At a tailor's shop

Watch-repairers, dressmakers (tailors), radio/TV servicemen..... have that uncanny habit of making you visit the shop often. They do not deliver the material on agreed schedule! It's quite common here. We have all of them here. Things are not thrown away, but repaired and reused as it is way cheaper than a new one. Tailors... they seldom deliver on time. Here is a picture in the shop where I took a picure of the tailor (not seen in the pic in fact) looking for my wife's stitched blouse in the shelf where he piles in his own order. The other two tailors are stitching away some other garments. They also stitch men's clothes. But this fellow is famous among the Ladies!! Does a nice neat job in stitching blouses, Salwars,etc. and is reputed for it. But the old habit of not delivering on time continues... if the customer scolds, he hangs his head down. The customer has to visit again! The piece of cloth is never taken up for cutting!

Hi Dinu! Thanks for the fascinating glimpse into the local tailor shop. We have nothing like that here, just dry-cleaning stores that say they also do alterations to clothing. I once took a skirt to one of these to have the elastic in the waistband replaced. It was done on time, but instead of hiding the elastic inside the waistband, they had stitched it to the outside! Perhaps it is better if the tailor takes a little longer and does a better job. Was your wife pleased with her blouse? Good of you to pick it up for her!

You can see her in the picture on the left. I did not use the flash as it is a 'candid' shot. Had to keep the hand still! Yes, as I told he does an excellent job, she was satisfied, as usual I must say. But any minor alterations in the material on trial, he will do it.... again, it is the same ordeal of visiting him, though he has sometimes delivered on time once or twice! Readymade garments are popular now, but the tailor has become an integral part of our lives here.

A woman from Australia moved into our area and she's a seamstress..used to work at a pattern company in the designing dept....she retired but now is busier than ever taking orders..now she does curtains, seat covers for boats and tunnel covers..she never gets to visit a lot anymore because she's in her sewing room...I sew and bought myself a Janome9000 sewing machine which also embroiders..picked up a cd with cutwork to make a blouse for myself but everytime I make something I feel self conscious sooo back to the store I go..sure wish I had a grand-daughter to sew for though...

We had been to the same shop again over the weekend. My DW was to give a stitching order. This tailor is an expert in ladies' dresses. This time, I took a few shots much to his amazement. He squats and works - on his desk there you can see.

At that time, the tailors are out of their machines for a break. Also there were no other customers unusually.

He keeps the orders there in that shelf - the material given by customers. He will have the measurements in his notebook and the piece(s) of material pinned beside it to identify the material. Another piece is pinned and given to the customer along with his acknowledgment slip.

Before going there, which is in fact under the shop that has matching cloth to the sari and other material. There is an opening in one corner here obscured by that pile of yellow cloths on the desk, to the narrow and steep staircase to take us down to the cellar into the tailor's shop.

Oh my how beautiful!!! I'm sitting here just admiring all that fabric!!!!!

I failed to mention that the colourful fabric are for blouses that will match the sari. They have to bring the sari and the salesgirl will hold it beside it to get the exact colour fabric which is later cut up to the desired length and given.