HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-29, Page 16Page A16 - Goderich Signal -Star, W'^'nesday, July 29, 2009
Cheeky sensation Instakilt locally inspired
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signal -star staff
James Buchanan has a goal in mind for
Goderich, and by next year, he hopes to
make it global.
The part-time Goderich resident hopes
that by 2010, he'll have "wrapped the world
in a kilt." •
Buchanan is the creator of the interna-
tional cotton terry sensation called Instakilt.
In short, it's a towel. But the thing of it is,
said Bueanan, it has never been done
before. Iflstakilt is an "international" tartan
-- sometimes known as MacBeach — com-
plete with belt and sporran that instantly
turns its Barer into a proud Scot -at -heart.
It was here in Goderich just five years ago
that the Glasgow, Scotland expat sat as
many do on a serene summer moonlit night:
On the deck wearing nothing but some tit
cloth. In his plain white towel, Buchanan
thought to himself, "what if the towel was a
kilt?"
The rest is history, and has proven to be
lucrative at that.
"At the time I was having a bit of a laugh
with myself, and I thought, I'd better write
that down," Buchanan said last week from
his home in Goderich's western end. "I had
a good giggle, but I thought 'this has got to
be out there— it makes total. sense."'
But according to an extensive search of
the world -wide -web, Buchanan came to
find it wasn't.
"WhenTpitt .in the initial order, I had no.
clue what I vias going to do with them," he
•
/NA KILT
Photo by Dominique Milburn
Instakilt creator James Buchanan models the terry sensation in front of his
"Instamini," which can often be spotted zooming .around Huron.
said. "I just went for it. I had a hunch people
were going to think this was a cheeky little
product."
He was right. After his initial design was
printed up on an order of 3,000 30 x 60 cot-
ton terry towels, Buchanan broke the prod-
uct in at the Glengarry Highland Games in
Maxville, Ontario in 2006. There, the
Instakilt was an insta-success, selling 600
units in just two days.
Throughout his whirlwind accomplish-
ments, Buchanan has successfully launched
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an Instakilt web site that features buyer -
submitted photos of Instakilts in action
worldwide. He also secured a Scottish -based
distributor who helped put Instakilts on the
shelves of tourist shops, airports and depart-
ment stores throughout the United Kingdom.
By the summer of 2007, Instakilt became a
topseller overseas, reaching 70,000 units
sold in just six months.
As a result of his hard work and quirky
idea, Buchanan has sold the rights of Instakilt
+n his Scottish dictributor and has concen-
trated his personal efforts on North
America.
Now, the Scot is hoping that the commu-
nity that set the scene for his inspiration will
take note of his creation. The Instakilt, cur-
rently in red, blue and green, is available at
two locally owned and operated outlets;
Fincher's on The Square and N'Sew On
located on South Street.
Buchanan's work in the documentary tele-
vision industry keeps him busy in Toronto,
where he has a main home. He and his
Goderich-born wife, Robin, and son Rory,
have been escaping the city as often as pos-
sible to the easy pace of Goderich for the
past eight years.
Instakilt is often kept on the local radar,
thanks in part to the "plaid -mobile," or
"Instamini," Buchanan's Mini Cooper
wrapped in the international tartan. During
the 2008 Santa Claus Parade, he passed out
a box of kilts to spectators.
Instakilt has made a number of headlines
in the last three years as well. The BBC and
National Post have covered the quirky tartan
and its quirkier inventor, and the International
News ran a story in 2007 when Brazilian
soccer player Ronaldinho was presented
with and Instakilt by a Scottish fan.
"People have said they think the product
is fantastic. It's a bit cheeky, but it's going to
continue to be a lot of fun in the future," he
said.
You can check out Instakilt on the web at
www.instakilt.com, or visit one of the two
local distributors.
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