“My name is Alice, I am a seamstress in Cape Coast and have sewn many items for Global Mamas for the past 16 years. I have always had an interest in fashion, so I decided to go to school for it and later on took an apprenticeship.

“When I was growing up, my mother was a trader. She sold bowls, foodstuffs, and everything else. My father was a policeman. Initially my parents didn’t like that I wanted to go into fashion. However, they supported my interest, so I went to secondary school at Ghana National College. After school, I was jack of all trades. I even learned how to batik. After learning batik however, I decided I really wanted to focus on sewing.”

“Currently, I have three direct employees at my shop, but I also take apprentices. I want to try to help my apprentices get an NVTI certificate before they leave. Hopefully soon I can grow my business. I want to move into a bigger place, with more room for employees, and maybe eventually hire someone who can manage the business for me.”

“I am supporting myself, my mother and my son at the moment. My son is fourteen. He’s very bright; I call him my professor, or Prof, around the house. I think he will do very well for himself. He would describe me as strict, principled, but very funny and interesting. I think this has helped me be successful. I am time-bound as priority, but I am nice and inside I am always happy. I am very proud that in everything I want to do, I am able to do it with God’s help. I am very hardworking. For the future, I want to continue to be very strong and healthy, and hopefully some day I can have my own store and shop where people can come and buy what I make.”

Interviewed March 2021 by Batik Designer Nick Ruffalo
Shared with Permission from Alice