WORLD CUP FRENZY EMERGES AS A BLESSING FOR TAILORS IN HILLS

Amitava Banerjee, HT,2 June 2014, DARJEELING: It has always been a Herculean task for 45 year-old Majid Ali to sew the pieces of his life together. In the present age of readymade garments, survival is difficult for a small time tailor. However, the 2014 FIFA World Cup frenzy that has gripped the Darjeeling Hills has emerged as a blessing for Ali and many others like him.

Darjeeling once upon a time was famous for her tailor’s specially the suit stitching masters. Having been a colonial hub the tailor masters, as they were popularly known, were renowned for their cuts and stitches, way before the days of pasting machines.

People from all over India and neighbouring countries like Bhutan and Nepal used to get their suits stitched inDarjeeling. With readymade garments taking over, soon the tailor shops were forced out of business. Many downed shutters while others survive by doing odd jobs like mending and altering.

“This is our family business. My father used to support a joint family from this tailoring shop. Now I hardly can make the two ends meet. It is more of mending and altering of readymade garments that my business relies on these days. But for the past one month things have changed for the better with the FIFA World Cup round the corner. We are expecting good business till the end of the tournament,” said Ali.

With the world cup frenzy kicking in, flags and banners of participating countries are selling off the shelves like hot cakes. Tailors like Ali are working round the clock churning out flags for diehard fans.

“The flags cost R150 to R 400/depending on the size, intricacy of design. I have sold flags of Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain, Portugal and England. The highest selling are the Brazil flags. It takes around 45 minutes to cut and stitch a flag. On an average I have been selling 15 to 20 flags on a day,” stated Ali.

Some day’s lady luck shines with bulk purchases made by shopkeepers from neighbouring areas like Ghoom and Lebong along with local stores. The market is competitive with around 50 tailors stitching flags. “Every World Cup we have good business but it is innovative ideas that gives me an edge. I have survived three world cups. During the first one I was a student but used to help my father in manufacturing these flags. This year we started more than a month ago and it has been good business till now,” said 33 year-old Bikash Bhitrikoti.

This World Cup Bhitrikoti has involved an artist friend who does fabric painting on the flags. “I browse the net for new designs. I sometimes modify to create interesting designs. I charge according to the effort put in” added Bhitrikoti.

Source & Courtesy: amitavaht.wordpress.com