Mere Tamani literally speaks and breathes sewing. Tailoring is not just an income-earner for her, it is something she loves doing and she’s been at it since she was 19 years old.
Originally from Waiqanake Village, Suvavou, Ms Tamani started sewing soon after she completed secondary school.
“I had a friend who persuaded me to apply with her at Farah Garments, which was at the Yatu Lau Arcade back then,” she said.
“Initially, I had learnt how to sew from my mother who had a sewing machine at home.
“Even though she only used it for patch works and never sewed, I still loved watching her working her magic on the machine.”
Ms Tamani worked at Farah Garments for five years before resigning to join National Uniforms in 1997.
As soon as she started work there, she bought her first sewing machine, a Juki industrial electric one.
“I was working at National Uniforms until 2009 when a friend of mine told me that I would earn more if I had my own tailoring business.
“She had a secondhand clothing stall at the old Suva Flea Market and she persuaded me to come to start operating at her stall.
“We worked like that until I was able to open my own Suva Flea Market stall in 2015.”
Business for Ms Tamani was thriving until the Suva Flea Market fire in 2020 which destroyed not only the stall, but her machines and all her other sewing accessories.
“When the fire happened, I had to start all over again.
“Luckily, one of my friends recommended a stall at the YWCA building so I was able to rent a stall here.
“I had to buy all my materials again but luckily I still had that Juki machine I bought in 1997 at home.”
Walking into Ms Tamani’s stall at level two of the YWCA building near Sukuna Park, you will find her engrossed in her work, making sure customers’ orders are ready on time.
She said what made her different from most tailors was that she was able to do last-minute orders.
Ms Tamani said if a customer walked in in the morning with an order that needed to be ready by that same afternoon, she would do everything to have it ready by that afternoon.
“This business has helped and my husband in supporting our family.
“I love sewing and I have never once thought of going into another profession.
“This is what I am passionate about and my advice to other people out there is to find something that you’re passionate about and work hard at it.”
