Where will you sit? Here, take this stool. There is hardly any space for customers if all of us are on our sewing machines. Times have changed but I still have a faithful clientele. My father, P. Chellappan, began this tailoring shop about 70 years ago. Then it was, I think, the only such tailoring shop in Vazhuthacaud. Our shop was right by the side of the main road. In those days, there wasn’t so much of traffic and all those who had shops here knew each other.
At present, this has become a busy area and there are many shops and business establishments. The last road widening has forced us to shift to this place just behind a shop on the main road. Yet, we are visible from the road. The owner has been kind enough to permit us to continue here.
I began to help my father here as soon as I completed my class 10 from City High School, which used to be near the PMG Junction. I doubt if the school exists now. I was 15 then. My father taught me all that I know about cutting and tailoring. I am 64 and I continue to use the same sewing machines, Usha, Singer and Merrit, which were all bought by my father. If there is a problem, I have a person who comes here to repair it for me.
Yes, there have been many changes in fashion. But most of my time is spent on tailoring and cutting blouses. That was how it has been and that is how it is now. When I began working here, it used to cost Re one to get a blouse stitched. Now it varies from Rs.100 onwards. For many years, we had a person who did the cutting for trousers and shirts. After he passed away, I stopped taking orders for school uniforms and such. Now, it is only garments for ladies.
How much I earn depends on the season. Till a few years ago, it was the month when schools reopened and during Onam. Till about two decades ago, most of the students of Cotton Hill used to wear full skirt and blouse and there were many who got their uniforms tailored here. Once this trend of churidars began, no one wants full skirts. The only time there is some demand for it is during Onam. My peak period is the festival season in August-September. I have to work around the clock to complete the orders. But it is this shop that has helped me earn a livelihood. We have been living in Palayam since my father’s time. At present, my wife, Vasantha, and I are the only ones at home. I have married off my only daughter and my youngest son is working in Bahrain. He does know tailoring but he is into electrical work. My eldest son passed away nine months ago.
Work has to go on and there are fussy customers who don’t like to wait. I have three employees. My daughter also knows tailoring and I hope one of my children will run the place after me.
(A weekly column on men and women who make Thiruvananthapuram what it is)
