Penang artisan custom-makes cushions the old-fashioned way
GEORGE TOWN: Few things provide greater relief than a well-crafted, firm pillow, cushion or mattress tailored to your bio-measurements.
This is especially handy for those who are ageing and feeling the joint pains of osteoarthritis, gout and similar afflictions.
Despite modern technology, you might be amazed to discover these handmade comforts from an old-school maker in the city’s Unesco World Heritage Site.
Sitting in a pre-war house is Teh Soon Seng, 74, a third-generation artisan specialising in cushions, baby mattresses and padded meditation seats.
He fashions them in the old way using cotton, coconut husk, and both hard and soft foam.
“They bring measurements or samples and tell me if they want it a few centimetres bigger or smaller and we work on it together.
“Sometimes, we make alterations until we get the firmness or shape just right.
“If later they find the pillow too hard or soft, I adjust the amount of material inside until it supports them just right,” he said.
If Teh feels his customer has more specific needs, he would insist they seek professional help before ordering pillows.
“I have even made custom neck pillows and cushions for wheelchairs for those recuperating from surgery.
“These require specific measurements, and my customers’ family members help me get them, as the person may be bedridden or cannot move much,” he said.
Teh said his grandfather started this business more than 100 years ago, and later his father took over.
“I watched them work and was always at the shop, as we live upstairs.
“After school and whenever I was free, I learnt from my father and took over the business after I finished school,” he said at his shop in Lebuh Bishop here.
Teh, who now runs the business with his wife, said his skill was an art that required detailed attention, as some cushions need to be hand-sewn while others need to be stitched with old motorised sewing machines operated with the legs.
He said business had slowed down, but there are still those who value custom-made pieces.
“Some even bring expensive wheelchairs for me to re-upholster,” he said.
Teh said one of the highest demands was customised pillows as backrests for those with back pain.
“I make a triangular hard pillow that offers support when they have to sit for too long,” he said.
Another popular item was custom-fit hard foam meditation cushions.
“Some parents worry that baby mattresses may be made with synthetic material, so they ask me to make one from pure cotton that fits the cot.
“These are items that require specific measurements and detailed custom work,” he said.
