Overtime for tailors as demand for uniforms peaks

A tailor stitching uniforms in his shop at East Fort yesterday. By Faris Arakkal TAILORS are busy stitching uniforms as schools are getting ready to open in the coming week. They are working overtime to make the maximum out of the season. Previously, there was only one pattern in school uniform, but now it has become a trend to introduce more patterns. As a result, the number of the uniforms has increased and parents have to meet additional expenses on them. Tailors in the city charge Rs 120 for stitching a shirt and Rs 180 for a pant for boys while for girls it is around Rs 160 for a pinafore and Rs 150 for a churidar. The rate changes according to the length and width of the uniform. James, who has been in dress making for more than 20 years, used to work till late night during the season. Parents are a bit relieved as schools have opened a new system of providing the uniform directly. But there are complaints against the school management for making huge profit in this business. Since parents are not ready to take the risk of finding a good dress maker, they don't raise their voice against the management. When most of the tailors have the policy of making the hay while sun shines, City Tailors Thrissur, which has been in the field for 50 years, never takes up school uniform works. "I couldn't sleep a minute last week" says Praveen, who is the only tailor in his area. The season brings maximum crowd to his shop and often disputes occur with customers, adds Praveen. Though All Kerala Tailors Association has issued a price list for stitching each dress, none follows it. They all have different price tags! "Readymade uniforms in textile shops lack quality and are stitched out of bad polyester materials" says Naseer, who is a tailor form Vadookara. Naseer has got orders from different schools this year also. A few parents even approached the tailor at the time of their children's annual exam.