Due to pandemic, more than 600 people from tailoring sector registered with the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu Program. To engage them in more sustainable ways instead of relying on Kidu, the team from Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu Programdecided to train them to stitch western garment.
The team in collaboration with the Labour Ministry and Kinley Yargay Tailoring Training Institute trained 48 people in Thimphu recently.
“The Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu Program did a study as to how to engage these people, the tailors in the country. So it became apparent that some of the tailors they are good in stitching our traditional dress, Gho and Kira, but they don’t even have a clue on how the western garments are stitched,” said Nim Tshering, the Chief of the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu.
He added, although the whole idea was for Relief Program, they did not just confine the training to the kidu recipients, they also encouraged those interested candidates, the tailors who had some basic skills already.
“I enrolled in this course because I have always been interested in tailoring and designing. Before I enrolled in this course, I have no idea that foreigners are hired to make the western outfits, especially the uniforms. So there are a lot of tailor shops in Bhutan but there aren’t many people who work in the western garment. 48 of us have finally completed this program and with the aim of not having to hire people from other countries, and at the same time to boost our country’s economy,” said Chimme Lhazeen Dorji, a trainee.
“Western garments are equally important, if we have such talents of stitching western garments in our country, firstly we do not have to depend on other countries and there won’t be a huge flow of money outside like today since we don’t have to rely on others to have our dress stitched,” added Tandin Phub, also a trainee.
There are nearly a hundred trained Bhutanese tailors who can stitch western garments.
Pema Seldon Tshering
