June Kenton
June Kenton is a British businesswoman who owned Rigby & Peller for 29 years. She received the official Royal Warrant at the time of her purchase of the company in 1982.[1] Since then she has fitted several members of the British royal family, and several well-known actresses and entertainers.
Business career
Kenton and her husband purchased Rigby & Peller in 1982 for £20,000. Rigby & Peller were awarded a Royal Warrant on the establishment of their store in 1939, but this did not transfer to, and it was awarded separately to her when she bought the business in 1982.[2] In August 2011, they sold an 87 percent stake of the firm to Van de Velde for £8 million. Kenton remained on the board of the company, with her son David.[3]
After Kenton developed breast cancer, she created a line of lingerie specifically for mastectomy patients.[4] She discovered prosthetists were making prosthetics based on the size of the bra the woman believes she is wearing is correct and thus created her own line of corrected-fitted lingerie for mastectomy patients.[5]
She also rebranded Rigby & Peller, expanding to seven different locations worldwide including the US and Dubai.[6][7] She provided all the underwear and swimwear for How to Look Good Naked by Gok Wan as well as the movie Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.[8]
Kenton's clients have included Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, the Countess of Snowdon, Princess Margaret, Diana, Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton,[9] Kim Kardashian, Joan Collins, Jessie J, Lady Gaga,[10] Cherie Blair, Dawn French,[11] Scarlett Johansson, and Jo Brand.
Her autobiography Storm in a D Cup was to be published by Troubador (publishers) at the end of 2017.[12]
Awards and recognition
Kenton was awarded an honorary degree from Leeds Metropolitan University "in recognition of her lifelong services to the British intimate apparel industry.[13] She also has a Lifetime Achievement Award from the UK lingerie industry.[14]
Kenton was one of the speakers at the 2012 MT Inspiring Women Conference[15] and a charity evening for Jewish Child's Day in March 2017, entitled Fit for a Queen.[16]
References
- ^ Syrett, Alison. "Go Inside the World of June Kenton, H.M. Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Bra Fitter". FashionIsta. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Rigby & Peller Clothing & Accessories". Rigby & Peller. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Rigby & Peller's undercover job as it looks at growth in North". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ Carter, Grace. "Rigby & Peller". The Genteel. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ Armstrong, Rebecca. "June Kenton: Lingerie tycoon's breast cancer fight". The Independent. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ Clarke, Sarah. "Rigby & Peller opens flagship store in Dubai". Lingerie Insight. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "5 minutes with… the legendary June Kenton of Rigby & Peller". The Mother Ship. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "People: June Kenton, Rigby & Peller – Supporting the bra industry". Drapers Online. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ Clinton, Leah. "The Bra Expert That Fits Kate Middleton and the Queen Talks Royal Underpinnings". Glamour. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ Lara, Maria Mercedes. "Kim Kardashian's Lingerie Taste Is Fit for a Queen". People Style. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ Lipman, Jennifer. "Rigby & Peller sold to Belgian company". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Storm in a D-Cup The autobiography of the driving force behind Rigby & Peller". Troubador. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Rigby & Peller owner June Kenton awarded an Honorary Degree". Invest in Your Chest. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Storm in a D Cup". June Kenton. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ Anderson, Elizabeth. "Queen's bra maker says state of retail is 'horrific'". Management Today. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "An Evening with June Kenton". Jewish Child's Day. Retrieved 28 February 2017.