Choosing The Right Sporran | Margaret Morrison Ltd.

"When should I wear a daywear sporran and when should I wear a dress sporran?"

This is one of the questions we often get asked to explain. Here at Margaret Morrison we make every type of sporran for every type of occasion where a kilt is appropriate. Over the last 25 years we have built our reputation as the world's leading sporran makers and our team of highly experienced artisan craftsmen and women have an unrivalled skill set. We continue to innovate taking inspiration from Scottish history, most recently we launched a collection of sporrans inspired by the 17th and 18th Century and a collection of long-haired reeling sporrans for Gentlemen who love to dance the reel!

Because we get asked these questions so often we thought we would put together a useful guide to the different sporran types and how they can be worn.

Day Wear Sporrans: The Best Choice for Casual Events & Tweed.

Day Wear Sporrans are usually made from leather and in the style of a traditional purse. Designed to be worn on a daily basis, or to more informal events, simple in design with a leather lid and front, sometimes with pleated leather tassels added. Our collection of day wear sporrans feature a range of embossing, broguing and studding techniques. We have a collection of 11 different leathers for our day wear sporrans, all of which are designed to compliment the different clan tartans used for kilts. Our newest leather to the range is a beautiful shade we call Cognac.

The Look: All leather, usually featuring hand-stamped Celtic knotwork, thistles, or clan crests. No fur, no metal cantle.
When to Wear It: Highland Games, a trip to the pub, a casual ceilidh, or a day at the office.
The Rule: If your jacket is Tweed or a casual "Crail" style, a leather day sporran is your best friend.
Margaret Morrison Tip: Our Daywear Collection is built for the rugged outdoors. Vegetable-tanned leather only gets better with age.

You can view our range of day wear sporrans here.

All leather day wear sporran with thistle embossed lid and intricate tassels made by Margaret Morrison

Semi-Formal Sporrans- The Versatile All-Rounder Sporran

The Semi-Formal (or Semi-Dress) sporran is the "Swiss Army Knife" of Highland wear. It is a hybrid design that bridges the gap between casual daywear and full black-tie formal.

The Look: It features the classic leather flap of a Day sporran but incorporates a fur or skin body. It is typically finished with three hanging tassels with chrome chains and bells.
Best For: Day weddings, Highland balls, christenings, Highland Games, or any event where you want to look sharp without being overly formal.
Pair It With: An Argyll or Braemar jacket. It also looks fantastic with a waistcoat-only look for a more modern, relaxed wedding style.
Pro Tip: If you are only going to own one sporran in your lifetime, make it a Semi-Formal. It is acceptable at almost any event except the most rigid Black Tie dinners.

Click here to design your custom semi dress sporran.

Dress Sporrans: The Ultimate Formal Essential

When the invitation says "Black Tie" or "Prince Charlie," the Dress Sporran is the non-negotiable centre piece of your Highland attire.

The Look: Defined by a distinctive metal cantle (the top clasp) usually crafted from pewter available in chrome, antique, copper or brass. The body is traditionally faced with bovine, seal, or high-quality furs.
When to Wear: Weddings (as a groom or guest), Burns Suppers, military balls, and formal graduations.
Pair It With: A Prince Charlie or Dinner jacket. The glint of the metal cantle is designed to complement your silver cufflinks and kilt pin.
The Margaret Morrison Touch: Unlike mass-produced alternatives, our cantles are secured with precision and our furs are hand-selected, legally procured for consistency and "swing."

You can view our range of dress sporrans here.

Mid Grey Seal Skin Dress Sporran

Luxury/Fur Dress Sporrans: Artisan Heritage & Rare Materials

For the gentleman who seeks a true heirloom piece, our Luxury Fur Dress Collection represents the pinnacle of the sporran maker’s art. These are not merely accessories; they are investment pieces designed to be passed down through generations.

Premium Materials: We ethically source the finest furs, including Mink, Silver Fox, and Golden Island Fox. These materials offer a depth of colour and a natural luster that cheaper alternatives simply cannot replicate.
Artisan Craftsmanship: Each luxury sporran is built from the ground up in our Perth workshop. From the hand-rolled weighted tassels, to the custom engraving options, every detail is balanced for the perfect "hang" against the kilt.
Customization: Because we are the makers, we can offer bespoke finishes. Want a specific family crest engraved on a luxury silver cantle? We can make it happen.
Storage Tip: All our luxury fur sporrans are intended to be passed down, to increase the longevity of your sporrans life span, we recommend storing your sporran in the dust bag provided. Placing the sporran in a dust bag, flat with cloth or tissue under the tassels will prevent indentation marks overtime.

You can view our range of full-dress sporrans here.

Silver Fox Dress Sporran

The Traditional Collection- Timeless Scottish Craftmanship

The traditional sporran collection is the foundation of the Highland wardrobe. Inspired by the traditional sporran designs that never go out of fashion, these designs are built for the purist who values understated elegance and durability.

The Look: Pure, high-grade leather throughout. These designs feature intricate hand-stamping, petal-shaped flaps, and traditional leather tassels (knotted, plain, acorn).
When to Wear: Everything from a casual day out to a semi-formal wedding. It is the "correct" choice for any tweed jacket or a simple kilt-and-shirt look.
The Margaret Morrison Edge: We offer 11 distinct leather colours—from our deep Saddle Black to our rich, warm Cognac—allowing you to perfectly match your brogues and belt.

You can explore our range of tradtional sporrans here. Pelt Nan Creach Hunting Sporran

The Reeling Sporran: Engineered for the Dance Floor

If you’ve ever danced a Duke of Perth or a Reel of the 51st, you know that a standard sporran can be a liability. Our Reeling Sporran Collection is specifically engineered for Gentlemen who love to dance, combining historic "Goat Hair" aesthetics with modern stability.

The Design: These are "Long-Haired" sporrans, typically featuring horsehair or goat hair. They are designed to be longer and more flexible than a standard dress sporran, allowing them to move with you rather than bouncing against you.
The "No-Slip" Fit: We understand the physics of the dance floor. Our reeling sporrans are weighted and balanced to sit flush against the kilt, ensuring they stay centred during even the most high-tempo footwork.
When to Wear: Highland Balls, Ceilidhs, and any event involving traditional Scottish country dancing.
A Nod to History: This collection is a tribute to the Victorian and Edwardian era of Highland dance, making it the ultimate statement piece for the serious social dancer.

You can explore our full collection here.

The Duke of Perth Reeling Sporran

History of The Sporran

The word 'Sporran' comes from the Gaelic word for 'Purse'. As Traditional Kilts have no pockets the sporran was formed out of necessity and early versions as far back as the 12th Century were referred to as a scrip or small drawstring pouch made from doeskin or calf leather, most likely to carry oats whilst roaming the Scottish Highlands. Kilts back then were extremely functional, they fell to the knee but also wrapped over the shoulder, the whole thing secured at the waist with some type of belt. With the wool being warm and waterproof it helped protect against the fierce Scottish weather and unwrapped could be used as a cloak or even a blanket when sheltering at night. The sporran would hang from the belt on either side of the hip, whereas today the sporran hangs in the front of the Kilt.