Eejay Apparels

Our workshop is at E - 11 in Site C. It’s a pretty large space because we need the room for the cutting tables and all the sewing machines. The sound of the needles hitting the fabric is constant from eight in the morning until we head home. We started out with just a couple of machines and slowly added more as we got more work. It’s an industrial area, so there isn’t much to look at outside besides other factories and the occasional tea stall. Inside, there are piles of fabric everywhere and thread ends all over the floor. We try to keep it clean, but when you’re busy making clothes, things tend to get a bit chaotic. Our team is mostly made up of people who live nearby, so we’ve become a bit like a family over time. We don’t do any big advertising or anything like that. Most of our work comes from people who have known us for a long time and know we do decent work. The lighting is bright because we need to see the stitches clearly. Sometimes we have to stay late to finish a batch for a deadline, but nobody complains too much as long as there is tea and snacks. It’s hard work on the back and the eyes, but seeing the finished garments packed in boxes makes it feel worth it. We just focus on getting the pieces right one at a time. The radio usually plays in the background to keep everyone moving.