Spools of Time

I often frequent Chinatown for their variety of interesting items that are considered a rarity in the urbanized streets of Singapore. However, what that really caught my eyes are a few tailor shops there that are being handled solely by women in their 50s and over who are also the breadwinners of their families, and also the large variety of textile stores that they work very closely with.

I also caught sight of the traditional sewing machines that were mainly used in almost all of the tailors' that were apparently passed down from generation to generation, worn out and battered from the constant usage.

Then I begin to wonder. Once these tailors retire from their old age, will their daughters take over the family business, use that very same sewing machine with love and care and be able to pass it down to her next daughter or daughter-in-law, along with the family business? With the variety of better paying jobs that are available out there, the daughters are spoilt for choice. Which person would pick such a labour intensive job, with no constant pay?

Tailor shops like these used to be in abundance in the past and were doing well in terms of business. But now, with the large amount of online tailor stores and mass-tailoring services in the more urbanized areas of Singapore, these tailor stores were easily forgotten, being located at areas less popular and frequented. And so I wonder, will these tailor stores slowly drift out of existence, long forgotten and left behind? I guess it's highly possible.

Goh Zhi Ying DA03
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