Case study - FASHION LAB

Frolence Become the Breadwinner

As of September 2021, it had been seven months since my husband had stopped working. He was a security personnel at a company in town, but due to COVID-19 and its associated economic consequences, he was let go. Many people assumed that our family was going to starve since the normal breadwinner was stuck at home. On the contrary, we have not only survived, but we are on our way to thriving! 

My name is Florence Lemani Daniel, I am 40 years old  and I am a living example of how the Mayamiko Trust’s tailoring program is transforming lives.  Before 2017, I was an ordinary woman, staying at home and sometimes taking part in small-scale temporary businesses activities like selling charcoal, vegetables or fried snacks. Sometimes I would sell charcoal stoves. Whenever I had some significant capital, I would go as far as Chipata, Malawi or the Zambian border in Mchinji district to sell; and, whenever made a profit, I would keep some for household needs and the rest to help my husband in buying construction materials for our house.

When I heard of an opportunity to take part in Mayamiko Trust’s Tailoring programme, I did not hesitate to get involved. I had seen how some women were able to transform their lives by becoming seamstresses. Fortunately, my husband’s workplace was in the area where the training was taking place and he was equally committed to making sure that all challenges to reaching my goals were overcome. Every day,  after dropping our kids at school, he would carry me on his bike and drop me at the Fashion Lab on his way to work.

During the first days, I thought I was not going to make it. Right from the word go, tailoring demands concentration; it involves making precise calculations in drafting patterns, proper measurements and precision stitching. Using the sewing machine and other tools also requires stability. Tailoring has its own vocabulary and I needed to memorise it. At one point I thought the course was asking too much from a simple woman like me whose literacy levels were basic. However, I was determined to get the knowledge which I was sure would help me transform my life.  Our trainer was very patient with us; she made sure that each one of the trainees was supported, based on our learning speed and competencies.

With determination, I overcame all the challenges and after 3 months I felt confident I was learnings something new; after 6 months went by, we had successfully completed the course. Since enrolling on the tailoring course, I had dreamed of transforming my family life, but little did I imagine that the skills gained would save us from financial shame. With the machine which Mayamiko Trust gave each of the graduates, I started tailoring various kinds of clothes. My first clients were friends and they helped by spreading the word of my new endeavour. Little by little, more people started coming for tailoring of new clothes or mending of their old clothes.  Despite facing late payments by many customers, I still noted some level of stability from my tailoring income.

As a family, we had purchased a small piece of land for house construction which was going a snail’s pace due to the intermittent flow of income. With income improving, by the time my husband lost his job we had already occupying our house. We no longer have to worry about rent and this was a relief! Our children, who attend private school, have not stopped going to school. We are still able to pay their school fees of MK20,000 and MK25,000 per term because, regardless of my husband not working, we still have an income from my tailoring business. I have been able to support my husband by purchasing pigs, ducks and chickens.  Starting with three pigs, one has now reared eight little ones -- some of which we were able to sell. We have constructed animal enclosures within our compound as we have the space. 

The day I realised I had become popular in the tailoring business was when I was invited by Chisomo Idea, a local NGO supporting orphans and vulnerable groups in my community.  They wanted someone to assist a tailoring trainer targeting youth and women in my community. Since then, every time the organisation has scheduled tailoring training, they contact me and we sign a contract. As if that is not enough, Chisomo Idea recently contacted me to make 1000 re-usable face masks. I was doing the work at their offices where they have all the materials needed and I just bring my skills - thanks to Mayamiko Trust. Every time I receive over MK50, 000.

My husband has now been jobless for over six months, but if not told no one would know! He is at home taking care of our livestock and supervising the construction of a fence. There is always something to do at home whenever he is not looking for a job. We will survive!

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