Pitipana Seamstress Ladies

There are many tiny businesses here in Negombo.  Likely throughout Sri Lanka.  My favourite, so far, is definitely the local seamstress!!!

There are many clothing shops here.  With clothes that are very affordable.  For us.  Are they affordable for the locals?  I imagine yes.  Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many.  Right?  But many people make their own clothes.  Or get the local tailor or seamstress to make them.  

The seamstress in Pitipana, our neighbourhood here in Negombo Lagoon, works in her tiny house.  The first thing I asked her to do was fix my skirt.  It’s a patchwork skirt.  Some of the seams were undone.  It was such a pleasant and interesting experience that I bought some fabric at the market and asked her to make 2 tops for me, and 2 skirts!

I’m not super fond of the skirts.  She used a popular fancy elastic for the waist.  It’s scratchy.  And the beautiful embroidery on the skirt is scratchy too.  But the tops are great!  The cost?  The fabric for the skirts and tops was about $8.00.  For seamstress?  1,200 rupees.  About $10.  For all of it!  

So, of course, I’ve bought more fabric!  

Pictures
1- The seamstress at her workstation.
2- The seamstress' sister (we think)  Her feet/legs have a deformation.  She walks with two crutches.  She sits at a little window in the shop and sells candies, and misc small items.  They are both very warm nice people.  They invited us for tea and cake the other day.  We didn't accept because we were on our way to lunch.  I regret that now.  Lunch could have waited.
3- I love this picture of the cat!  Poossa - cat in sinhala.
3a- A salesman showing me some sari fabric.  Each package behind the man is the 6 meters required for a sari. Many are amazingly beautiful!  
4- 5  Ribbon and fabric for sale in the Negombo market