Cloth Bag

“I am 62 years old now, but it was 30 years ago that I started my sewing career with an old sewing machine. I would produce hand-crafted products and sell them in the village. Gradually I joined the Ministry of Industrial Development and worked with them for many years. I have received many awards and recognitions, and I am proud to say that I have conducted free sewing classes for 3000—4000 students while working with the ministry.

 It was then that I started my bag business at home. I had eight young girls working for me and we were doing well. But tragedy struck us in our growing stage because my husband’s business in the South was affected by the Tsunami and we could not claim anything from the Government. To balance the situation, I had to reduce my employees and retain only 2 to continue my business.

With time I opened up a shop in Mawilmada town and was able to sell and market my product fairly well. But then I fell ill and could not continue. Slowly I have begun to rebuild my business and I now stitch and sell bags and distribute them to the shops in Kandy town. I have a good demand for my bags but with my old machine, I cannot produce the required quantity.
The support from Made by Her to upgrade my machine will help me to increase the number of bags I produce and I am sure I can employ more young girls and grow my business in the near future.”- D M T Kumarihami