– The Vino Mattan story

By Telesha Ramnarine

AT age 10, while other boys were outdoors for a good game of cricket or something else, Verwin Vino Mattan stood beside his talented seamstress mom and observed how she skillfully cut her fabric to make garments.“I started by watching my mother cut fabric because I was always impressed with the cutting. She was a fantastic cutter,” Vino told the Chronicle in an interview a few days ago at his workstation, 253 Thomas Street, South Cummingsburg.

Perhaps it is his mom’s example that developed in him a love for sewing, so much so that people took work to him when he was just about 12 years old. With his bare hands, he started sewing school uniforms for his friends and making garments for his siblings out of the flour bag that they got from the shops.

“The first thing I sew was a flour bag top for my sister. In those days, you purchased the flour in a cloth bag and I cut up that and made an armless top for my sister with embroidery thread around the armhole.

“The first thing I sew was a flour bag top for my sister. In those days, you purchased the flour in a cloth bag and I cut up that and made an armless top for my sister with embroidery thread around the armhole.”

“Flour bag was in style then. You used to make shirts and the word ‘flour’ used to be on the back. I also made short pants suits for my sisters out of the brown cotton material.”

Even before he did such work though, he often scanned thorough his mother’s wardrobe and other places she would keep her fabric, and took out her cotton sheets that she had packed away.

Once his mom, Latchpattie, left for Bartica to buy stocks for the little shop they owned, Vino would take out the sheets and make clothes for his sisters. Veeta, in particular, would put on anything that Vino sewed and then parade the streets of the village at 72 Miles, Potaro, where they grew up, for everyone to see.

Taking out his mother’s sheets always led to a thrashing for Vino, but his mother could not help but notice his passion and so began giving him fabric to work with.

“I was now getting the feel of the machine and I was excited. I was now developing the art of cutting and she didn’t have fabric to give me to cut. I used to get bad licks for taking her cotton sheets. After a time though, she got fabric for me. So I can cut any style without a pattern. I developed that over the years.”

Vino, now 54, attended 72 Miles Government Primary and Secondary School, but while in Form Two, he told his mom that he felt the books were not for him, and that being behind the machine was really his interest.

“I started with the pleated school uniform that featured the low arm hole, V neckline, and pleat around the waist. When I finished sewing it, it was like the machine had done it. With needle and thread, and with my bare hands, this took me about three to four days to sew. I eventually worked and bought my own machine.”

While saving to purchase a second-hand machine, Vino was employed at Waveney’s Boutique where he gained experience with fabric.

“When I started sewing on the machine, I made a dress and my mother was surprised because she couldn’t cut the style that I cut. She was trying to figure out how I did it and I think this was when she realized this was going to be my profession. And I think this is something that was passed on to the family because all of my brothers and sisters know how to sew. But it was only me who took it up for a living.”

Today, Vino sews for males and females and there is absolutely no style that is too hard for him.

“My mother did not sew for males but I learned on my own. I learned to make pants by losing out one and putting it back together. I started sewing tailored suits for women but then I noticed that the cut is almost similar for gents, except that you won’t put in the extra shape,” Vino said, adding, “My mom taught me the basics but I developed the rest on my own. I wanted to study in the field but I never got the opportunity. The only things that I would stay away from are those intricate designs that only a machine can do.”

Among the complicated styles that Vino can master are those that have to do with wrapping and gauging. In fact, he said his specialty is sewing bridal gowns and dresses for the bridesmaids.

“In the past, I sewed for a top designer and my gowns were used on international pageants. I also do alterations on clothes with intricate designs in such a way that they look the same way afterwards.

“Some people bring bridal gowns that are too big or too long. It’s not just about cutting and hemming them back. You have to know how to get into the inside, alter it and close it up back so that it looks professional. Brides and bridesmaids are my specialty. I love sewing bridal gowns especially. I feel satisfied and accomplished.”

Vino’s advice to others in his field is as follows: “Don’t get into it because of the money or because someone who is doing it is doing well. You have to love it. It’s an art and if you don’t have love for it, you can’t master it. You also have to like dealing with fabric.”

He is married to Gomaty and they have three sons, Brandon, Daniel and Chad.