Person wearing Le Kilt Collection

COS × Le Kilt


An exclusive capsule bringing the artistry of Scottish tradition into the everyday wardrobe. Each piece is beautifully crafted with precision and purpose, blending Le Kilt's iconic house codes with signature COS tailoring.

A woman in a dark, tailored outfit walks on a sunlit sidewalk. Her long hair flows down her back, and her skirt catches a slight breeze.
Black and white image of a person in a dark pleated skirt, blazer, and black shoes, standing on a textured pavement.
Person wearing a dark pleated skirt with a belt, a gray sweater with white cuffs, and black boots, holding the skirt with one hand.
Placeholder for: Person wearing a dark pleated skirt with a belt, a gray sweater with white cuffs, and black boots, holding the skirt with one hand.

A MODERN EXPRESSION OF HERITAGE DESIGN
Black and white image of a person in a belted jacket and leggings, walking on a tiled sidewalk against a stone wall.
Placeholder for: Black and white image of a person in a belted jacket and leggings, walking on a tiled sidewalk against a stone wall.

A wardrobe cherished over time; true classics with a sense of identity and refined craftsmanship channel a quiet confidence.

Person wearing a gray sweater and brown pants, adjusting a black belt with a silver buckle.
Placeholder for: Person wearing a gray sweater and brown pants, adjusting a black belt with a silver buckle.

Person in a black fuzzy sweater and long skirt with a slit, standing against a marble wall, gazing forward. Black and white image.
Black and white image of a person walking briskly, wearing a dark sweater and a long skirt with high slits, against a blurred background.

COS × Le Kilt

Person wearing a black belted coat, standing against a neutral background.
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Introducing COS × Le Kilt: an exclusive capsule bringing the artistry of Scottish tradition into the everyday wardrobe.

It was Samantha McCoach’s Italian grandmother, Lena, who taught her everything about kilts. After arriving in Edinburgh as a skilled sewer, Lena was quickly taken on by one of the city’s renowned kilt-makers. She transferred her artistry from the cutting room to the kitchen table, waking Samantha up at 6am every morning with a coffee to teach her how to sew, the importance of patience, and how to keep your threads in order. With her grandmother’s lessons in hand, Samantha moved to London to study a postgraduate masters in fashion at the Royal College of Art.


Kilts made by her granny became Samantha’s daily uniform; each time she wore them, women around her would ask where they could get one. She called Lena to discuss the growing demand and, in 2014, Le Kilt was born. The first presentation took place during London Fashion Week in a Soho basement club. Now, over a decade later, the brand has a distinctive handwriting that has become instantly recognisable to its international cult following. There is strength in the movement of a Le Kilt pleat, and meaning in its cloth. The signature buckle honours the past and hints at the punk energy that runs through the pieces.

Person with short hair in a black sleeveless top and dark skirt sits sideways on a metal chair against a plain background.
Placeholder for: Person with short hair in a black sleeveless top and dark skirt sits sideways on a metal chair against a plain background.
‘A Le Kilt piece is something you can wear in your own way and make it your own uniform; it should be treated as a blank canvas.’

After Samantha spent a chapter of her career designing in-house at COS, a collaboration with Le Kilt was a natural partnership. ‘The COS woman knows exactly who she is – strong, grounded, clear in her identity. That feels aligned with Le Kilt. A kilt is heritage, yes, but also timeless. The values between us mirrored one another’, she explains.  

 

The COS × Le Kilt capsule – two kilts and a jacket – brings the artistry of Scottish tradition into the everyday wardrobe. Each piece is beautifully crafted with precision and purpose, blending Le Kilt’s iconic house codes with signature COS tailoring. The full-length kilt has clean finishes and no fringing, with daring splits that are revealed with movement. The midi kilt is toughened with premium buckles made in Italy, while the jacket is punctuated by a belt and buckle at the front but kept concealed at the back. ‘That’s the thing with craftsmanship, not everything is immediately obvious or on the outside.’ 

 

Here, Samantha discusses what heritage means to her, and how a collective of skilled hands can come together to make something truly special.  

Black and white image of a person in a stylish black coat and skirt, leaning forward, holding a transparent umbrella.
Placeholder for: Black and white image of a person in a stylish black coat and skirt, leaning forward, holding a transparent umbrella.

DESIGN & CRAFTSMANSHIP 


‘I loved working closely with the in-house COS atelier – the pattern cutters and team that help bring something to life. It’s inspiring working with more hands to make something special. For me, the cloth is always the starting point. COS has such amazing tailoring fabrics, which were so exciting to use in my pieces because I've worn their tailoring for years. My COS trousers make me feel strong and confident, so it's exciting to transform that into Le Kilt for this collaboration. The kilt, to me, is the equivalent of a sharp pair of trousers for a woman who prefers a skirt. It carries authority. COS is renowned for tailoring, so introducing a jacket felt inevitable – it builds a dialogue between our vocabularies.’ 

‘THE SLITS IN THE LONG KILT ARE ABOUT SUBVERSION. STANDING STILL, IT LOOKS TRADITIONAL. BUT IN MOTION, IT REVEALS SOMETHING UNEXPECTED, EVEN SEDUCTIVE. I LIKE THAT CONTRADICTION – IT KEEPS HERITAGE ALIVE.’

STYLING & IDENTITY 


‘Fashion is mostly about the wearer, how they put things together and their own personal style. I see design as something that complements someone’s wardrobe and their own identity. A Le Kilt piece is something you can wear in your own way and make it your own uniform; it should be treated as a blank canvas. It can carry a head-to-toe look, or can be undercut with something personal – a vintage tee, a borrowed shirt. The kilt absorbs identity, it doesn’t dictate it.’ 




HERITAGE & REDEFINING TRADITION  


'I look at heritage through a modern lens, and within a modern setting for everyone. I don’t like to conform to stereotypes of heritage; I grew up in Edinburgh, but surrounded by stone and concrete streets...I was raised in a very urban context. Heritage, to me, should be fluid and global. The slits in the long kilt are about subversion. Standing still, it looks traditional. But in motion, it reveals something unexpected, even seductive. I like that contradiction – it keeps heritage alive.

Person in a black coat seen from behind, tying up their hair against a plain background.
Placeholder for: Person in a black coat seen from behind, tying up their hair against a plain background.
‘A kilt should live in your wardrobe for years. That’s the real legacy.’

COS

  • Most inspiring exhibition you’ve seen lately?

    • SM

  • Eyes Open in the Dark by Peter Hujar at Raven Row.

    • COS

  • Favourite way to relax when you’re not working? 

    • SM

  • Seeing friends. 

    • COS

  • The last memorable photo you took on your phone? 

    • SM

  • Walking on Portobello Beach in Scotland with my sisters and family. 

    • COS

  • What is your top 3 insider travel tips for those visiting Edinburgh? 

    • SM

  • Bard, Valvona & Crolla, and the Fruitmarket gallery. 

    • Words by Ellie Hay
    Photography by Kristzian Eder & Indigo Lewin
    Styling by Alexandra Cameron & Dogi
    Nesanir

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