AT 57 years old Jyoti Bala has turned a childhood necessity into a thriving business on Lautoka’s Nede Street.
The owner of Jyoti’s Tailoring has been sewing since she was 17, a path she took when financial constraints cut her education short.
“When I was 17 years old, I left my school, my parents didn’t have money to pay for fees to go to high school,” she said.
“Then I started operating a machine in Nadi, in a modern store. First I started sewing mosquito nets.”
A single mother-of-two residing in Vitogo, Ms Bala established her own shop in 2014 after previously sharing a space since 2008.
Her business survived the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the departure of her husband in 2009.
“My husband left me in 2009. And I’ve looked after my kids.
“I paid for my daughters fees which cost $19,000 all from sewing clothes and all those sacrifices paid off because my daughter is a lecturer for TISI Sangam Labasa.”
Despite her success, the business faces a constant struggle to find experienced staff. While she currently employs two machinists, she noted that the whole year was busy.
She sources her accessories from a drapery shop, though many customers provide their own materials. Her expertise covers a wide range of garments, including blouses, caps, tops, Indian and Fijian shirts, and pants.
“I can sew anything. But the only thing, few machinist.
“If I get more machinists, I can open one big shop.”
Reflecting on her journey from a garment factory trainee to a business owner, Ms Bala remains firm on the value of perseverance.
“You have to work hard because nobody’s going to give you anything on a silver platter.”
