Getting My African On

 One thing I am painfully aware of in Tanzania, and particularly at the school where I work, is how bland and boring my Canadian clothes look over here.  Tanzanian women walk by me wearing colourful, vibrant, perfectly tailored outfits that hug their sumptuous curves.  I, on the other hand, am wearing a faded baggy t-shirt and a skirt I bought at Value Village.  About a month ago, I decided- this is enough!  It's time to get my African on.

The process starts with choosing the fabric.  I met my friend Linda in the market early one Saturday morning, and we went through a few shops... they were about as big as my bathroom back home, but stacked to the roof with colourful wax-print patterns.  What a fun exercise, taking a big piece of fabric and picturing what it might look like on me in different shapes and fashions.  I finally chose one, and handed over about $6 Canadian for enough fabric to make a whole outfit.

Then to the tailor.  She just sits out in the market with her pedal-pump sewing machine, watching the buses and people go by, making clothes for people. She has an iron with hot coals in it.... like the ones I have seen at Heritage Park.

She takes my measurements and then I show her pictures I've drawn of what I want.  Linda translates for me, as I don't want to risk getting it wrong with my mangled Swahili.  Then she cuts a little corner of my fabric off, tapes it in her notebook next to my measurements and a little sketch of what I want.

Getting measured

My friend Linda the librarian (left) and handy translator!

4 days later, I head back to the market and there it is!  My new outfit.  She leads me through the labyrinth, into a dark corridor where I change and she holds up a mirror to show me.  It is perfectly sewn to match every curve of my body.  So cool!  We complete the transaction with me paying her about $10 Canadian for her work.  You can't even get value like that at Value Village.

I am a happy customer.... so a week later I head back into the market to have two more made.  African ladies, look out... here I come!  I now am able to walk into work with dignity (3 days a week), hearing whistles and "umependeza!" (I like it!) from my coworkers. 

Here are the finished products.....