A warm welcome to Carduus Kilts, a Scottish enterprise based in France. I am Gary McDonald, a Scottish kiltmaker producing high-quality traditional hand-made kilts, and Carduus Kilts is my business venture. While I provide the artisan kiltmaking skills, the business is supported in all things administrative by my wife, Susan McDonald. 

Carduus Kilts is based in the Charente (Nouvelle Aquitaine Region), historically a popular area for Scots mercenaries and merchants to settle in – something to do with Cognac and Bordeaux wines, I believe.  However, the tartan and materials in a Carduus kilt are sourced from Scotland and the north and sewn by a Scottish kiltmaker, making Carduus Kilts as traditionally Scottish as any kilt can be. The techniques used to produce Carduus Kilts are traditional – hand-stitched and finished by hand.  It’s important to me to promote and preserve Scottish cultural heritage, so on-going research into the history of highlandwear, tartan, and other things Scottish is an important factor in my business.

Welcome to the Carduus Kilts website and please take some time to explore the pages here. I’ve tried to include some useful and interesting information about all things kilt-related, including some history as the result of some personal research. If you have any questions or would like to place an order, don’t hesitate to contact us through the contact page.