Archive - Thursday, 2 January 2003


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Patches to close in Tetbury after 32 years.

A SHOP in Tetbury which began with just £60 investment is closing down after 32 years.

Owners Ali and George Bristow first started Patches Ltd Fashions and Fabrics as a market stall in the town when they were 19.

Ali said: "We set up the business with literally no money and have gradually seen it grow.

"In the early days we had to work three nights a week in a restaurant to pay our way.

"But because we are both quite creative and enjoyed making crafts, it was the ideal job."

George said: "We are not closing through lack of business - in fact trade hasn't been busier - but we are branching out into other areas."

To begin with the shop sold craft items and then moved into selling a mixture of Indian clothes and various high street fashions.

Ali said: "I used to make all my own clothes and have always been interested in sewing and needlework.

"We used to make bags and leather skin belts and we used to buy t-shirts and then dye them.

"We always tried to do something original and we import a lot from the Far East."

After the market stall began to take off they moved into their first premises behind the town hall before moving to Talboys House and then finally moving to Long Street.

George said: "We were youngsters when we started and it was very adventurous.

"It all started with Patches and then we drifted into Artique - our other shop in Tetbury - which sells carpets, furniture and architectural items which are mostly all imported from the Far East."

Ali said: "We have run the shop for nearly 32 years and it's time for a change."

George said: "I was born and bred in Tetbury while Ali was brought up in Minchinhampton so its been great to build up our business in this town."

The business is continuing to expand though with numerous projects on the go.

For example George is currently involved in working with Afghan refugees teaching them to carpet weave and is constantly travelling to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

They have also been involved in supplying costumes for various BBC programmes and attributed their success to having very loyal staff, customers and suppliers and some good premises.

Ali said: "We were constantly thinking of ways to reinvent things and we have worked very hard."