Sew it seams tailor Ron is to retire from town after 53 years
It’s a career that has suited Ron Kinslow for more than 50 years, but possibly Kent’s longest-serving tailor is to roll up the tape measure for good from today (Thursday).
The 68-year-old outfitter who has been a familiar face in Maidstone stores since 1969 is retiring.
Ron, from Foxden Drive, first came across the profession by chance at the age of 15.
“I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t have any idea what I was going to do when I left school,” he admitted.
“I was in a bit of a quandary as I didn’t pass any exams and only the posh kids went to university.
“I happened to be walking along Week Street. There was an advertisement for a junior salesman in the window of Burton. I went in, had the interview about a week later and started the job in 1969.
“I did also go for a job in Aylesford, working at the paper mill, but I didn’t get it as I couldn’t work with big machinery.
“My vision sort of decided what job I could do, because I’m visually impaired.”
Ron has an eye disorder called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), caused when he was born three months premature.
Weighing no more than a bag of sugar, he was given too much oxygen treatment as a baby, which killed the nerve in the back of his eye.
This made Ron blind in the left eye, but saved his life.
“But it hasn’t stopped me in doing what I want to do, and was a small price to pay.” he adds.
Ron started his career at Burton men’s clothing and suit shop.
His role was to serve and help customers with their ‘suiting requirements’, providing measuring and fitting expertise.
From there he has worked at multiple menswear stores throughout the decades, including John Collier and Hepworths in Week Street, Simmonds in Gabriel’s Hill and currently Skopes within House of Fraser in Fremlin Walk.
Over the years, Ron has witnessed many changes in fashion trends and shopping habits.
“I think online has made a massive difference to the retail industry, and Covid has not helped.
“A lot of people probably think: ‘Why should I go into a shop when I don’t get the proper service? I might as well buy online’.
“People’s habits have changed, and I think online is unfortunately the way it’s going.
“There are certain people that will always like to dress smart, and there are others that are not too bothered.
“But I believe there’s always going to be a niche there, even though that niche is getting smaller and smaller.”
From £4, 19 shillings and 11 pence per week handed to him in a little brown envelope to £160 a week part-time, Ron adds: “Money isn’t everything, and there’s nothing worse than being paid a massive wage, but hating every minute.
“You’ve got to be happy in what you do, and I’ve always been quite happy in what I do.”
‘I believe there is always going to be a niche there, even though that niche is getting smaller and smaller’