Singing the old Singer’s praises

Still ‘sew’ happy: Chieng rushing a ‘Ngepan’ for her Dayak customer using her vintage sewing machine.

SIBU: Her vintage Singer hand-cranked sewing machine is older than her, but it has been a reliable companion to 68-year-old Chieng Siew Lie for the past 41 years.

The sewing machine was passed down to her by her mother Ha Ik Kiu, who is now 91 years old.

“My mother was in her early 20s when my grandmother gave her the machine. It was a second-hand machine – my grandfather had bought it from the original owner.

“So you can imagine how old the machine is,” said Chieng when met at her shop in High Street here.

Chieng, who is unmarried, believes the sewing machine could be more than 80 years old. She has a spare machine of almost the same age.

“I opened this shop in 1982 and have been using this machine since. It has remained in good working condition. I have only replaced the hand-rest board three times. Other than that, I have no complaints about its condition,” she said.

She has a cadre of loyal customers who keep her business running.

“I only do women’s clothing. I have customers asking me to make baju kurung and baju kebaya. Even Dayak women are my customers for their traditional ‘ngepan’ dress,” she said proudly.

For this coming Hari Raya, the seamstress has received a number of baju kurung orders.

Her customers will supply her with their preferred fabric for the baju kurung, which she usually takes a week to complete.

“I charge RM65 for one baju kurung. I also have customers asking me to resize clothes they buy from boutiques,” she said.

Tailoring has been her only profession. She recalled that when she was in Form Three, she did not sit for the government examination.

Instead, she signed up for a six-month tailoring course at Fu Yuan Methodist Church.

She spent another four months in Singapore in 1981 for an advanced tailoring course.

“I was 26 when I opened this shop. My monthly rental is RM1,100. Business is not bad. I earn more during festive seasons,” said Chieng.

Her small shop is about a quarter of a shoplot.

An early bird, she opens her shop at 7.30am daily until 4pm. Her mother, despite her age, does not need a walking stick. She spends time in Chieng’s shop every day.

Chieng cooks simple meals for the two of them in the shop.

Asked how long she intends to be in the business, she replied: “It depends on my eyesight. If my eyesight is still good, I might work till I am 80.”