Kilt Company Finds Ideal Home in Dunedin

Iain and Moira Donaldson had been visiting the Dunedin area for the past 17 years, participating in the Highland Games and escaping the harsh winter climate of their native Buffalo, NY.

Each time they made the trip back north, they kept realizing how much they hated to leave the warm Florida weather and the cozy, Scottish-friendly community they found here.

After making the 24-hour drive back to Buffalo a couple of years ago, the Donaldsons made the decision to uproot their family and their business and make the move to Dunedin permanent.

Fortunately, their business, Lothian Kilt Rentals and Bagpipe Supplies, fits in nicely with the culture of their new hometown.

“It’s like Scotland with palm trees!” Moira says.

The Donaldsons, both of Scottish descent, met at a Highland Games competition in Michigan 30 years ago. They knew that relocating their business after a 45-year run in upstate New York would be a life-altering choice.

But they had been to this area so many times and seen how the community embraces the Scottish culture and heritage, and they felt comfortable with the decision. In fact, they hope the move will actually be a boon to their business.

“My father started the business in 1965 after immigrating from Scotland, and we took it over in 1991,” Iain says.

“In Buffalo, nearly all of our business was Internet based — we rent kilts and sell pipes all over the country and all around the world — but we never had much of a walk-up business," he says. "But we’ve already seen a great increase in walk-in business here in the five weeks we’ve been open.”

The couple are excited to spread the word about the practicality of wearing kilts year-round, not just for special, Scottish-themed occasions.

“We do a lot of rentals for weddings, proms, business meetings, anywhere you would wear a tux or a nice suit,” Moira says. “We had one guy who wore one to a big business meeting in New York City years ago, and he says to this day, people still remember him for it.”

Being in a community that embraces Scottish culture and dress has made the Donaldsons' transition a lot easier, and Iain has already found a new career that goes hand-in-hand with his business — he’s teaching piping at , and for the City of Dunedin Pipe Band.

“Iain goes to Scotland for the World Pipe Band Championships every year, and he’s won twice,” Moira says. “He’s taking the city band next year, so this has been a nice bonus for us.”

“My hobby and my employment are all wrapped in one,” he adds.

Whatever happens with the business, the Donaldsons are happy and comfortable in their new home. They even changed the name of their company, from The British Shop to Lothian, after a region in Edinburgh, Scotland; Dunedin happens to be Gaelic for Edinburgh.

"We had so much in common with Dunedin, it just seemed like a good fit,” Moira says. “It’s neat because people know the products we’re selling. Here they get it.”

Lothian Kilt Rentals and Bagpipe Supplies

Address: 1570 Main St.

Phone: 727-733-6838

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday; closed Sunday