In Karachi, another tailor shop known as The Stich Shop has popped up in a new market run and owned by transgender women. This tailor shop is owned by 3 trans people who have broken ground by opening a public shop to sew clothes for women and transgender people.
One of them, Jiya, who is 35-year-old and goes by her first name, as most trans people do in the country, is busy taking orders after orders. After all, this is the time of the year, just before Ramzan, when tailors are the busiest in the country. Jiya is ambitious about her work; her eyes sparkle as she takes measurements of a customer.
Trans people are usually seen begging on the streets or dancing at weddings because their existence is greatly neglected in the country. It is just recently that the trans community has started receiving enough recognition and are trusted enough by the community to run a business in a public market.
Jiya says landlords were hesitant to give a shop to a transgender woman; however, despite this hurdle, she was able to secure a shop in the new market in March, just in time for the busiest reason for the tailoring industry. Now in mid-April, the shop is hustling and bustling with customers.
“We want to expand this business. We want a boutique with Eastern and Western designs, all types of dresses,” she said.
A customer who was at the shop revealed she preferred a transgender woman to stitch her clothes. “I felt comfortable while she took my measurements,” a customer called Farzana Zahid said.
Trans Pride Society Announces their First-Ever Tailor Shop in Saddar. Read the full story here:
Trans Pride Society Announces their First-Ever Tailor Shop in Saddar
In 2018, Pakistan’s parliament recognised the third gender. Trans people have fundamental rights such as the ability to vote and choose their gender on official documents. Have something to add? Let us know in the comment section below.
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