Racing to meet Raya orders
Disabled seamstress busy making festive outfits
KUALA TERENGGANU: As Aidilfitri preparations go into full swing, one determined woman is working extra hard so that her clients can dress in their Hari Raya best.
Despite work being stressful under time constraints, Ida Yusnira Yusof, 43, who is hearing inpaired and blind in one eye, is undeterred in racing to meet orders.
Eda Yusnita, 40, who serves as her interpreter, said her sister will be even busier in the days leading up to Raya as clients come in for alterations to their outfits.
“She has been very busy but she enjoys sewing and takes pride in her work,” Eda said.
Ida was born deaf and lost her sight in the left eye when she was around three months old.
However, this did not stop her from wanting to learn to sew baju kurung from her mother. Having the right talent, Ida picked up the skills fast, said Eda.
“She has been honing her skills for about 20 years and her customers are from the neighbourhood and nearby Kuala Terengganu,” said Eda at their family home in Kampung Baru Seberang Takir.
Ida sews with the help of her trusty sewing and hemming machines. Eda said her sister earned enough to put her four children through school and help bear their diabetic mother’s medical expenses.
Ida’s elder children – Mohd Haris Daniel Mohd Shafiee, 16, and Mohd Syakir Azizan, 14 – also helps by taking orders and interpreting the clients’ requests.
“Sometimes they try and help with the stitching but my sister ends up redoing them because they have yet to meet her standards. But they are learning,” she said, adding that Ida’s eldest son has expressed interest in tailoring and taking over from his mother.