Man on the Street is a regular series where we talk to someone doing an everyday job, in order to gain insight into the lives of normal Chinese people.
Huang Xingzhou is so absorbed in his work he doesn’t hear our footsteps approach. Holding up a piece of chalk, he makes a mark on a pair of trousers and pushes down the pedal of his sewing machine. Only when our shadow creeps over the fabric does he lift his head to see what’s causing the disturbance. “Can I help you?” he asks.
Huang has a small work post in a residential park of Futian District. He labors under the open sky, ducking into his home only when it grows too hot or starts to pour.
Just as we begin spurting out a list of prepared questions, Huang’s wife stops by with lunch. We learn the couple hails from Shangrao, in Jiangxi province.
Huang is a tailor. He makes everything from clothing to bed and sofa covers for customers who live in neighborhoods nearby. Much of his time is allotted to fixing broken zippers and tailoring clothing for a better fit.
It’s hard to believe the man tending to such delicate work is almost 70 years old, but Huang is adamant about keeping his position. “I don't want to retire; I love this job,” he affirms, sensing our incredulity. “I know people need me, and I’m happy with that.” He pauses. “Well, I am afraid my eyes are getting worse.”
READ MORE: Man on the Street: Band of the Blind
Having started his career as a tailor at the age of 14, Huang is proud of his decades of experience and the praise he reaps from customers, both locals and foreigners. He speaks particularly fondly of a French client who often turns to him for tailored clothing, elated at the ability to meet the needs of his more stylish patrons.
Despite Huang’s impeccable sewing quality and long list of loyal customers, however, his price table is humble. Mending a shirt is roughly RMB50 and fixing a zipper is only RMB7-10.
Huang has been navigating Shenzhen streets as a tailor since 2011, taking only one break when his grandson was born. At the time, trading in his sewing kit for an opportunity to look after his only grandchild was more than worth it, he says, though he’s happy to be back threading needles – that is, as long as the chengguan aren’t around. While most of the officers treat him well, Huang still prefers to avoid abrupt encounters and sometimes stays indoors during peak hours of patrol.
As the sun tumbles behind a darkening horizon, we see office workers shuffle into the residential area, eager to return to warm abodes and steaming dinners. Huang inches forward on his seat, getting comfortable for the hours of work that await him.
Walking back to the subway, Huang’s sewing machine hums steadily behind us, murmuring a tune of routine, permanence and, in some sense, home.
THE DIRTY DETAILS
Monthly salary: RMB2,200
Days per week: usually 7
Hours per day: 9
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