Kiltmaking Craft & Couture: Free Edinburgh show to 30 August
Kiltmaking Craft & Couture runs from 30 June to 30 August 2026 at Scottish Textiles Showcase, 20 St Mary’s Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SU. The exhibition is listed as free, while prices for its two associated August events must be checked individually. Open to the general public, it offers a close look at handstitched kilts, traditional pleating and contemporary Scottish textile work.
According to Forever Edinburgh Events, the exhibition brings together Scottish Textiles Showcase, bespoke kiltmaker Andrea Chappell and the Dye, Weave, Pleat collective. Their collaboration examines the heritage of the traditional Scottish garment while showing how its construction and materials continue to evolve.
Handstitched kilts reveal how the garment is made
Scottish Textiles Showcase is displaying a selection of kilts made by Dye, Weave, Pleat artisans. The garments provide an insight into their design and construction, including the hand stitching and pleating at the centre of traditional kiltmaking.
The project describes kiltmaking as an endangered craft and places established techniques beside contemporary interpretations. Its window display is dedicated to handstitched kilts accompanied by modern kilt pins from silversmith Kristin Beeler, connecting garment-making with contemporary jewellery design.
Andrea Chappell’s work also introduces a broader range of materials. Alongside classic tartans and heritage tweeds, her practice incorporates vintage fabrics and deadstock, showing how familiar kilt forms can be translated through different textiles without removing their traditional construction from view.
Two August events explore materials and technique
Two events at the same St Mary’s Street venue extend the exhibition beyond its main display:
- Contemporary Kiltmaking: What Makes a Kilt? — 17 August: Andrea Chappell will discuss her kiltmaking practice and her use of vintage fabrics, deadstock, classic tartans and heritage tweeds.
- Contemporary Kiltmaking: The Dye, Weave, Pleat Collaboration — 18 August: This event examines the meeting of three Scottish textile traditions: natural dyeing, hand weaving and hand-stitched kiltmaking.
Together, the talks move from one maker’s choice of cloth to the wider collaboration behind the displayed garments. Both take place at Scottish Textiles Showcase, where visitors can see the finished kilts discussed by the participating makers.
Access and entry details for visitors
Scottish Textiles Showcase is on St Mary’s Street, just off Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile. The supplied listing does not include further transport directions, exhibition opening hours or start times for the two talks.
Listed accessibility features include an accessible parking or drop-off point, level access to the main entrance and from the entrance to reception, suitability for visitors with limited mobility, and wheelchair access throughout. The venue also welcomes pets.
Visitors planning to attend either August event should check its individual price and entry information before travelling, as no single booking procedure is supplied. The main exhibition remains listed as free until 30 August 2026.
Source: Forever Edinburgh Events
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The dates, venue, entry information, programme and accessibility details were matched to the Forever Edinburgh Events listing.
- Confirmed the exhibition dates as 30 June to 30 August 2026.
- Confirmed Scottish Textiles Showcase and its St Mary’s Street address as the venue.
- Separated the free exhibition from the individually priced August events.
- Included only the accessibility features stated in the venue listing.
- Source
- Forever Edinburgh Events
- Scope
- Edinburgh
- Updated
- 2026-08-30 14:39
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