From Concept to Kilt Pin: Behind the Scenes
- Kinnfolk
- Aug 20
- 2 min read
The new Kinnfolk kilt pins are officially here! Come along as we share the story of how we created our most unique merch item yet...
The Idea
It's hardly a secret: we're big fans of Highland fashion. If you've ever been to one of our live shows, chances are you've seen Josh sporting one of his many (MANY) kilts onstage. And so we asked ourselves: How do we use our love of kilts to create a unique piece of Kinnfolk merch?
Some bands design their own tartans. (Have you ever seen the Albannach or Kilmaine Saints tartans? They're worth a look!) But Julie had another thought. She noticed that the Kinnfolk logo is about the same shape as the clan crests that you see on traditional kilt pins...
And so the idea was born! We've been thinking about manufacturing Kinnfolk kilt pins for several years, but it wasn't until this spring that we found the perfect partner to bring the idea to life.
Collaboration with USA Kilts
Enter USA Kilts! We've been big fans of this company for a while now...and, as often happens on the Celtic festival circuit, we've gotten to know several members of the leadership and staff through chance meetings at various festivals. So we typed up an email pitching our idea, hit "send"...
...and they said yes! Specifically, Kiltmaker/Store Manager Ian Anderson took the lead and helped us turn our idea into a reality. We sent him a rough Photoshop edit of our idea, which he sent over to the pewter forge in Scotland. The forge sent back a 3D mockup, and after a few rounds of back and forth, we had our design!
(By the way, if you want to learn more about kilts or Celtic culture, we highly recommend checking out the USA Kilts YouTube channel! They just released a new documentary called "Celtic Heart," an exploration into the vibrant world of Celtic festivals and Highland Games. We're interviewed in it, alongside dozens of others from the Celtic festival community!)
We waited, and waited. And then, one day, we found a package on our front porch...
Watch the "unboxing" video to see us hold the new kilt pins for the first time!
The Official Kinnfolk Kilt Pin
Here it is in all its glory! Handcrafted in Scotland, these brand-new kilt pins are made from 100% lead-free pewter. Now you can show off your Kinnfolk pride at the next Highland Games, Celtic festival, or Burns Night Supper!
One customer already said, "I have a couple of kilt pins and this is the nicest one."
Pictures can't fully capture the heft of these kilt pins. They are solid, well-made, and unique to our band! Big thanks again to USA Kilts (and especially Ian Anderson) for helping make them a reality. We hope you like them as much as we do!
Slàinte mhath,
~Josh & Julie
Comments