What's up with tailors? They rarely ever meet deadlines and like to deviate from customer preferences

"Where's Friday? Where's that stupid boy called Friday?

Screamed the Tall big woman"

I knew if I laughed or made any indication that Friday was under the ironing table just right where she was standing he'll be a dead man.

She went on her rant,

"So no one will tell me where he is ba? After he promised me and swore my clothes will be ready two weeks ago? I have been coming and he's never around, he has suddenly ceased to exist in this part of the continent abi? He does not answer my call any more. The wedding is in two days and I have to leave for Enugu tomorrow, what will I do?"

If the scenario painted above sounds familiar it's probably because you’ve had dealings with that stupid boy called Friday. Ok maybe not this stupid boy called Friday but someone with Friday’s particular skill set. Then again, He does have the dual reputation of being awesome at his art and also not meeting deadlines, so who knows, you may have had dealings with this same Friday. What profession/skill am I referring to you might ask? Simply put, Tailoring.

What's wrong with Tailors I really have to ask? Why do they insist on taking on more work than they can handle and even when you as a patron take work to them, and see how swamped with work they may be caught up in, they use one smugness/attitude that only tailors can manage to tell you all the work you see them engaged in is nothing, your dress or outfit will be ready the very next day but because they don’t want to seem like braggers that is why they said one week. Come back next week and the farfetched stories will start pouring in. I heard a woman say some time ago that all tailors will end up in hell, that they lie more than lawyers these days. Sounds extreme  but you’d tend to agree when your tailor say his last kid was possessed by a demon (his actual words were mami water though) over the weekend and he had to rush him to the church but thankfully the demon was caste back to hell so my dress should be ready the next weekend make I no vex. True story, Not the demon possession though, the excuse.

Fact is, not everyone is qualified to be in the tailoring profession. It is an art. It is much too intricate, too creative and emotional to be handled by every tom, dick and harry that delved into the profession for one selfish need or the other (the fashion industry is thriving right now mind you). But let’s leave lack of work ethics for a minute and consider lack of skill. I remember one particular let down out of many, I needed to make an Asoebi real quick and I got in to Lagos 3 days to the wedding, I decided to walk around the area to see if I'd find a shop that could make me something simple.  Now, because I was pressed for time I knew I couldn't go overboard with my style so when I saw a store that had a massive signpost that read "FASHION HOUSE" I sighed with relief. I stepped in and first thing i noticed was it wasn't a house, it was a room. That should have been reason enough for me to turn and run but I was desperate. I stayed and told her make me a boubou, because I assumed any basic Tailor could at least whip up a simple free dress on such short notice.

She went on about how I'll have to pay express, but I shouldn't worry she'll make it really nice. I paid and trusted her and slept with both eyes shut. Come Friday night I went for my boubou and when I saw it I threw up in my mouth, literally threw up. What I saw as opposed to the design/description I gave were so far apart. In fact, I had never seen a more hideous looking outfit. She remade the concept of my design almost like she blanked out when i was describing what i wanted 3 days ago. Misplaced buttons, mismatched trimmings and corroded crystals all on one simple outfit. All the while she was telling me in that smug way (remember that way only tailors can manage?) that “Aunty, this is what is reigning now, that your style was old fashion”. I was so angry, had to restrain myself from verbally making her old school.

For many years after that I stopped making traditional outfits altogether. Not just because of the tailors unpredictable nature but constant dissatisfaction with the fit of my dresses. I once saw somewhere a tagline describing tailors as "disappointing customers since 1960". Couldnt help but see the funny as well as fact in that statement. But like I said that was years ago, and somewhere in between those years I picked up a thing or two on fashion and style and now fashion has taken a more efficient turn.

Fashion has come full circle back to Nigeria. Western outfits were the go to outfits for almost every woman wanting to look fashion savvy but these days fashion don vex, the average Jane (or Jumoke) can also look princess like in that cultural meets western outfit that you see some fashion conscious girls daring to embrace these days. Traditional/cultural tastily put together outfits are making a grand comeback. Even the iro n buba that used to be reserved for our mothers are refusing to stay buried in the 80’s.

Even Nigerians abroad are choosing to go traditional as opposed to western attire. Guess the need to flaunt ones cultural attires and looking awesome at it. Its absolutely exciting seeing how creative some people get with their cultural attires. You’d think they had stylists like Vera Wang or Dolce on consultancy speed dial. Slowly, Nigeria is getting on the map for positivity. We now make Hollywood movies, breaking borders with our music and who knows, Friday could be styling outfits for some runway in France.

Although I fear if tailors continue to be as dodgy as Friday or unable to meet due dates, they’d lose all that love 90% of Nigerians now have for them. God Knows I’ve had to go western to a couple occasions recently all because my tailor couldn’t come through.

Plus, maybe we should start referring them to something that commands a lot more awe. Something like Coutourer or Fashion stylist. Maybe that way they’d adopt some credibility….and a lot more efficiency while at it. After all, Friday the fashion stylist has a lot more zing to it than Friday my Tailor.

Styled by Msuushima.