Chapter 34: Master Tailor

25 January 2024 marks the 18th Anniversary of my father's passing. He left us in early 2006 (Read here), and had he been alive today, he would be 96 years old.

On 1 June 2022, my older brother shared a photograph that stirred many memories - a group shot from a grand reunion held in 1967 for alumni of the Boog Tsin Tailor Training College. My father was among them, a proud graduate of that institution.

At the peak of his tailoring career, my father was widely respected as a master tailor - a reputation that would become his enduring legacy. He worked at Chu Chu Tailor, one of the most well known tailoring shops in the old town of Kota Kinabalu. Yet his craft didn't end there. He was frequently approached by clients from all walks of life - teachers, students, pastors, working professionals - for customed-made clothing during his spare hours.

Spare hours, however, were almost non-existent. He worked tirelessly, nearly seven days a week, reserving only Sunday mornings for church. Each evening after dinner, he would sit down at his sewing machine and continue tailoring until 10pm. It was a rhythm of relentless discipline and devotion.

Despite the long hours he poured into tailoring, the drive just to earn a bit more for the family never left him. In the early mornings - often before sunrise - he and my mother would go rubber tapping to supplement the household income (Read here). It was a physically demanding job, but they took it on without compliant, motivated by their desire to give us a better life.

For his private tailoring work, my father accepted a wide range of orders - pants, long-sleeved shirts, student uniforms, tuxedo suits, and occasionally, ladies' dresses. Yet I believe the work he was most proud of was being commissioned to create nearly all the pulpit gowns worn by the pastors and reverends of the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia. That assignment wasn’t just a job—it was an honor.

Throughout his career, my father also mentored aspiring tailors. One of them was my eldest brother, who had to leave school after completing primary education due to illness. To help him find purpose and keep him engaged at home, my father began teaching him the art of tailoring. Once he gained confidence in the craft, he became my father’s assistant, helping fulfill many of the private orders.

In those early days - before buttonhole sewing machines were available - every button and buttonhole was sewn by hand. My mother handled this delicate final step before the garments were delivered to clients. It was a quiet but essential contribution to the family business.

My father wasn’t a smoker, a drinker, or a gambler. He lived simply and honorably, dedicating his entire life to being a good husband, a loving father, and a tireless provider. Like many traditional Chinese men of his generation, he wasn’t outwardly affectionate. But we never doubted his love. It was written in every stitch he sewed, every early morning he rose, and every quiet sacrifice he made for our family.

A photo from the grand reunion of Boog Tsin Tailoring Training College held in 1967. My dad is in the back row, standing second from the left.

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In April 2022, my youngest brother shared photos of the Single-brand sewing machine that was once used by my father. After doing some research online, he discovered - based on the serial number - that the machine was manufactured in 1945. Originally, it operated with a foot pedal and belt mechanism. Later, a motor was added when Single transitioned to producing electrically powered machines, significantly reducing the manual effort required to operate it.

Remarkably, this nearly 80-year old machine is still in working condition and remains in the house my parents last lived. Today, it stands as a cherished vintage piece with both functional and sentimental value.

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Today, all the tailoring shops once thrived from the 1950s to the early 2000s have disappeared. Even Chu Chu Tailor, which was taken over by the founder's son, ceased operation a long time ago. Its former premise in Kampung Air has since been converted into a 4D lottery outlet. 

I still recall that during my primary and secondary school years, many of my schoolmates' fathers were tailors. Nowadays, I can't name a single man in the profession. It seems that tailoring, once a male-dominated trade, has gradually shifted and is now predominantly carried out by women. 

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An old photo shared on Facebook captures Jesselton - now known as Kota Kinabalu - in the 1960s. It was taken from Jalan Harrington (now known as Jalan Istana), just a short distance from Jalan Dewan/Jalan Padang. On the left side of the photo is a row of timber shoplots, one of which was once occupied by Chu Chu Tailor. Next to it stood the Tung Nam Book Store. The entire row was later demolished to make way for the construction of Kota Kinabalu City Hall. Most of the displaced businesses were subsequently relocated to the new shoplots in Kampung Air.

The former premises of Chu Chu Tailor in Kampung Air are now
occupied by a 4D lottery outlet.