Ladies’ tailors make a killing this festival season

Madurai: While shops stitching women’s wardrobes are whirring through the day making a killing to contain the pandemonium that comes with festivals like Diwali, the men’s tailors are lamenting their plight as they have no stocks to keep them busy.

While, it was considered a good profession for a man a few decades ago, the number of young men who are eager to learn the skill is almost nil at present, except for those going to fashion designing schools.

C Rajamanickam, 50, owner of Sofine Tailors in Alagaradi, says that it is 33 years since he took up tailoring as a profession at a very young age. But it is no longer what it was. "We were once the most important citizens of any town and people considered it a pride to be acquainted with us, for they had their clothes stitched faster if they knew us,’’ he said. There were 11 men’s tailoring shops here once, but now there is only two.

He says that ten years ago, he used to employ extra men to work in his shop 50 days before a festival, and bookings for stitching clothes stopped 30 days in advance. They had to stitch thousands of shirts and trousers for men at that time. But, the entry of readymade garments has wreaked its damage on our business, and now online sales have added to the woes. Now, it is a boon if a tailor gets about 100 orders.

In 1985, a half sleeve shirt cost Rs 15 to stitch and a pants Rs 35. Today it is Rs 180 to Rs 200 per shirt and Rs 250 to Rs 300 for a pant. "But, I am not making even 10% of what I made wayback in 1985,’’ said J Janakiraman of Bibikulam. Ladies’ tailors on the other hand are making good money throughout the year, with a big profit margin during the festive and wedding seasons. K Murugeswari, the owner of Jenifer Tailors in Anna Nagar, says that she must employ extra hands and even outsource finishing touches to the blouses and tops to meet the demand.

There is no fixed price as far as stitching for women’s clothing is concerned, and a blouse costs between Rs 150 to Rs 1,500 based on the work. Many of the ladies’ tailoring units stopped taking orders from October 5 to manage the orders. "If they come late only one piece would be stitched for the festival,’’ she said. A handful of renowned men’s tailors who are still sought out to stitch coats and suits, but not festive clothes. "A few bring their readymade festive clothes for altering, for which we get about Rs 50 apiece. Some of the readymade clothes are not perfect fit for some men, but still they prefer them because they are cheap. But women will pay big for a perfect fit, as fit is an essential part of women’s clothing,’’ said Sambandan, a tailor in Arapalayam.


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