Consumate professionalism or professional idiot?
No matter how much money you make, no matter how famous your clients may be, when you’re in a line of work such as tailoring, inevitably people will tell you that the world has changed, and people no longer are willing to pay such amounts for a suit. Some are a bit less straightforward and ask how one can survive as an independent and slightly eccentric tailor. I wish I could tell them, but I can’t. All I know is that it works, there are actually people left on this planet who value beauty and quality, and who are willing to pay for it.
This means that I am an extremely lucky tailor, because I can’t do anything else. Sure, I could write a book, or build a house, or be a ceo. And I’d have fun doing it as well, but I can not do anything except make suits. Like I said before, it is my passion, I’m thrilled when I see a client liking his new clothes. Nothing gives me quite as much satisfaction as hearing: “Just what I wanted!”
One way of looking at this attitude, is the conventional approach and one could therefore call my state of being: ‘consumate professionalism’, and yes it applies to me. But that is such a technical and dull word, and it doesn’t really cover the subject. I would much rather see myself as a Professional Idiot, even at the risk of being misunderstood. Because I am madly passionate about my work, and this to the point of being a little odd about it. Call it eccentric if you like, but I am a tailor. I make suits, that’s what I do, and that’s all I do.
Some kind souls come to me with novel (or sometimes not-so-novel) ideas. Often, it goes something like this: Do you know what would be a really good business opportunity for you? Bathing suits and bikini’s. There is a lot of demand for special designs, I’m certain you’d sell lots of them! Wedding gowns! These things sell at such crazy prices, you’d be richer than anyone in no time! Sails for yachts! Big market! Rich clients! Made-to-Measure! Big big business! A friend of mine who breeds horses came with another idea, which was to make clothes for horsemen. And so on and so forth. A new idea every week.
Well, thank you for your concern, my friends, but I’m afraid that all these ideas, no matter how much fun or how enriching, are just not for me. I could do it, any of them (though I admit i’d need to learn how to cut bathing suits 
, but why on earth would I? So that I can make more money? Well, if that’s the drive, read me again, because I’m afraid you missed a point or two about me.
Seriously, if I’d be after the cash, I wouldn’t be a tailor. I’ve nothing to complain about, but the expression ‘My tailor is rich’ is very archaic and mostly English. Most of us get by, and some do well, but we all know that there are ways to get rich that are far easier.
I’ll even tell you this: a few months ago, I was offered a marvelous job. It would involve moving down to the south of Spain, to the region of Andalusia, where I would be responsible for the the estate of a very very good friend. In terms of work it would be quite a laid-back situation, the pay would be quite alright, and it would generally be a leisurely life in the sun. Any sane person would jump at the opportunity, but then, I’m not that sane, I guess.
Again, I’m madly passionate about tailoring, therefore I am proud to say that:
I am a Professional Idiot.
Any takers?
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