Photo by Peter McCradySampling of the British Isles comes to capital city
Featuring Celtic designs and kilts normally seen at a Renaissance festival, Things Celtic seeks to provide a unique experience for customers every time they walk through the doors.
"People can come in here and shop and get something they can't get anywhere else," owner Lanora Davidson said. "You can get things here that nobody else in Texas sells."
Davidson said the store is the largest Celtic import stores in a five-state region. Though Things Celtic specializes in imported goods from Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the store also carries items from Canada and the U.S.
In March the store will celebrate its 15th anniversary. Some of the most popular items in the store include traditional and modern kilts, jewelry and other Celtic-themed accessories and decorations.
Things Celtic offers kilt rentals for weddings as well as custom-made kilts, budget kilts and more contemporary kilts made from a cotton-poly blend fabric with cargo pockets.
"You can wear the [contemporary kilts] every day. They're washable, and they have pockets," Davidson said. "They're kind of the urban kilt."
The stores sells more than 300 kilts a year, Davidson said, to customers motivated by a variety of reasons, including weddings, heritage research and people who just like to dress up.
"Kilts are just really, really comfortable," Davidson said. "[Many] men who try one on as a joke then walk out of the dressing room saying, 'I love this.'"
Davidson said she tries to go to Ireland and Scotland once per year to meet the people making the products and discover new items for her shop.
"We try to keep as many of the products in the store as authentic as possible," she said.
Things Celtic always does a family-friendly St. Patrick's Day celebration at the store and on the business's back patio, Davidson said. The event will include bagpipes performances.
Things Celtic, 1806 W. 35th St., 512-472-2358, www.thingsceltic.com, Hours: Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m.
