THE historic Bowdens kilt hire shop in Leith has announced that it will close after 109 years in operation, with lingering effects from the Covid-19 pandemic and the current “economic climate” blamed.
Bowdens first opened on Easter Road in 1916 and has been described as “Scotland’s oldest independent formal hire company”, providing kilts and formalwear for weddings, ceilidhs, school proms and special occasions.
Thousands of Leithers and locals have passed through the shop’s doors to hire formalwear over the years, but Edinburgh now appears set to lose the institution.
Owner David Hughes confirmed the news in a statement following social media reports, and cited new parking restrictions in Leith as another reason for the closure.
Bowdens’ business model has undergone a series of changes in its hundred years of operation on Easter Road (C) Google
David Hughes, who has owned the shop for more than ten years, cited after-effects from Covid, the economic climate, and council parking restrictions as reasons for the shop’s closure.
Speaking today, he said: “It’s the backlog from Covid and the economic climate – those are the main reasons [for the closure].
“There’s some other wee things like the council – everything round here is pay and display now.”
On Covid, he added: “We were absolutely rammed and then it stopped, and the economic climate means that you’re getting the wedding parties, but you’re not getting the guests.”
David described being forced to shut down as “horrible”.
He said: “In three years I might’ve done it, because then I’d be at retirement age.
David bought the shop in 2015 after the couple that bought the company from the Bowden family split up, and business was healthy in the years following.
On the history of the shop, he added: “We started as gents outfitters in 1916, then we went into the hire industry in 1963.
“Then two years later the company went into uniforms, and we did a lot of uniforms.
“The lighthouse keepers got their uniforms from here, the council, all the court officers in Scotland got their uniforms from here.
“The fire brigade got stuff, the police got stuff.
“We lost most of those contracts because they’re not there anymore, not because we actually lost them.
“The lighthouse keepers were all done away with in one fell swoop because it became automated overnight.
“So we lost all those contracts, but we were still doing okay because the hire was really busy for us.”
He added: “But then it got harder with the banking crisis – a lot of stuff got shut down.
“We were still able to do it, but we’re just not able to do it anymore now.”
David also mentioned trouble across the sector, with other kilt hire shops in West Lothian and Edinburgh forced to close recently.
The shop remains open at the moment for a closing down sale, in an attempt to unload the last of their stock.
On its website, Bowdens outlined its mission statement: “Scotland’s oldest independent formal hire company, Bowdens has an illustrious past.
“It owes its success however, not to the achievements of yesteryear, but to the professional service it provides in the here and now.
“School proms, ceilidhs, weddings, and special occasions in Scotland call for special attire to suit.”
It added: “Bowdens stock a range of tartan kilts along with all the accessories are an integral part of Scotland’s national dress: sporrans, socks and sgian dubh.
“Of course, it doesn’t have to be tartan: Bowdens also supplies formalwear and offering same day service of dinner suits also including tailcoats and frock coats.
“If it’s a one-off event, you can hire the complete outfit, but if it’s likely to see repeat usage, it may be worth making a purchase.”
Locals have expressed their shock at the news, commenting on a Facebook post about the closure with condolences, well-wishes, memories of the shop.
David plans to close for good as soon as Bowdens can sell the last of its stock.
There is no set final day of operation.
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