How things change

**Dyoll_73** · 02-18-2009, 02:36 PM

Re: How things change

I was thinking about that the other day. For school khakis, my mother would just buy them at a store if my brothers' hand me downs were too worn out. But in the summer of 88, I got a holiday job just so I could buy my own khaki pants lengths - yard and third - and have my pants made the way I wanted them; I wanted to enter 5th form in style.

For dress pants, it would definitely be made at the taylor. When I was a boy, my father would take me to his taylor on Red Hills Road. And when I was old enough, I would give specifications to the taylor on how to make my pants. I wanted the latest pleats, pants foot size, button down back pockets, etc. This man was an excellent taylor and was sewing for years and had a pretty decent establishment. I passed there some years later and he had closed down.

After a while, my pants were mostly ready made bought at a store; it was more convenient, less waiting, and about the same as, if not cheaper than, buying the material and taking it to the taylor. I think this is the main reason some local taylors goes out of business. This may also be the case with the local dress maker. Still, lots of people patronize the local taylor/dressmaker. My father used the same taylor for years. My grandfather thought it was beneath him to buy a "heng pon nail" pants or suit. He used to tell me that when he was a young man, in his community, he couldn't get a girl if his pants were ready made.

I still think though that the local taylor still thrives in certain communities, local and urban. There are still people who prefer to have their clothes, especially suits, made locally.

**Wahalla** · 02-18-2009, 03:05 PM

Re: How things change

I wanted to build a suit last year and there was noone who could recommend a local guy... No one asks for pants length.. (Was it a yard and a third or a yard and half ???)

No one asks for pants length any more.... Globalisation of both manufactuer and design.... It is the imagination that went into the clothes that I mourn in passing.....

**evanovitch** · 02-18-2009, 03:49 PM

Re: How things change

so true...i can memba di shop wid di tailor and di shoemaker....can even memba getting a tailor to 'build' couple jeans fi me, cause di style at the time was fi a certain <span style="font-style: italic">mannish</span> cut...yeah man....u likkle village had every known skill available..fi real...all di man who wi build awn pon u house...him come an do some measurement an next ting, cement a mix an house gawn tru an deh deh so last longa dan dem new day ones....

**britisha** · 02-20-2009, 08:04 PM

Re: How things change

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wahalla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wanted to build a suit last year and there was noone who could recommend a local guy... No one asks for pants length.. (Was it a yard and a third or a yard and half ???)

No one asks for pants length any more.... Globalisation of both manufactuer and design.... It is the imagination that went into the clothes that I mourn in passing.....
</div></div>

**big sigh***

**Hush Darlin** · 02-20-2009, 08:37 PM

Re: How things change

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wahalla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wanted to build a suit last year and there was noone who could recommend a local guy... No one asks for pants length.. (Was it a yard and a third or a yard and half ???)

No one asks for pants length any more.... Globalisation of both manufactuer and design.... It is the imagination that went into the clothes that I mourn in passing.....
</div></div>
pants lenght is always yard and a third Wally

**britisha** · 02-21-2009, 11:05 AM

Re: How things change

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SweetSsop</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wahalla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wanted to build a suit last year and there was noone who could recommend a local guy... No one asks for pants length.. (Was it a yard and a third or a yard and half ???)

No one asks for pants length any more.... Globalisation of both manufactuer and design.... It is the imagination that went into the clothes that I mourn in passing.....
</div></div>
pants lenght is always yard and a third Wally </div></div>

I beg to differ, it was yaawd and chree quawtas.

**neutral** · 02-21-2009, 12:42 PM

Re: How things change

Its interesting you should mentiom this wahalla,recently when I went to jamaica I went to see my old tailor man,the guy used to own one of the biggest tailor shop in mobay,he had at least 7 guys working for him.

he is now in a little old room on his own reduced to the odd job of stitching or mending,....I think one of the reasons for the loss of interest is that guys no longer dress as formal as they used to,denim is the new pants length,everyone seems to prefer designer jeans and anything american or foreign to home made stuff.

I have a feeling that in time it will all come back though.

**Dyoll_73** · 02-21-2009, 02:16 PM

Re: How things change

They say ole time someting come back again, but I don't think people will go back to the local tailor to make their clothes because they may cost more, less convenient and you have to wait, as opposed to walking into a store and simply buying a pants or suit. Of course, for people with certain body types, going the way of the local tailor is still the best way.

I wonder, though, how many stores in Jamaica carry pants and suits made by local tailors. When I was a boy, there was a local brand called "Davon." I don't know if they are still around. As I recall, the big stores in Kingston - Lee's, Max Brown, Lord and Lady, etc - never carried clothes made by local tailors/dressmakers/designers. It would be good if local people could find a market for their clothes with these stores. Quality and cost are important of course. I have a feeling the cost of producing in Jamaica is higher than the cost of importing the same item of clothing.

**Wahalla** · 02-21-2009, 08:06 PM

Re: How things change

I always thought the pants length thing was not a bout costs, rather it was about being different... Just my assumption the idea struck me that it was what about people want to be different... boasey even.....Having something that was unique from the crowd.. the reason why people also boasted tehir clothes came from forgien... The reason I say this was that pants was being made when clothes were cheaper off teh peg....

I think the shift may be partially societal as much as economic... It has been a massive change..

Yu tink deh pen dreaons at UWI even notice it or study it ?????

**neutral** · 02-21-2009, 09:11 PM

Re: How things change

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Humano</div><div class="ubbcode-body">They say ole time someting come back again, but I don't think people will go back to the local tailor to make their clothes because they may cost more, less convenient and you have to wait, as opposed to walking into a store and simply buying a pants or suit. Of course, for people with certain body types, going the way of the local tailor is still the best way.

I wonder, though, how many stores in Jamaica carry pants and suits made by local tailors. When I was a boy, there was a local brand called "Davon." I don't know if they are still around. As I recall, the big stores in Kingston - Lee's, Max Brown, Lord and Lady, etc - never carried clothes made by local tailors/dressmakers/designers. It would be good if local people could find a market for their clothes with these stores. Quality and cost are important of course. I have a feeling the cost of producing in Jamaica is higher than the cost of importing the same item of clothing.

</div></div>

I must admit that the death of the pants length is yet another nail in the coffin of things jamaican that I held dear,I remember that myself and my crew used to run race to see who could buy a different colour gabadene every week,....the little touches we had tailor man put on marked us out as real ghetto hustlers who was handling money,...the two flaps on the back pockets,the turnups,......original rudebwoy style.

**Sofisa** · 02-21-2009, 10:31 PM

Re: How things change

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: britisha</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SweetSsop</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wahalla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wanted to build a suit last year and there was noone who could recommend a local guy... No one asks for pants length.. (Was it a yard and a third or a yard and half ???)

No one asks for pants length any more.... Globalisation of both manufactuer and design.... It is the imagination that went into the clothes that I mourn in passing.....
</div></div>
pants lenght is always yard and a third Wally </div></div>

I beg to differ, it was yaawd and chree quawtas. </div></div>

SweetSop is right. Yard and third.

**britisha** · 02-22-2009, 05:14 PM

Re: How things change

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wahalla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I always thought the pants length thing was not a bout costs, rather it was about being different... Just my assumption the idea struck me that it was what about people want to be different... boasey even.....Having something that was unique from the crowd.. the reason why people also boasted tehir clothes came from forgien... The reason I say this was that pants was being made when clothes were cheaper off teh peg....

I think the shift may be partially societal as much as economic... It has been a massive change..

Yu tink deh pen dreaons at UWI even notice it or study it ????? </div></div>

Your thread reminds me of one comment I had made here moons ago about the way it used to be when it comes on to dressing at home; and how IMHO things were better then because most of all we were supporting the local industry; and keeping the money at home.

It was such a pleasure to go dung to King Street and buy the fabric and sit at the dressmaker's and thumb through magazines for a style that she'd make...the covered buttons and belt buckles, the lace and the lined garments etc etc...that was a premium...you'd never see your double the way mi all si two people wear the same make outfit to a wedding here...i kid u not

I don't know about the men, but the fabrics now (if I can call them that..more like paper) leaves a lot to be desired and truthfully is really a rip off...no pun intended...for some a dem cannot be worn more than once; so is a money wasting right there soh.. and heaven help yuh if rain ketch yuh innah dem...

**barosa** · 02-25-2009, 06:53 PM

Re: How things change

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sofisa</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: britisha</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SweetSsop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">[quote=Wahalla]I wanted to build a suit last year and there was noone who could recommend a local guy... No one asks for pants length.. (Was it a yard and a third or a yard and half ???)

No one asks for pants length any more.... Globalisation of both manufactuer and design.... It is the imagination that went into the clothes that I mourn in passing.....
</div></div>
pants lenght is always yard and a third Wally </div></div>

I beg to differ, it was yaawd and chree quawtas. </div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">SweetSop is right. Yard and third. </div></div>
As on of the few oldtimers here, I'll add my two cents to the pants length debate. Those days I remember only too well. I've always ordered "Yard and a Half" for my pants mostly from the catalogues and if bought locally, the same... I think "short men" could get away with the Yard and Third and if Yard and 3/4 was required, (I'm only guessing here) it must have been for very tall men beyond 6'-0", tailors would advised. ~ Those were the "Good Ole Days"; things have really changed!
_________________________

Boy! Aren't we living in interesting times?

**Wahalla** · 02-25-2009, 07:38 PM

Re: How things change

mi check wid mi landan landlady and shi agree wid mi yard an a half.. maybe mi olda....

How things change

How things change

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