The Sewing Workshops in Alleys

Based on the experience of first interview, after discussion, the teacher decided to let us design the interview questions. We used one afternoon to figure out what questions to be asked. We came up with many questions and put them in the interview outline. We asked for the teacher’s suggestions. The teacher gave us some suggestions and asked us to ask the questions we’ve designed in the next interview.

This interview was held in Mr. Huang sewing workshop. Mr. Huang was very talkative and told us a lot. He used to be a worker and over 10 years later he opened his own factory in 1980s. He had to went abroad to take order at that time. Most of the orders were from middle-east like Saudi Arabian countries. During these years, the income of the factory was very considerable. However, with the out moving of the industry, the garment industry in Taiwan started to decay. And the income was sharply reduced. So he changed the customer group and focused on cheap sweaters.

It was 15 min’s walk from our school to Mr. Huang’ sewing workshop. Only at time some team members realized the workshop was in their neighborhood.

We expressed our purpose to the workers in the sewing workshop and then started in interview.

We had the interview with Mr. Huan. He was very talkative and told us a lot of things.

Mr. Huang said the threads of sweaters are different from other garments.

Experience the sewing machine (1)

Experience the sewing machine (2)

Aunts taught us how to paste the little diamond onto the clothes.

Mr. Huang demonstrated needle lockstitch machine.

Took photos after the interview.

Po-ta Chen

Through the visit to Ya-guan’s uncle’ sewing workshop, we learned many knowledge about making clothes!

Yi-ping Liu

We did not expect Ya-guan’s uncle’s factory to be sweater factory, which was different from the one my father worked at.

Jin-yu Chen

I did not know before that the decaying garment industry was just hidden in the streets. Many workshops could not find workers. Some had been shut down, with only a few big ones left. Some had moved into the neighborhood.

Chi-yuan Huang

Mrs. Huang asked whether we want to have a try. She taught us how to sew the collar with sewing machine and how to use the needle and threads. In the first place we were not careful enough and made some mistakes with the collar. It was not an easy job. We also tried another machine, whose name I don’t know. But I think it was easier to use than the sewing machine.

Ya-guan Wang

Mr. Huang said an inspiring sentence: if you are careful enough, you can do anything well.  The biggest difference of this workshop was that of Ms. Chang’s was the price.

An-peng Wu

This was my first time to go to Mr. Huang’s factory. Although it was different from what I have thought, I was still very happy. Mr. Huang was very humorous and very easy to talk with. In the interview, he even made some jokes to make us happy. I found he was very optimistic. Even when talking about a painful experience, we could not see any sorrow on his face. Instead, he was smiling. Let the bygone be bygones.

Xin Ouyang

As we arrived at Mr. Huang’s garment factory, he warmly welcomed us. He told us his life stories. Through this interview, I found it is very difficult to keep the garment business. They have to create new patterns and styles and overcome the lack young labor. It takes great strength and efforts to carry on.