FIFTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD Oswald Long has been a tailor for most of his life – spanning over four decades – where he continues to make clothing for men and women, boys and girls within the Ann’s Grove community, other parts of Guyana and also overseas.

Long, told the Pepperpot Magazine, that as a young boy he spent a lot of time in a tailor shop with his uncle, Clifton Barker. He explained that he constantly observed his uncle in operation – doing different types of clothing for people – and began to gain interest in the profession.

“[This love] only grew stronger with time. So here I am today,” he declared.

Long said that he has orders for school uniforms; uniforms for nurses and other civil servants; all sorts of clothing for different occasions, including suits. Every type of clothing can be done for both male and female.

He said that in addition to getting orders from people in Ann’s Grove, he also gets orders for his custom made clothes from Guyanese all over the country, as well as from customers overseas.

DESIRE TO TEACH
“I have been doing this job for as long as I can remember and I strive to be better every day, even though I am happy that my customers are very pleased with what I am able to deliver to them. This does not stop me from making the effort to improve daily,” he stated.

However, more than anything else today, Long said that he has a strong desire to teach his fellow Ann’s Grove residents the trade. He noted that it is a valuable trade – a kind of ‘lost art’ these days, since a lot of people are purchasing their clothing from the stores.

Nonetheless, he stated the profession is still a valuable one and it pays. He added that his aim is to teach the young men and women who are willing to learn the trade. However, he said that he would need help from the government in this regard.

“I have to get more machines so that they [the young men and women] would be able to do the practical work as I instruct them. Then, I believe that these young people would also need some form of monetary help as they come to the classes daily. Therefore, I think that if they are able to get a stipend through the government, it would help and encourage them to spend the time learning without having to worry about meeting their needs as regards finances,” he said.

IT IS PAYABLE
Long expressed the view that custom made clothing is not old-fashioned. He said that the products from the trade are still very much in demand, since many people still desire to have themselves measured and fitted in clothes of their own design, fabric, colour and the like.

“They used to do a similar programme in schools, but as far as I know that programme did not last for any length of time. I believe that such skills are in demand right now, and it would create good employment, especially for our young people,” he said.

Long said that during part of his time as a tailor, he had migrated to the United States of America with his family and there he learned a whole lot more. Therefore, he feels that such an exposure as an upgrade of his skill, has put him in a better position to share his knowledge with the young people.

He said that there are a few more tailors within the Ann’s Grove community, but because of his exposure and ability to multi-task, doing unisex clothing and the like, many people find his skills more desirable to learn and he is willing to impart such knowledge.

However, he says that as a ‘one man’ with very limited facilities he is not able to meet the demands but, is willing to do so once he has more facilities. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)