KUANTAN: Most parents buy ready-made school uniforms for their children, but housewife Baziah Sallehudin decided to put her sewing skills to good use.
As the start of the new school term nears, Baziah, 34, has begun sewing baju kurung uniforms for her daughter and has even accepted orders from friends.
Baziah said she could make one set of baju kurung uniform for her 8-year-old daughter for less than RM10, which was about RM20 cheaper than ready-to-wear ones.
“I usually buy white and dark blue fabric (for primary school uniforms) when there is a promotion. I can sew two sets of uniforms for my daughter with four metres of cloth. The price of the material depends on the quality.
“Sometimes, neighbours and friends place orders for baju kurung uniforms for their children.
“I can also alter ready-to-wear uniforms as some of them need to be loosened,” said the mother of four at her house in Kampung Cempaka here recently.
When she was younger, Baziah said, her late mother, Wan Kamariah Wan Hassan, who died of cancer six year ago, used to sew school uniforms for her.
“Since my mother was blessed with talent for tailoring, she sewed primary and secondary school baju kurung uniforms for me.
“I learnt the skills from her and started to receive orders from neighbours and friends. I have never received formal training.
“Though it is easy to buy ready-made school uniforms, which are available in plenty of choices, not everyone can afford them.
“When I started, I wanted to make them only for my daughter, but when people found out I was sewing baju kurung uniforms, I started receiving orders. Some people buy the fabric and pay me to sew.”
She said she would also receive orders to alter uniforms in the first few weeks of the new school term.
Baziah, who also sews children and women clothing, said she usually asked her customers to provide a sample of the uniform for her to use as a guide.
“I seldom rely on body measurements as I feel it is best to sew according to another similar sample as the final product will still fit well,” she said, adding that she could make three to four sets of baju kurung uniforms in two days.
Asked if she would sew school uniforms for boys, Baziah said she was learning from the Internet how to sew collar pieces together.
“I have tried to sew the white uniform shirt, but I face problems sewing the collar. I guess it requires patience, time and sewing experience to get it done perfectly.
“I am learning and hopefully will be able to sew shirts soon.”
Baziah, who works as a tailor to support her fisherman husband, said she did not charge highly for her work as her customers were low-income earners.
“Some ask me to alter uniforms days before school starts. Some ask me to buy the cheapest fabric to sew uniforms as they cannot afford expensive ones.
“We may be struggling, but many others struggle harder.”