Yamaimai’s love for sewing began when he was just 12 years old in 2016. At the time, he was living with his mother’s younger sister, a professional seamstress. His aunt, who had started her own tailoring and handicrafts business at the Seafront park market, became the driving force behind Yamaimai’s career choice. When his aunt fell seriously ill and her business began to struggle, she taught Yamaimai and her other children how to sew, cut clothing, and create beautiful handicrafts from locally available materials. Despite her sickness, she managed to keep the business running by passing on her skills to the next generation.

“I was learning from her, and she helped me understand the importance of not letting gender define the type of work you do. She taught me the value of independence and the importance of always believing in myself, especially when things got tough,” Yamaimai recalls. This was when his passion for sewing and fashion design was born.

By 2018, when Yamaimai was in Year 10, his aunt’s health worsened, and she had to close her small business. She moved in with Yamaimai’s family so his parents could care for her, and in the months that followed, she began teaching him more about tailoring and fashion design. Yamaimai quickly became an independent tailor, taking customer orders and learning to sew according to their preferences. By the end of 2018, he was already running his own small business while balancing his studies.

“Handling both school and a new business was challenging, but my mom made sure that sewing didn’t distract me from my studies. She was always there to remind me of my priorities,” Yamaimai explains.

Being one of the few men in a workspace primarily filled with women posed a unique set of challenges for Yamaimai. “At first, it was very uncomfortable being the only male seamstress surrounded by older women who had years of experience. But I knew I had to push through that discomfort and learn from them,” he says. Despite the difficulties, Yamaimai found a way to thrive in the industry.

Throughout his journey, Yamaimai has faced setbacks and discouragement from customers, family members, and even colleagues. But his secret to overcoming these challenges lies in his approach to feedback. “If people are unsupportive, I remain kind and gentle with them. I appreciate any negative feedback because it helps me grow and become better with every new project,” Yamaimai shares.

One of Yamaimai’s biggest inspirations has been his aunt. “She taught me the importance of not depending on others and not letting society tell me what I can or cannot do because of my gender. She taught me that every challenge is just a stepping stone towards achieving our goals,” he says. These lessons continue to shape Yamaimai’s mindset as he builds his business.

Yamaimai also believes that self-discipline and avoiding peer pressure are key to focusing on his business.

“The most important thing is keeping God at the centre of everything I do. By helping others and sharing my knowledge, I become more skilled, and my business grows,” Yamaimai explains. His dedication to his craft has allowed him to generate income from his passion, and he remains committed to improving and expanding his business.

In addition to running his own business, Yamaimai has also worked with other female tailors, learning from their experience in handling various aspects of fashion design. “Collaboration is important, especially when I’m one of the few men in the industry. I get to learn how they deal with fashion trends and business operations, which helps me stay up to date,” he says.

Yamaimai’s aspirations for the future are clear. He hopes to expand his business on a larger scale, potentially opening a factory in Vanuatu. He also plans to further his education in fashion design and professional tailoring to continue growing as a tailor and entrepreneur. “I want to inspire other males in Vanuatu who are interested in fashion design and tailoring. I believe that men can work alongside women to bring tailoring in Vanuatu to greater heights,” Yamaimai says.

His message to others pursuing careers outside of traditional gender roles is simple: “Don’t let anyone or anything drive you away from your passion. Follow your dreams and do whatever it takes to achieve your goals.”

Through his hard work, dedication, and belief in himself, Yamaimai is not just crafting beautiful garments—he’s also breaking down stereotypes and showing that anyone, regardless of gender, can succeed in any field they choose.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST