Truibhas (The Gaelic approximation of the English ‘trousers’, pronounced ‘troooz’ and now often spelled ‘trews’) have been worn in the Highland for several centuries. I believe that they were originally developed for riding horseback – they certainly were a ‘status’ item as they required careful -and skillful – tailoring, which then as now costs money!

A well-tailoring pair of trews is a rare item these days, and even if they’re poorly done they still cost a packet, as each pair must be made-bespoke; the tailor usually has to draw an entirely new pattern for each client.

The kilted regiments require trews, as they are worn both with Mess (formal ‘evening’) dress and ‘day dress, but the lack of an assured supply has been a problem.

I’m now working with a talented young tailor whose passion is for ‘historical tailoring’. We started by examining old and antique trews in the Seaforth Collection, and we were fortunate to also find printed instructions issued during the Great War.

We are now developing a line of trews cut to the highest possible standard; that of the ca.1880-1900 period,

These trews have a high ‘fishtail’ back (to be worn with braces), no outside seam but rather one single seam on the inside, one fob pocket at right-front and one hip pocket on the right.

These are at present a ‘Bespoke’ item, available in any tartan, but we hope to eventually offer these as ‘made-to-measure’ as well. They won’t be ‘cheap’ but we have reduced the price from ‘stratospheric’!