A seal skin sporran

A ban on the trade of seal products by the European Union put an end to the continuation of the sale of traditional seal skin sporrans which are a vital part of Highland dress. However, a loophole in the ban could see the skin make a return with the help of the Inuit people in Canada.

The purpose of the ban imposed by the EU was to bring an end to inhumane culling of seals, but this does not apply to the Inuits and other indigenous communities who depend on the trade for their livelihoods. Kilt makers are now trying to establish whether they are permitted to purchase the skins after Ian Chisholm, of the Scottish Kilt Makers’ Association, said agents had been in touch, offering the pelts of legally-hunted seals. Mr Chisholm said:

“I got a phone call from Canada to say they could provide seal skins. Our sporran makers would be interested. It is something that has been a big loss to us.

“As far as I understand, the Inuits do have the right to sell the skins, and if that is the case then there’s a chance we could buy them.

“The next thing will be to find out whether they would be allowed to enter the country.”

The ban was voted in last May with the vast majority of MEPs in favour of it, after following a three-year public campaign over the disgust of the annual seal culls in Canada and Norway. It was only recently that the law came into force, allowing sellers of the product to only sell what was left of their current stock.

Ian Chisholm, of Chisholm’s Highland Dress in Inverness, a family-run business of more than 50 years, said:

“Seal skin is not only traditional but it is also that there are no other skins that can replace it for the quality of the finish.

“They have the coloration that blends beautifully with Highland attire.”

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A fox sporran by Kate Macpherson

A Beauly taxidermist is facing criticism from animal rights campaigners for creating sporrans from local road kill.

Kate Macpherson, a trained taxidermist for over 20 years, collects badgers, foxes, deers, and stoats from country roads near where she lives, and has licences to handle protected animals.

However, this hasn’t stopped a number of complaints from animal welfare groups.

The head of the Scottish Animal Rights Alliance, Lynda Korimboccus, claims that what Ms. Macpherson is doing is wrong, saying “using a dead animal for clothing perpetuates the idea that’s what animals are for. That will lead to the deaths of other animals which will be killed to satisfy the market for fur.”

In response to Kate Macpherson’s claim on her website, that the “sporrans are ethically sourced”, Lynda Korimboccus rejected this, stating, “to say these animals are ethically sourced is wrong – dead and ethical are not words that go together.”

Yet the sporran maker defends her work, saying, “If I didn’t pick up these animals they would be rotting in a ditch. I’m creating something useful from them rather than allowing their beauty to be wasted.

“But they’re not for everybody I admit. People seem to either love them or hate them.”

Duncan Chisholm, chairman of the Kilt Makers Association of Scotland, has also defended Kate Macpherson’s work, claiming that she is reviving a traditional form.

“Sporrans used to be made from a variety of small animals – pine martens, otters or wild cats – though a lot of them are protected nowadays,” he said.

“The key thing is that it has to be practical in both size and wearability, as it’s got to be worn on a frequent basis.”

Mr. Chisholm also suggests that it is better to use real skins, rather than ones made from synthetic animal hides which in his opinion do not look as good when accompanied by the natural fibres used to make the kilt.

Each sporran Kate Macpherson creates is unique, and takes around two weeks to complete. She produces 100 sporrans a year.

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