Caption: AnnMary sewing clothes Photo: Elsea Wekesa
“Tailoring is my skill, I have always been drawn to it because I remember watching a neighbor work on a sewing machine, turning plain fabrics into fitting clothes, and I thought to myself, I could also do that sometime,” said Annmary.
Her interest grew quietly over time. She began sewing using a needle, then later taught herself how clothes were made, how seams were joined, how measurements worked, and how different materials behaved. Though she didn’t have formal training at the time, her passion was clear.
The strong desire to pursue tailoring professionally made Annmary enroll herself at a local county polytechnic, where no tuition fees are charged, but farm produce is given to the school for food in exchange for learning.
She afforded that. She began with Grade 3, which is the entry level in tailoring. Here, she learned how to operate a sewing machine, how to handle fabrics properly, basic stitching techniques, how to use cloth patterns, and the importance of accurate measurements.
She now plans to advance to Grade 2, where she will gain deeper knowledge in garment construction. Eventually, she hopes to complete Grade 1, where she will master high-level skills like making alterations and garment corrections. Annmary is determined to complete the full course because she believes that with proper training, she can grow her skills and make tailoring a steady source of income.
Regardless of the basic, level training she has gone through, she still sews clothes, especially uniforms for school going children. During peak celebratory seasons like December, her hands are usually full, since most villagers buy new clothes for Christmas, and she gets some income to support her children.
When United Kenya Rising (UKR) met Annmary, she and her three children were living in a small single-room house. Life was difficult. The children were often sent home from school due to unpaid fees, and the family struggled to make ends meet.
UKR stepped in and supported her with the construction of a dignified home, which includes a semi-permanent house, a separate kitchen, a bathroom, and a latrine. The school fees for her children were also cleared, allowing them to continue learning without interruption.
Annmary was fortunate to be lent a sewing machine by a friend. After moving into her new house, she has converted the small structure where she previously lived into a simple tailoring shop. That shop has now become her working space.
UKR has also supported her with her own sewing machine. With this, Annmary believes she will be able to expand her work. She is especially optimistic about the busy seasons, like the December holidays and back-to-school periods, when demand for uniforms and celebration clothes increases. She hopes to save profits from those times to continue improving her home.
She wants to plaster her house with cement, install a ceiling board, and furnish the rooms one by one. But for now, her focus is tailoring, where she plans to incorporate the selling of fabric to boost her business.
