Malaysian single mum earns up to RM800 sewing part-time to support her kids

Kannamah feels motivated and happy earning an income through her craftwork. Photos: The Star/Kamarul Ariffin

Customer service representative and single mother P. Kannamah, 49, never imagined that a simple sewing gig could become a lifeline - helping her support her two children and forge a better future.

Kannamah, who lives in a rented apartment in Jalan Puchong, Kuala Lumpur, juggles a full-time job at a call centre while sewing in her free time. She earns between RM400 and RM800 a month in additional income.

"With the extra money, I can cover my children’s tuition classes and buy extra things for my kids. Before this, I barely had any savings, and I used to cry thinking about their future. Now, I can finally start saving for their future," says Kannamah during an interview in Kuala Lumpur.

Kannamah is one of 13 part-time crafters with Sagemaker Asia (SA), a social enterprise that empowers women-led households - particularly those from the B40 community.

The crafters of Sagemakers Asia meet at a café every two weeks to discuss sewing orders and to support one another through friendship and advice.

SA was founded last year by four friends in their late 20s and early 30s - Maizatul Kamal, Ummu Sulaimah, Azeerah Hakim and Shafiqah Zainol.

The initiative offers income opportunities to women who sew items such as tote bags, fridge magnets with finger puppets, scrunchies, crocheted coasters and quiet books, which are fabric-based kids books with interactive elements.

Kannamah learned about SA through a contact. She heard they were looking to recruit women crafters from low-income families. With basic sewing skills and an electric sewing machine at hand, she decided to give it a try.

"I sew whenever I’m free - sometimes while watching TV or after I’ve finished my housework. It’s something I can do at my own pace, which makes it easier to manage. On average, I can stitch about 20 tote bags a week," says Kannamah, who uses her trusty Janome sewing machine to work on these projects.

While the extra income has been helpful, Kannamah says she’s also gained a sense of connection through the friendships she’s built with the other women.

Every fortnight, she looks forward to meeting them at a cafe in KL, where they gather to discuss sewing orders for SA. These meetups often go beyond work - they chat, share advice and offer one another support.

"Even though we are of different races, they’re like the sisters I never had. I joined SA nine months ago, and since then, I have formed a strong bond with the other crafters. Perhaps we are closer because we’re all in the same boat, facing financial struggles, and a couple of us are single mothers. We support and motivate each other to keep going, no matter how tough things get."

It is heartening to see how the enterprise has enabled the women to form meaningful connections. And this is exactly one of the missions of SA, to build a supportive ecosystem where women not only gain income but also borrow strength and courage from one another.

"We envision a community where everyone uplifts one another, sharing wisdom, resources and resilience. Our mission is to empower women, recognise their invaluable contributions, and foster healing through a strong, supportive network," says SA chief executive officer Maizatul.

"The key motivation behind setting up the company is rooted in Ummu's personal story - how her mother single-handedly raised nine children. Her journey is a testament to the role education and community empowerment play in breaking the poverty cycle.

Each quiet book for children is hand-stitched by Sagemakers Asia's crafters.

"That story, along with our collective experiences, inspires our work," says Maizatul, adding that the crafters, aged between 20 and 55, are from the Klang Valley.

The SA founders come from diverse professional backgrounds - marketing, corporate communications, management and operations - which helped shape the direction and foundation of their venture. They kickstarted their project with a RM50,000 grant from Kuala Lumpur-based social innovation hub Seed.Lab.

Maizatul explains why sewing was chosen as the enterprise's focus: "During our research and on-ground interviews, we discovered that many B40 women were already involved in cottage industries, with sewing and crafting as key economic activities. These women often take on odd jobs with inconsistent monthly income.

"Their talents are frequently underutilised due to a lack of business knowledge, limited resources (time, money, networks), and unstable market access. Since sewing is a skill many already possess, we felt compelled to address these gaps by combining their talents with our expertise in design, innovation and marketing."

She added that the name Sagemakers was inspired by a few meaningful elements.

"Sage is a herb known for its healing properties. We see our mission as helping to heal and uplift women-led households by equipping them with the tools and opportunities to thrive. 'Maker' reflects the hands-on nature of what we do. Together, the name symbolises women as wise creators, capable of making meaningful impacts on their families and communities.

"We focus on supporting those who are often overlooked and in need of economic empowerment," shares Maizatul. "We look for women who either have existing sewing or crafting skills or are willing to learn and grow. Most importantly, they must be committed to our project timelines and open to learning as they go."