Sewing class becomes "night school
In Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou (China), tailoring classes are attracting many young people, especially office workers. A tailoring experience session costs about 80-100 CNY (310,000-390,000 VND), while a 3-hour in-depth clothing tailoring session costs about 399 CNY (1.5 million VND).
This cost level is considered reasonable by many people compared to other popular entertainment or sports activities. Therefore, instead of going to the gym or attending expensive classes, many women choose to go to the tailor shop after work hours.
Sewing classes gradually become a form of "night school" for office workers. At about 7 pm-8 pm, when the lights in office buildings gradually turn off, the sewing self-study room starts to light up again.
The atmosphere is reminiscent of night classes about 20 years ago. However, the purpose has changed. The previous generation studied computer science and English to find new jobs, increase salaries and avoid being left behind by the times. Young people today learn sewing not necessarily to change careers but to find a time for themselves.
A pleated dress that seems simple also requires many stages, from choosing fabric, draping, cutting, sewing to finishing. This is different from buying ready-made clothes. A homemade product may not be perfect but brings a very specific feeling: this is something created by one's own hands.
It is the process of gradually turning a piece of fabric into complete clothes that makes many people feel interested.
From hobbies to "making workshops" at home
Sewing is a pleasure that easily takes people further than they originally intended. Household machines quickly fail to meet demand. Some people have bought industrial machines and set aside a corner of their house as a sewing place.
They also stockpiled many types of fabrics such as silk, cotton, knitted fabric, wool and accessories, with amounts that could be up to more than 10,000 CNY (about 38.8 million VND).
When they are used to needles and threads, they begin to pay attention to details that they previously often ignored: the button slips, the seam is torn, or a set of clothes that does not fit their figure. Instead of throwing it away or taking it to a repair shop, they can handle it themselves.
Tailoring also helps solve the inconveniences of mass-produced fashion. Not finding a dress that both covers the hips and flatters the waist, they design it themselves. Not wanting to wear clothes like others, they draw patterns themselves. Clothes that do not fit the measurements, they sew themselves according to their bodies.
For many young women, sewing is also a temporary time away from work pressure. When focusing on each needle, thread, emails that have not been answered, meetings or work targets, it seems to be pushed out of the head.
Loose seams can be removed and remade, damaged fabric can be replaced with another piece. Without superiors' evaluation, only products are gradually forming from their own hands.
Notably, sewing for young women in modern life is being seen in a different way. They are no longer only associated with sewing clothes for husbands and children or taking care of the family, but have become tools for women to express their personality and find joy for themselves.
After a day of working in front of the screen, the feeling of seeing discreet pieces of fabric gradually become a complete item brings very specific satisfaction.
For many young people, a sewing class is not simply a place to learn an extra skill. This is also a time for them to temporarily leave work pressure, slow down and focus on a hobby that completely belongs to them.
