Those who grew up in the 80s and 90s may recall the presence of a sewing machine at home. These were mostly owned by our mums. They occasionally used them to make our school uniforms or some interesting home clothes. That was quite a DIY in those days. Times have changed, and I doubt if this happens anymore. Some homes still have this relic, but most likely gathering dust in a corner or rotting away in the garage.
Why the sewing machine in the house?
Understanding the whole concept behind this holds the key to unlocking what is holding back the apparel industry in Kenya. This idea was partly a colonial heritage where ladies of the house were masters of some basic skills like cooking, baking, and yes, sewing. There was also government policy that encouraged the acquisition of these machines, especially by civil servants and teachers in the 80s and early 90s.
However, the big idea behind these machines was not well executed. These machines were supposed to be the seeds from which the apparel cottage industry was to spring, like it did in China and other countries mainly from the East.
Then, we ask a question: did our mums need to go to a tailoring school to use these machines? The answer is no. Why? You see, there are two things to note:
- Using a sewing machine requires little training, and with practice, you can easily perfect the art. In less than a month, one can create simple garments.
- The garments produced at homes or in the cottage industries are cut using patterns made by highly skilled pattern makers, and what is done in the house is garment construction. So, if you want to make your son a pair of trousers, you need to buy the fabric and the trouser pattern. Then, trace on the fabric and join the pieces. That is what is happening in cottage industries elsewhere in the world. You don’t need any special training to do this!
We need to get the sewing machines back in our homes! How?
We need to make good patterns available in the market. These should be created using computer-aided designs (CAD) to increase efficiency.
JEDMAC FASHION INCUBATOR Ltd has already established an apparel incubation facility that will:
- Upgrade the skills of existing pattern designers and train them on CAD.
- Create patterns using computer-aided designs for training in TVET institutions and train trainers on interpretation and use of the same.
- Campaign for the adoption of patterns in apparel making in Kenya, especially in the informal sector.
With this initiative, our TVET graduates, energetic retirees, or anyone seeking a side hustle can enter the apparel business with very little training in their own homes, and our sewing machines will be back to the place they once were… and be more impactful.
