Kings of cut-price tartan face court fight over design

EDINBURGH'S kings of cut-price kilts are facing a legal battle over claims that they are reproducing a tartan without permission.

The owner of the Isle of Skye tartan alleges the Gold Brothers have sold items bearing her registered design under a different name.

Rosemary Samios, who owns the patent, has now brought a case at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in a bid for damages.

Selkirk-based weavers Lochcarron of Scotland is said to be the only company licensed to manufacture and supply the Isle of Skye tartan on her behalf.

Chairman Alistair Buchan said today: "It appears that they (the Gold Bros) have been selling a lot of this particular design in shops that are not supplied by Lochcarron, and it will be up to the judges to decide."

Judges last week granted lawyers for Mrs Samios leave to recover documents relating to the sale of the tartan from The Gold Brothers.

It is understood lawyers for Mrs Samios hope to use the documents to compile a civil case to recover damages for loss of earnings and breach of patent.

Mrs Samios, an Australian of Skye descent, is said to have designed her tartan to reflect the colours of the island and gained a patent in 1992.

The Gold Brothers – a family operation run by brothers Malap, Surinder, Galab and nephew Dildar Singh – own a string of shops across the city.

They have repeatedly been accused by traditional weavers of devaluing Scotland's heritage by selling cut-price clothing and memorabilia, but have hit back saying their souvenir stores give tourists what they want.

In January, they unveiled a new line of Chinese-made kilts for just £19.99 each.

Their move came after discount supermarket chain Lidl began selling the garments for £25 in the run-up to Burns Night.

No-one from the Gold Brothers was willing to comment on the court action today.