TAILORS

 TAILORS

OLD SCENARIO

Of the different functionaries known to us, Tailors are a clan worthy of keen consideration. Times were when tailors use to push a trolley mounted with a sewing machine and look for assignments at our door steps. Even more common were the ones carrying a sewing machine with a hand rotor to propel the stitching device. They had in their kit, a range of threads of different hues to convince the women folk who would themselves ascertain if the man has the right shade of stitching thread; if not, would insist on the right material for assigning the work. More than the art of tailoring, carrying ‘tailor-made’ answers to the volley of questions flung at him was the first need for a tailor to win assignments.

Quite amazing it is, if we see how in a matter of hours, those tailors use ‘model’ items or sample items to adapt to the new fabric, cut the cloth and stitch them to dimension , fix the buttons/ button holes or hooks and catch and so on.  With all the intricacies of work and the stiff demands from those customers, the men used to stay under a shelter 2 feet wide and briskly churn out item after item. Whether intelligent or not the home-makers are clever. Peeping through the window they assess the working speed and the local patronage shown to the tailor. Once convinced of the man’s efficiency, 7 or 8 women from houses on either side of the work-spot, hand over work to the ‘unknown’ tailor. It all begins with two women who spot the ‘tailor’ and offer assignments on strict terms; those tailors are no less intelligent. The tailors have the nuances of quick working, amiable disposition towards prospective supports and try to strike a decent bargain of fair workmanship on terms of nominal wages. The strategy of cashing in on the opportunity relates to employing the most polite language taking utmost care in utterance of words even on the face of harsh bargains by women. This was the modus operandi decades ago.

NOW

Now-a-days women throng tailor shops devoted for women costumes. Of late, costumes for women are rich in vacant spots with windows, window bars and such criss-cross connections running in different directions. Cut and waste is the modern method in stitching of women garments. 

Men seldom try to make use of the services of street tailors and they prefer to visit shops where a team of men are functioning with no time to even look up. Their legs and hands co-ordinate to follow the stitch line and the coded info scribed in tailor chalk. Men rely on the ‘hear-say‘, about tailor’s ability and assign work to men recommended by friends. Friends are as much dull heads as the man himself. Men are tolerant to the vagaries of stitching; ‘enough if something is worn’ is their attitude. They don’t waste their time looking for matching garment. Imagine, what would it be if men were to wear exact match for pants and shirts? Would just look like class 5 civic services uniform. Looking for the ‘best tailor’ is also just a myth as everyone goofs up on and off.  This time it is for us. No one is safe.

Prof. K. Raman