The Acme Atelier founder smiling and sitting on the floor surrounded by mannequins dressed in colorful, bespoke kilts.

Acme Atelier

The Art of Kiltmaking

In Scotland, a small atelier is quietly reshaping the tradition of kiltmaking. Andrea Chappell, founder of Acme Atelier, brings together her design education and a love for traditional craft. After studying at Central St Martins and the Royal College of Art, she received formal training in the hand stitched method of kiltmaking. She founded Acme Atelier to promote sustainable means of making new kilts using deadstock, vintage, and repurposed textiles.

An antique mannequin is dressed in a striped kilt with leather strap detailing in front of a white backdrop.

The Work

Each kilt from Acme Atelier is meticulously hand-stitched, a reflection of Andrea Chappell's uncompromising attention to detail. For Old Stone Trade, Andrea has crafted a series of special edition kilts, each imbued with a sense of place and story. Collaborating with local weavers, she works with artisanal textiles designed and woven in the UK, inspired by the distinct regions they represent. Three signature styles—The Newchurch, The Tilda, and The Cullen—embody this thoughtful approach. Andrea’s dedication to the craft is both timeless and progressive, preserving the art of kiltmaking while reimagining it for today.