[Explanation] In front of an old-fashioned sewing machine, Zhang Huaiyou, who was over 60 years old, was busy revising the size and size of a leather garment. I saw him move skillfully, pushing back and forth with his hands, and the corners of the clothes gradually formed... With old craftsmanship, Zhang Huaiyou's tailor shop, which is less than 6 square meters, has a reputation among the neighborhood.

On March 30, the reporter came to Zhang Huaiyou's shop in Huaxi District, Guiyang City, and listened to him telling the story behind his forty years of insisting on tailoring craftsmanship.

  [Explanation] Zhang Huaiyou, 67, is a native of Zhongxian County, Chongqing. In 1970, Zhang Huaiyou, who was only 16 years old, made a living by learning crafts from an old local tailor.

To this day, Zhang Huaiyou still clearly remembers that the tailoring industry was booming at that time.

  [Concurrent] Tailor Zhang Huaiyou

  At that time, tailoring was popular. When we were learning crafts, it was like Qiaoshi today. At that time, we were basically door-to-door workers. Basically, after the cloth was pulled at home, the host brought the machine to the house. , (We) work as door-to-door workers at home.

At that time, it was mainly parent wear and tunic.

  [Explanation] After two years of hard work, Zhang Huaiyou has a solid mastery of tailoring skills.

In 1980, on the recommendation of a friend, he left his hometown and went to Guiyang alone.

At first, Zhang Huaiyou mainly set up temporary stalls to receive materials. With excellent craftsmanship and affordable prices, he soon won the trust of customers and opened the market.

With more and more orders for processing, Zhang Huaiyou thought about opening a tailor shop. In the 1990s, he began to order fabrics from Guangdong and fully custom-made clothes, ushering in the peak of his career.

  [Concurrent] Tailor Zhang Huaiyou

  With four or five apprentices, when he was most prosperous, he invited the master to do it at home.

The income is several hundred yuan (RMB) in one month.

  [Explanation] With the development of the times, department stores, various clothing stores, and online shops have begun to rise, and old sewing shops are inevitably affected. Zhang Huaiyou’s business has changed from mainly custom-made clothing to changing zippers, cutting pants, and Trivial tasks such as sewing trousers and changing the size of clothes... Faced with such changes, Zhang Huaiyou has a calm mind.

  [Concurrent] Tailor Zhang Huaiyou

  (Tailor) Affirmation still needs to be done by people, only according to the scale and the development of society.

To be honest, if you want to learn this craft, you have to learn fine. Now it is good to learn it through large factories and regular schools, such as fashion design and work in large factories.

  [Explanation] Decades of garment making, but the original intention has not changed.

Over the years, whether it is making clothes or changing clothes, Zhang Huaiyou has been knitting with every needle and thread in his hands. Many regular customers still prefer his hand-made clothes, and the clothes he modified and stitched are also widely praised by customers.

This morning during the interview, the reporter met from time to time guests coming for Zhang Huaiyou's craftsmanship.

  [Concurrent] Customer Ms. Zhuo

  I heard people say that this old tailor’s shop has changed clothes very well, so I came from Ganyintang and found their home. I felt quite satisfied. This master was quite responsible. He changed a dress. Generally, only this kind of master can change skirts well, and other people can't change them well.

  [Concurrent] Customer Ms. Huang

  I have been here three or four times. When I came to do it for the first time, seeing that he did it more delicately, I continued to come here and did it more carefully.

  [Explanation] Zhang Huaiyou is a tailor shop located in a street and lane, and now it has become a place for people to rest and chat in the neighborhood. Everyone has a sewing machine and is happy to ask him for help, and he always smiles and talks with the surroundings. Vendors get along well.

Zhang Huaiyou told reporters that his children are now married and established. He and his wife accompany each other, guarding this small world, keeping the mark of the times amidst the flurry of needles and threads, and enjoying life.

  [Concurrent] Tailor Zhang Huaiyou

  Do what you have to do, and if you don’t have to do it, set a stage with your friends and fellow villagers in the house.

I feel that I am now, anyway, this has become a way of life. Opening the door means that I have a regular meal schedule. I must get up early in the morning and open the door as a kind of exercise.

As we are now in our 60s, we mainly exercise our bodies. We can move the meridians by stepping on this (sewing machine) at any time.

  Reporter Pu Wensi from Guiyang, Guizhou

Editor in charge: [Wang Kai]