Zebaish Boutique

Zebaish Boutique is right near the Water Works in Dalsinghar. You can’t really miss it if you’re heading towards No. 4. The area is usually a bit damp because of the water works nearby, but we’ve gotten used to it over the years. The shop is basically one large room where we do everything from taking measurements to the final sewing. I have my sewing machine set up right by the front window because that’s where the most light is for threading needles. Dalsinghar is a busy place, and there are always people walking past the shop window. I spend a lot of time with a measuring tape around my neck, talking to folks about what they want for their clothes. The floor is covered in scraps of fabric and bits of thread by the time evening rolls around. I try to sweep it up every night, but by the next morning, it’s the same thing all over again. There is a small back area where we keep the finished orders hanging up on a metal rack. Sometimes the iron gets left on too long and the whole place smells like hot steam and starch. It’s not a fancy boutique with big mirrors and carpets; it’s a place where we actually work and make things by hand. I usually have a glass of water on the windowsill and a pile of paper orders I need to get through before the sun goes down.