Last week I came up with an idea for New Hope’s sewing ladies to produce some simple, cool and modest shirts that the volunteers could buy and wear while working (because it’s practically impossible to find anything half decent around town) or for the vollies to buy as gifts for friends and family when they leave.
I thought that by giving them a project like this, it would give them something interesting to focus on (other than making pencil cases, small bags and very ethnic clothing), that they could learn business and perhaps sales skills, and some much-needed money in the process. If they work out, I said I’d help to sell the shirts into a boutique in Siem Reap so that the momentum and continue.
I’d bought a ‘prototype’ of a top that Gill had taken a fancy to in Kep last weekend and shared it with the head of New Hope’s sewing “department”, Srey Own, and together we worked out a plan of how we would move ahead.
So, today we kick-started New Hope Fashion with a visit to the local market accompanied by Teaching Assistant / Translator, Channa.
Srey Own is a qualified tailor having learned her trade in Phnom Phen. She wasn’t exactly thrilled with the simplicity of the shirt design but I assured her it was best to start with something basic and that it was what the Westerners (with the cash) really would prefer. I really hope so!
As you’d imagine, the range of fabrics was pretty limited, though they did have a surprising amount of pretty florals, which we’d decided to use as trim. Srey Own went to work selecting the fabric which I financed. They will pay me back the cost of the fabric and will pocket the rest amongst themselves (the sewing department).
By the end of the day, measured us all up for the various sizes, had cut out the majority of the shirts, and had already begun to sew the first. Two orders have been placed already, in absolute blind faith, but for US$20 per shirt, they’re hardly investment pieces!
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