Connel Bay Highland Wear

Doors open on new bespoke Highlandwear Oban studio

The influx of new businesses into Oban after the pandemic continues with a new studio specialising in bespoke Highlandwear.

Alan Moore, director and founder of Connel Bay Scottish Highlandwear, trialled the concept eight months ago and has now made the arrangement permanent with premises at 11 Stafford Street.

Alan, who has family in Oban, already runs an established tailoring business Hunter Kingsley in his home town of Ayr.

He said: ‘I have family in Oban so we’re through quite often. I found whenever I came through friends of friends were always asking about kilts, tweeds, suits and tailoring but it was difficult to offer something as my business was so far away.

‘Once lockdown restrictions eased, I shared a small studio space with my sister-in-law, photographer Lauren J Fair, and brought up some tartan and tweed books to see if there was any interest.

‘I was overwhelmed by the initial interest from locals and very surprised by the amount of enquiries from clients down south or living abroad who have family in Oban or were visiting Oban to get married and looking for bespoke Highlandwear.’

Since lockdown and travel restrictions were lifted, he has now taken on the small studio in Stafford Street permanently.

Alan said: ‘It means I can see clients more frequently and can start to build a more solid reputation in the town as the ‘go to’ place for bespoke Highlandwear and tailoring.’

The shop hopes to start offering kilt hire soon and add to it as time goes on.

Alan said: ‘Hire kilts is something I’m getting asked about daily and although it wasn’t part of the original business model, it’s a service I can’t shy away from.

‘With the hire service, I’m looking to do things differently in that the range on offer will be 100 per cent made in Scotland, from the tartan and tweed, down to the cutting and sewing.

‘There are plenty of Highlandwear hire businesses out there so I’m hoping what we offer will be that bit different and will encourage clients to travel to Oban to buy from us.’