Chinanews.com, Guiyang, April 1st. Title: One needle and one thread creates the spirit of craftsmanship: An interview with the story behind the 40-year career of a 60-year-old tailor
Correspondent Povens
In a tailor shop of less than 6 square meters, Zhang Huaiyou, who was over 60 years old, was sitting in front of an old-fashioned sewing machine and was busy modifying the size of a leather garment. The corner is gradually taking shape... With 40 years of old craftsmanship, it has been affirmed and appreciated by the neighbourhood.
The reporter came to Zhang Huaiyou's shop in Huaxi District, Guiyang City a few days ago and listened to him telling the story behind his forty years of insisting on tailoring craftsmanship.
The picture shows Zhang Huaiyou sitting in front of the sewing machine modifying his clothes.
Photo by Pu Wensi
Zhang Huaiyou, 67, is a native of Zhongxian County, Chongqing. In 1970, he was only 16 years old to earn a living by learning crafts from an old local tailor.
"At that time, the craft of tailoring was very popular. Like when we were learning the art, it was a pretty market. At that time, customers bought all the cloth in their homes, and then the customers asked us to bring the machine to the house to do door-to-door work. At that time, it was mainly for parents and tunic suits." To this day, Zhang Huaiyou still clearly remembers the prosperity of the tailoring industry at that time.
The picture shows Zhang Huaiyou cutting a suit.
Photo by Pu Wensi
After two years of hard work, Zhang Huaiyou has a solid mastery of tailoring skills.
In 1980, on the recommendation of a friend, Zhang Huaiyou left his hometown and went to Guiyang alone.
In the beginning, Zhang Huaiyou mainly set up temporary stalls to receive customers' fabrics. With excellent craftsmanship and affordable prices, he soon won the trust of customers and opened the market.
The picture shows Zhang Huaiyou's tailor shop in a street.
Photo by Pu Wensi
With more and more orders for processing, Zhang Huaiyou thought about opening a tailor shop. In the 1990s, he began to order fabrics from Zhanjiang, Guangdong, and fully custom-made clothes, ushering in the peak of his career.
"When I was most prosperous, I took four or five apprentices with me, and also invited a master to do it at home. I earned a few hundred yuan in a month."
With the development of the times, department stores, various clothing stores, and online shops have begun to rise, and old sewing shops will inevitably be affected. Zhang Huaiyou’s business has changed from customizing clothes to changing zippers, cutting hem, sewing trousers, and revising. Trivial tasks such as clothing size... Faced with such changes, Zhang Huaiyou has a calm mind.
The picture shows Zhang Huaiyou cutting the leather clothing that customers brought to the store to modify.
Photo by Pu Wensi
"The craft of tailoring must be done by someone, but it must be done according to the scale and the development of society." In Zhang Huaiyou's view, learning a craft as long as you learn it is fine and you don't have to worry about development.
"Like now I have learned it through large factories and regular schools, but it has also developed well, such as fashion design and working in large factories."
The picture shows Zhang Huaiyou using an electric sewing machine to sew.
Photo by Pu Wensi
I have been making clothes for decades, and I have never changed my original intention.
Over the years, whether he 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 his modified and stitched clothes are also well received by customers.
On the day of the interview, the reporter met from time to time guests coming for Zhang Huaiyou's craftsmanship.
The picture shows Zhang Huaiyou's handmade sewing buttons.
Photo by Pu Wensi
"I have been here three or four times. The first time I came to him to change his clothes, I saw that he was doing more delicately, so I continued to take the clothes to change here. He did it very carefully, and Master Zhang's craftsmanship has nothing to say. "Sister Huang, a resident who lives near the tailor's shop, is full of praise for Zhang Huaiyou's craftsmanship.
Sister Zhuo, who lives in Ganyintang, Nanming District, Guiyang City, was recommended by someone to find Zhang Huaiyou's shop.
“I’m listening to someone telling me that the master in this tailor shop in Huaxi has changed his clothes very well. Today I took the bus to find a dress to change. Only this kind of skilled old tailor can do it well. Everyone else It's not good."
The picture shows Zhang Huaiyou measuring the length of his pants.
Photo by Pu Wensi
Zhang Huaiyou's tailor shop has now become a place for people to rest and chat in the neighbourhood. On weekdays, everyone has a sewing and mending, and they are happy to ask him for help, and he always smiles and gets along with everyone.
Zhang Huaiyou told reporters that his children have now become families and businesses. 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.
The picture shows Zhang Huaiyou using an electric sewing machine to sew.
Photo by Pu Wensi
"If you have something to do, do it. If you don't have to do it, you can set up a group of friends and fellow villagers in the house. This kind of lifestyle is also fun. Opening the door means that you have regular meals. You must get up early in the morning to open It is regarded as a kind of exercise. Like us now in our 60s, we mainly exercise our body. We can move the meridians by stepping on this sewing machine at any time." Zhang Huaiyou laughed.
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