In a quiet tailoring shop nestled within the old souq of Salmiya, the soft hum of a sewing machine mingles with the broken Arabic of a customer trying to communicate with the tailor — a shared language bridging the gap between Asians and Arabs in Kuwait. Raju, 51, pauses mid-task to pour hot water into his teacup. Setting the kettle aside, he greets Kuwait Times with a warm smile. “Yes, I speak a little English,” he says, opening the door to his story.

A tailor for 19 years, Raju’s workday begins at 9:00 am and stretches late into the evening. “I like tailoring. It’s something I chose, not something my family did,” he shares while trimming a piece of fabric. His assistant, Jeevan, 29, interrupts to ask for guidance on a project. Jeevan, a Sri Lankan tailor since the age of 17, joined the shop a year ago. Together, they tackle alterations and custom pieces with quiet precision.

However, tailoring isn’t what it used to be. “Five or six years ago, there were so many customers,” Raju recalls wistfully. “Now, it’s slower. Some days, no one comes.” Jeevan echoes this sentiment, noting that even on a good day, they serve a maximum of 10 customers, mostly Filipinos. The rise of ready-made clothes and fast fashion has significantly impacted their trade.

A colourful collection of threads and zippers in Raju's tailoring shop in the old souq of Salmiya.

Tailors work at a dishdasha tailoring shop in Kuwait City.

Inside a tailoring shop in Salmiya, two tailors at work surrounded by colorful threads and tools of the trade.

Raju and his assistant Jeevan discuss details about a piece of fabric in the shop.

Raju pours hot water into his teacup.

A tailor carefully stitches fabric with precision using a sewing machine.

Despite the challenges, the shop remains a lifeline for a loyal clientele from diverse backgrounds. “I meet people from everywhere,” Raju says, his tone softening. It’s a small joy in an otherwise demanding job.

One such customer is Rudina Ghanem, an Egyptian doctor, who frequently visits the shop for custom stitching and alterations, especially her profession’s scrubs. “I’d go crazy if tailors didn’t exist to bring my creative visions to life,” she said, emphasizing her love for fashion and personalizing her clothing to match Pinterest-inspired styles.

The financial strain of running the shop is constant. “Sometimes, after rent, there’s not much left,” Raju admits, though he chooses not to dwell on it. Instead, he focuses on the work, navigating long hours with quiet determination, eating quick meals to make the most of the day. Jeevan, too, finds the hours grueling but familiar. “I start at nine and finish after 10 at night. It’s just tailoring, all day.”

In the modest shop, every stitch, every rack of neatly hung clothes tell a story of perseverance. Though the well-worn sewing machine’s hum may have grown quieter over the years, Raju and Jeevan’s dedication remains steadfast, keeping the shop alive despite the odds.