The Story Of My Business Journey - Part #1 (Becoming a Tailor)

When I was about to write this article, I was silent while thinking for a while. Yeah! I was confused in choosing the topic to be written.

The reason is: almost all the ideas and topics of writing have been discussed in the previous article.

Finally, appear my idea to write a story about my business journey.

This topic is about personal stories, but hopefully, this story can be useful and be an inspiration to you all. 😊

The story of this business journey I will make in the format continued. Maybe I will write up to 10 series.

Why this article series so too long?

Because the story that I will tell this has lasted more than 25 years, i.e., since 1993.

A very long and winding business journey. Full of joy and sorrow!

Well, the story of this business journey starts from the earliest times.

Namely:

Becoming a Tailor (Period from 1993 to 2002).

Yes! I was once a tailor (received formal/semi-formal dress).

This profession takes since I was 15 years old (1993) until I was 23 years old (2002).

So, for almost ten years I work as a tailor.

This sewing skill I got from my father. And indeed, this profession has been lived by my extended family, since the time of my great-grandfather first. All my grandfathers, both from the mother or on the father's side are both works as a tailor.

This is not a strange thing, because once the profession as a tailor is very promising a good prospect.

When the era of the 60's to 70's style semi-formal clothes are fashionable.

Other exciting readings: YOU WANT TO SUCCEED? TRY TO GO WANDER!

Koes Plus, one of the legendary bands from Indonesia with the style of semi-formal clothes.

What is the semi-formal clothes suit mode? Namely clothing made of cotton and cut bray-style pants.

The above semi-formal clothes suit is usually identically made by a tailor. In contrast to apparel made of synthetic materials such as a T-shirt or jeans that are generally made by convection with a large scale. Well, in the era of the 60s to 70s it very rarely stands the convection industry, so the tailors experience the glory at that time.

As proof of the glamor of the tailor in that era is: both my grandfathers (from mother and father side) were able to build large houses in Riau and West Sumatra.

The work as a tailor is also very identical owned by people who come from the area of ​​West Sumatra.

In the past, in the market or along the bustling highways, definitely very easy to find this tailoring business.

According to my grandfather's story, in the 60s and 70s, a man who works as a tailor is the best son-in-law. Hehe ☺.

Maybe you feel curious, then ask: "what is the cause?"

The reason is apparent: because in that era a tailor had a high income! 😁

As I mentioned above that in the era of the 60s-70s, formal and semi-formal clothes suit was trending for young people at the time.

Try to see the photos of your grandfather in the era of 60-70s first. On average they wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers with the cut bray mode.

Well, since formal and semi-formal clothes suit became fashionable at the time, so this tailor profession was experiencing its heyday. Especially when the convection industry is still very little, so the tailor does not have a rival.

Therefore, tailors are the very promising profession at that time, so many parents that want his son to become a professional tailor.

For the sake of realizing the ideals that, so many parents who 'entrust' his son to learn sewing skills to 'the teacher.' I.e., the tailor professional who has been famous in the area.

Other exciting readings: WANDERING TO THE CITY OF PADANG (My Story)

During the learning process, that child is like people who are studying martial arts in the classic style of a drunken kung fu movie Jacky Chan. 😂

Maybe you re-feel curious, and asked: "how the learning processed?"

So, here it is,,,,,,

In the past, the parent of that child (usually) gave a 'gift' 3 coins (Rupiah) made of gold to 'the teacher.' All of that is given in return for 'honorarium services,' so the son is taught sewing skills.

(FYI, in the old days the General Printing Company of the Republic of Indonesia (PERURI) once produce coins made of gold. To my knowledge, per chip is worth 2.5 grams of pure gold).

Throughout a year, in addition to learning to create patterns and sewing skills, that boy must also be willing to help all the 'teacher' jobs in everyday life. Tasks like opening a sewing kiosk at 8:00 am, sweeping out kiosks, going to the market to shop for materials or stitching tools, ironing clothes, and so on.

Practice and how to teach students like this is commonly done by the tailors of that era. It lasts from generation to generation, since Dutch colonial times.

Because this way has been going on for decades, so such practices gradually turn into DOCTRINE!
That is, something that must be done by the students! So that the protege is like a 'servant' his teacher.

Unfortunately, this practice over time shifted be exploit the tailor's child. This happens when the tailor's profession begins to decline in the 80s and 90s.

Why a tailor profession suffered a setback?

Because there has been a change in trend and dress mode, in the 80s began trending style casual clothes in the form of T-shirts and jeans. This type of clothing is usually produced by the convection industry. That's why in the era of the 80-90s began a lot of standing clothing convection industry.

And this change is like a domino effect and snowball because of the type of clothing like jeans and T-shirts most suitable for sale in malls and supermarkets. So as a result more and more standing supermarkets and malls in the era.

All of the above changes, making the tailor profession getting 'dead'.

If in the era of 60-70s they could 'take advantage' of children who were entrusted by others as their servants, in the 80s and 90s they could not do that anymore.

What is the cause?

Because there are no more parents, who leave their children to be taught to be a tailor. Because the tailor's profession has no prospect anymore.

Finally, who becomes the next 'victim'? To be a 'waiter' every day?

Exactly your answer! The next victim is the son of the tailor himself!

This practice has happened and experienced by my father. Dad was 'forced' by grandpa to help all his work. And my dad also applied the same thing to me.

This pained tale has been completed I have written in the following article: A LONG AND WINDING ROAD IN THE VALLEY OF LIFE (My Story)

But I am still grateful because the pain from this practice of 'child exploitation' is only myself who experienced it. The next generation will never experience again.

What is the cause?

Because the tailor era is 'extinct.' The tailor's era has ended because being drowned by the changing times, and also crushed by the brutal domination of the garment industry's giants and convection.

And I've seen the signs of the 'extinction' of this tailor's profession when I was growing up, in the middle of 2002. By then I was 23 years old.

That's when I started to decide to stop being a tailor. A 'heritage profession' that I have lived for almost ten years.

At the end of 2002, I started wandering to find the experience as a merchant.

My first career as a trader was to sell DVD in Pandeglang area, Banten province. This story will be told in full in the next article series. Titled: THE STORY OF MY BUSINESS JOURNEY - Part #2 (Selling DVDs in Banten, West Java)

The next story I will write as soon as possible. I am coming soon. 😉

An auspicious greeting is always for you all. ☺

If you feel this article is useful, then share it. Hopefully, it can be helpful for your other colleagues.

Best regards.


The story is written and told by Izal.