Winner of UK Maker of the Year 2024
Kiltmaker Nicola Laird (Nikki) has won both the inaugural Scotland Maker of the Year Award and the UK Maker of the Year Award. Nikki was presented with these awards at the prestigious Heritage Crafts winners’ reception at Eltham Palace on November 26th. This is the first time that Traditional Kiltmaking has been recognised in such a way.
Nikki Laird winner of Scotland Maker of the Year and UK Maker of the Year 2024.
Photo Credit: Amanda Moffet
The Scotland Maker of the Year Award, supported by the William Grant Foundation recognises a heritage craftsperson who has made an exceptional contribution to their specific craft in Scotland. Nikki Laird, the winner of this award was acknowledged for her outstanding achievements in traditional kiltmaking. Nikki has demonstrated the highest level of skill in her craft and is held in high regard amongst her peers.
After winning The Scotland Maker of the Year Award Nikki was entered into the overall UK Maker of the Year Award, which she won bringing the title home to Scotland. This award is supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust. The three other finalists for the award were typefounder and printer Nick Gill (England Maker of the Year), silversmith Cara Murphy (Northern Ireland Maker of the Year) and maille maker Phil Parkes (Wales Maker of the Year).
About Nikki and her work in Traditional Kiltmaking
Nikki Laird. Photo Credit: Amanda Moffet
Nikki has worked within the kilt industry for over 30 years and has been teaching for around nine years, during which time she has taught well over 100 students, from all around the world. Her kiltmaking course has grown and places have become in demand, leading Nikki to take on an apprentice teacher, Siobhan Schulberg who assists with the classes. The kiltmaking lessons are run at The Kiltmakery, ScotClans in Leith, Edinburgh.
Nikki Teaching Kiltmaking - learning to set up the tartan. Photo Credit: Amanda Moffet
Traditional kiltmaking is the craft of hand stitching a kilt, using century old methods. Skills that were passed on through apprentices, skills that were very close to being lost forever. In 2021 kiltmaking was added to the Red List of Endangered Crafts. This shone a light on the plight and vulnerability of the craft. Through the help of Heritage Crafts the numbers of professional Kiltmakers has now started to grow, but kiltmaking is not safe yet, there is a long way to go. Although many people are keen to learn kiltmaking very few of them go on to become a kiltmaker as their main occupation.
Nikki will soon be completing a book on traditional kiltmaking which will be published in 2025, this will include a history of kilts and tartan, a study of kiltmakers through the years, and a workbook detailing how to make a traditional hand sewn kilt. Heritage Crafts and Creative Scotland have supported the creation of this book with funding.
Traditional Kiltmaking, to be published in 2025
The Kiltmakery, ScotClans
In 2014 Nikki joined ScotClans where she works as a Kilt Tutor and Maker. Amanda Moffet, one of the Directors of ScotClans, trained as a kiltmaker under Nikki eight years ago. Both Nikki and Amanda wanted to create something that could help save the art of kiltmaking and support existing kiltmakers. Together they started The Kiltmakery, to provide a safe, uncompetitive, supportive place for self-employed kiltmakers who were usually isolated at home, on very low pay and too often subjected to bullying within the industry. The Kiltmakery has an open doors policy, allowing any kiltmaker to come in and use their space. A community of Kiltmakers has now formed. Lessons at Kiltmakery empower new kiltmakers offering them a lifetime of support. By working together kiltmakers can safeguard the craft for future generations, no longer de-valuing their skill. Making traditional kiltmaking a viable profession.
Through the work of Nikki traditional kiltmaking has been recognised with these two awards and marks a much needed change for the future of this iconic Scottish craft.
Nikki Sewing a Traditional Kilt. Photo Credit: Amanda Moffet