Male seamstress in the middle of mamas

July 1, 2024 11:32 pm | Posted in Business Profiles | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Len Garae.

As long as he has the design and materials for the ‘aelan deres’ or man’s shirt, David Yamaimai, 20, switches on his electric sewing machine and completes his product within record time.

On my arrival at the entrance of the shop across the street from BSP, I asked the Chinese owner if she has a boy seamstress inside.

She nodded and replied without a smile, “Yes, at the back”, and pointedto the far end of the 99.9 % female work environment.

I followed her direction and entered the colourful catacomb surrounded by an all mamas’ world of women sitting in front of their sewing machines with heads down while directing their machines.

I excused myself and was pointed to the far end where a young man in a cap was sitting behind his machine. He expected my arrival as I had just called him.

So where is David from and how did he land himself in the middle of professional seamstresses focusing on their designs while their machines go, “Zikzikzikzik”?

“My dad is part Tanna and Futuna while my mum is part Ambae and Pentecost”, he explained his good mix.

Of all males’ professions, how did he become a seamstress?

“My mum and dad are both former teachers. My mum’s younger sister is a professional seamstress who was formally trained to sew. She used to sew at various work places including Don Tailor’s at Number Two. She fell ill and moved in with us at Ohlen Mataso where we used to live, with all her sewing gear including her list of expatriate clients”, Yamaimai recalled.

“I have three elder brothers and no sisters and as the last born, I had no choice but to help my mum’s sister as a messenger. As she had an injury on her leg, she could not move around so she started sending me for small things around her and quickly I started to learn her trade by following her designs and cutting materials to help her.

“I was at secondary school at about 13 or 14 years old when she started teaching me to sew following her
designs.

“But then one of her brothers arrived from Pentecost and took her with him back to the island. Today she is understood to be sewing still after her recovery but she has not come back to Port Vila. However by then, her sewing spirit was already in me so I started sewing five or six years ago and I have not stopped since”.

How does it feel surrounded by women in his tiny cubicle?

He replied, “My relationship with the mamas is good. In fact we all help each other. When they need my help, I am there for them and vice versa. I enjoy my profession and I feel no sense of threat at all”.

While all her most colourful products on display are ‘aelan deres’ which he has tailored according to his clients designs, I asked him to show me a shirt and he pulled one out on a hanger. The word is ‘strikingly beautiful’ and I asked him how much it costs. “Sorry this is an order waiting to be collected”, he replied with a smile.

“So how many of your products have you sold so far?”, I asked him.

He replied with his trade mark smile and shook his head meaning too many to remember from the top of his head.

Would he be able to tell me approximately how much he earns a month from his sewing?

“On a good month like July 30th and December 25th, I would easily make Vt500,000!”, he shrugged.

What advice can he give to his generation of unemployed young people?

“Don’t depend on your parents because they are not getting any younger. Don’t look down on yourself
either. Think outside the box to identify ways to earn your own living. Learn to observe what other people are good at to earn money and see if you can perhaps do something similar to start earning your own way through life”, he recommended.

He disagreed with any school student or former student who due to peer pressure, end up smoking marijuana or cigarette and drinking kava and or alcohol.

“I don’t drink kava or take any drug as I need a clear head at all times to work to keep my clients happy as well as to support mum and dad and even my elder brothers who have their own families”.

While I admired his cubicle filled with new dresses and shirts, Yamaimai said, “This is empty, my customers have collected all their orders”.

Asked how his clients react when they receive their orders on completion, he said, “They are impressed and express words to the effect that my skills are second to none. I wish to thank all the mamas for the sound team spirit that we all have come to build and I look forward to its continuation for the benefit of
each and every one of us”.

Asked how potential clients can reach him, he replied, “I have just set up my FB Page under ‘Made to wear’. If you want that ‘aelan deres’ or shirt to your particular taste, bring your design and materials and come and talk to me. There is no design that I have not been able to do yet. You can call me on 7347409”.