Manju turns her passion into business
Mohani Raj also known as ‘Manju’, has turned her passion for tailoring and jewellery into a business. The 54-year-old from Vunidawa said that she is a self taught tailor and has been at it since 1985.
She had never had any formal training or education in sewing, but now makes her income from it.
“I stopped schooling after Form 5 because we couldn’t afford it at the time, but I was always interested in art and craft and home economics,” she said.
Ms Raj had later gone on to win the 2011 Sulu Jamba Competition.
She said that competition in the tailoring business is high nowadays.
“People like high quality sewing but it takes time. While there are some people who do the same thing for a lower price, their finished work is not always as neat.”
She has been selling her products at the USP market day for the past four years now.
“I used to sell at the Flea market from 2003 up until 2016 and after that I stayed at home, but for the past 4 years I have been doing business out of the USP market day.”
“This is my only source of income,” she said.
Ms Raj said she was grateful for the USP market day last week as it gave her the opportunity to sell her handmade jewellery and bags which ranged anywhere from $5 to $25.
Ms Raj said: “Sewing is not hard, and anybody can do it.”