called Barrie near Ontario.
We have 25 employees including 14 kiltmakers - three of whom are Scots.
How I did it: I always enjoyed sewing so when I left school at 16 my
aunt introduced me to Kinloch Anderson, the Highland dress firm in Edinburgh.
I got through my apprenticeship in half the time it normally takes.
One of my first jobs was making kilts for dummies of Princes Charles,
Prince Philip and John Brown for the Edinburgh Wax Museum.
I came to Canada after answering an advert for kiltmakers.
The company had been going for 10 years and were working from home. We
won big contracts with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Police and
had to move to 9000sqft premises.
It takes time to make each kilt.
I charge between $590 and $900 depending on the tartan. There are over
4000 patterns.
Perks: I travel all over the world giving demonstrations and have been
to places like Japan, China and Alaska.
Five-year plan: Canada is my home now. Tips: Patience is allimportant
and you need to be good at working with your fingers.
You need speed with a tailor's thimble because it takes 10 hours to do
a typical kilt. |
