Under Pressure: 3 Tips when working with tailors in West Africa

Under Pressure.. is the rightful name for this dress.

Let me tell you the story behind this dress! Before I go into it, let me give credit and praise where it is due. Mohammed did the damn thing, he understood the assignment and clearly works well under pressure!!

Who is Mohammad? My tailor in Senegal, that’s right - this dress was made in West Africa ( in true Yasmin style)..

If you have experience with tailors in West Africa, what I’m about to express will unfortunately come as no surprise to you. Your tailor can either do a very good job or..leave you high and dry with empty promises and wishful deadlines.

Before the start the most recent TELLS TRIPS to Senegal and The Gambia (22-29th May 2023) , I carefully chose my material and handed it over to my tailor alongside with the style of dress I wanted him to create. Mohammed said it would be ready in 4 days (but I gave him an extra 6 days or so as I was busy hosting the trip). I also know how tailors can be with their not so accurate time frames.

It’s the 30th May, I’m back in Senegal after ending TELLS TRIPS in The Gambia the day before. Where is my first stop of the day? To my tailor of course, to pick up my wedding guest dress. Little to my surprise, no dress was in existence. The work had not yet begun.

When I asked him about the dress - the dress that I had already paid 50% of the fee for. He looked perplexed and began to explain how his hand had been in pain, therefore he was delayed with his work. I then went on to tell him that I was leaving the country that evening (which was a white lie, I was leaving the next day). That is when I saw him pull the material I handed to him out of its bag. My heart literally dropped, the rage!

I’ve left my material with you for (nearly 2 weeks at that point) and it wasn’t a case that the dress was incomplete. He hadn’t even started it!?

Anyway, I let him know I was not leaving the area (Marche Sandaga) without it. In 2 and half hours it was ready. Phew!

Yasmin TELLS lessons/tips with African tailors:

1. Never pay in full before the completion of your outfit.
2. Draw the style you want to avoid any disappointment/miscommunication (Send an image if you’re not too confident with drawing).
3. If you’re travelling always tell them an earlier travel date to your actual date.

Yasmin x