Sabahan fashion grad empowers B40 women in KK through sewing

Fuelled by her own childhood struggles, Zee Shazila (seated) is helping B40 women in Sabah stitch their way to a brighter future. Photos: Zee Shazila

Collecting kangkung (water spinach) by the drains or digging up tapioca tubers from the ground might not be part of most people's childhoods - but for Zee Shazila, it was a way of life. Growing up in a large family of seven siblings in Menggatal, Sabah, she recalls a time when her parents struggled to put food on the table, and these simple acts helped them get by.

"It was during the financial crisis in the late 1990s when my stepfather lost his job as a lorry driver. My mother was a homemaker, and sewing was her only skill," says Zee, 38, during a recent Zoom interview from Kampung Keliangau in Menggatal, a district about 15km from Kota Kinabalu.

"Soon, my mother became the family's sole breadwinner. To make ends meet, she would go from house to house in our kampung, asking if people wanted her services to stitch blouses, rugs and curtains. On a good day, she'd earn RM5 to RM10. Some days, we only had one meal: rice, egg and kicap (soy sauce)."

The homemakers-turned-tailors work from home and enjoy flexible hours and fair pay. Photo: Instagram/G1ft.sewingandcraft

Instead of spending her daily earnings on provisions, Zee's mother, Mimie Y. Dusin, 59, would cleverly reinvest the money to earn more income. She'd buy ingredients to prepare fried noodles and kuih (local pastries), which Zee and her siblings would then sell around the village.

"Our story was a bit like how singer Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza used to help her mother sell kuih around the police barracks in Kuala Lipis, Pahang," quips Zee.

"We were poor, and life was tough. My mother always reminded us of the importance of having a skill - whether it was sewing, baking or carpentry - so we could earn a living."

In 2018, she returned to her hometown of Menggatal to care for her ageing parents. Together with her good friend Ivy Liew, she started a home-based lunch box delivery service and began selling homemade chilli paste.

Through G1FT, Zee (centre) is helping women sew their way to a better future in Sabah.

That homecoming also sparked a rediscovery of her roots — and her sewing machine.

During the pandemic, her lunchbox business came to a halt. Desperate to earn money, she turned to sewing. Orders for cloth face masks poured in — so many that she couldn’t handle them alone.

"I couldn't keep up with the demand on my own, so I roped in two homemakers from my village, taught them how to sew, and together, we managed to fulfil the orders.

"The women were thrilled to earn a small income. It allowed them to buy extra food, pay bills and contribute to their household expenses."

Crafting a better tomorrow

That experience planted the seed for Give 1 For Two (G1FT), a social enterprise Zee co-founded in 2022 with her friend Liew. Their goal: to empower B40 women through sewing.

For many of G1FT’s tailors, every product stitched is a symbol of pride and progress.“My mother taught me the value of having a skill. I wanted to pay that forward,” says Zee.

"My background is in fashion design and retail management. And my personal experiences played a significant role in shaping the development of my business idea. I saw firsthand how marketable these sewing skills were and realised that with the right training and support, others could benefit from them too."

Zee began entering pitching competitions to raise funds. In 2021, G1FT received RM20,000 from Pitch Borneo and RM10,000 from Shell LiveWIRE. With the grants, she bought sewing machines, rented a small studio, and expanded the training to women in her community.

So far, G1FT has reached 350 women from over 20 villages across districts such as Kota Belud, Nabawan, Keningau and Ranau.

"We equip participants with tools, materials and fabric, so they can work from home with flexible hours," said Zee. "Even with basic sewing skills, the women can generate income, and as their abilities improve, their earning potential increases. We believe that sewing has the power to create sustainable income streams, providing much-needed financial support and the opportunity to improve their livelihood."

The goal of G1FT is to empower B40 women through sewing.

Today, 13 women are employed as full-time tailors, stitching tote bags, cultural shirts, scrunchies and other corporate gifts featuring Sabah’s traditional motifs.

On average, these women can each earn between RM400 and RM800 a month.

"About 30%-40% of the profit goes towards their income, while 10%-20% of the profit is allocated for their training. We aim to empower 1,000 underprivileged seamstresses in Sabah by 2030 because we believe that equipping women with practical skills can break the cycle of poverty and create lasting change in communities," says Zee, who promotes the brand on G1FT’s Instagram.

'Today, I’m able to earn an income through the skills G1FT has given me,' says Rose. Photo: Rose AniuRose Aniu, 41, joined G1FT during the pandemic after coming across the social enterprise on Facebook.

"At the time, I was in desperate need of funds to support home-based learning for my five school-going children and a baby. Even though I wasn't confident in my sewing skills and only had an old sewing machine, I convinced myself to give it a try. They assured me that it was okay not to be an expert — I just needed to know how to sew straight lines.

"They gave me a chance as a stay-at-home mum and I started sewing pre-measured face masks that only needed to be copied," says Rose, who is from Kampung Mensiang in Menggatal.

She adds that the experience has given her a new sense of purpose.

"G1FT didn't just help me financially - they helped me grow in (the skill of) sewing too. They taught me how to take measurements, draft patterns and create garments. Today, I'm able to earn about RM500-RM800 a month.

"Zee and Ivy are more like sisters to me. They offer advice, motivation and guidance to help me face other challenges in life. I am truly happy to be part of G1FT."

Zee has also spearheaded several corporate social responsibility projects, including batik-making workshops in Keningau and Kota Belud.

Last year, G1FT launched By Borneo, a store at a shopping mall in KK, selling locally made gifts and souvenirs crafted by the community.

"Through initiatives like batik-making and the use of locally sourced materials, I also want to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of Sabah, particularly indigenous crafts and textiles," she concludes.