August 12, 2020

“I was 7 when I learned tailoring through my father in Arbat. In 2002, we returned to Penjwen and continued tailoring to get an income through. I love my job, I am thankful that people from most of the cities come to visit me. They have even come from Erbil. In terms of outfits, Penjwen is similar to Meriwan and Bana, especially in the last few years. The difference lies mostly in the sharwal (loose-fitting trousers), the young Rojhalatis tailor their sharwals loose, but they do it tighter here. Rich people used to wear the Muradkhan outfit, but it is now increasing among the youth and they pay attention to it. They would knit their Muradkhan so that it would stand solid, but they use paper now. I work with both, depending on the person’s request, but the knit ones cost more”.

“There have been changes in men’s clothing compared to previous years. What the youth request and I sew it for them, my father cannot, due to the changes in the form of tailoring, especially in the jacket part. Sometimes people visit us with a special design in their mind and we tailor it that way. There are many types, some use buttons and percussion caps, they ask for half-necked or full- necked. Some ask for designs in the front or back. So, I can say that there are many more designs now and the tailor has to go with the changes”.