July 15, 2008 Being a part of a wedding in the United States is not a cheap affair. On one hand, it means a lot to be asked to be part of a wedding, but when it comes down to the costs of shopping for the bridesmaids gowns, asoebi (if a Nigerian wedding), and accessories, it could be a very expensive affair. If you have to fly down to a different state from where you reside, you might as well add on another $200, and the current gas prices don't make the burden of the costs any better. A new problem that arises with taking part in a wedding is custom made gowns. This is a term that I would like to coin babanla rip off. Even if they rip you off, please tell me why this particular profession houses people that have little to no value for people's times? Very frustrating, I tell you. After purchasing quite a number of asoebis in support of my friends getting married, I became worried about how I was going to get all the materials sewn, so I asked a couple of friends for recommendations. It was so weird that 4 out of six recommenders suggested the same tailor, but I was warned that she was very expensive and never bargained on prices. So, I made the call and an appointment for a Saturday evening. Before leaving my house, I called to be sure that she would be home (my experience with tailors have not been the best…I find them to be very unreliable with time). She was, and so I set out. On arriving at her place; however, I noticed that there were several cars in the driveway. I muttered to myself that I hoped that they had guests and that these were not cars that belonged to customers.
As the door opened, I noticed that the basement had a room full of women. Her husband ushered me in and confirmed that my destination was indeed the room that housed the "beaucoup" women. Oh God! I thought to myself. She was home alright, but she was, in the true fashion of tailors, GOING TO WASTE MY TIME!!! I quickly announced my arrival and told her that I didn't have much time to spend. She nodded her understanding, but still ushered me to an adjoining room. I like to draw my own outfits from scratch so I was given a pencil and a scratch paper to draw them. After an hour, this iya had still not attended to me (mind you, I had finished drawing my outfits 30 minutes earlier o!), so in my true impatient fashion, I told her that I had to leave. Why is it that at that particular moment, she was ready for me? Like magic, she was done with her customers and it was my turn? —I still have a feeling that they were discussing other non-material related subjects at my expense—anyhow, it was finally my turn and I was excited. I was ready to see the magic that this talented tailor was going to do to bring my outfits to life! And then her daughter woke up. Please tell me why in the Lord's name this child did not wake up when it was the other customers' turn? Okay, so she woke up and wanted to eat, wanted to be carried, wanted to play! Ahn Ahn! On my time? Why o why? So, the mother had to go get food for the daughter, and back her (which took another 30 minutes). Meanwhile, I was trying to be nice because I thought that being nice and understanding would get me a good deal. Hmmmm! Boy, was I wrong. After she took my measurements, which I have to admit were very accurate, I asked for the total. I promise you, the room started spinning when she gave me the prices. I am not lying o! Hmmm! For 5 outfits, one being a very simple dress, she charged me a whopping $540. It is even hurting to type this. I did not even know when I shouted Jesus! After what seemed like an hour of arguing about how ridiculously expensive the price was, she took off a miserable $20. She did come highly recommended, so I left them with her, but I had many a sleepless nights thinking about what a rip off this experience was. Neways, to cut a long story short, I went for my fitting a week later than scheduled (cos of course she was not done with them) and the outfits were almost perfect (too short, some additions substituted for others (not as bad as Iya Ibeji's substitutions…that one was one of the worst tailors I have ever sewn with; goodness!) and the tops were actually too tight, but the woman knows her stuff o! By the time the adjustments were complete, the outfits were looking slamming). I know, I know, proper rip off, but did I have a choice? Anyhow, please if you know of any good tailors in the ATL region, abeg, let a sistah know o! I tried my hardest to pay $50 less, but for wieya? The iya no gree o! So, I have 5 gorgeous outfits, but it cost me $520. Was it worth it? I think not, but it's okay. I will make peace with it by pretending that I sowed $120 into her life. That way the 5 outfits only cost me $400; that is the only way that I can live with the decision I made. In conclusion, before you say yes to all the weddings that you are asked to be a part of, think hard about whether you really have to or want to be a part of it o! I am serious. If you decide that you want to be a part, hmmmm, you will either have to make sure your finances are in order or you will have to become an artist and make your own jewelry and sew your own clothes yourself o! I am serious! Either decision you make will be time consuming, but at least you decided to be a part of the wedding…..so it is worth it! This post was entered by Jummy, one of the editors at www.fabnaija.com Enter your comments and tell us about tailors that you know in the U.S. We will add the information to our list of vendors on www.fabnaija.com. (or you can visit the website and enter the information yourself or check out other vendors). Also tell us about your own experiences with tailors in the U.S.; the ones you'd recommend and the ones everyone should avoid. Enjoy the Wedding Season!!! Jummy Responses |
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
My Experience With Aso Ebi (“and co”) and Nigerian Tailors in the U.S.
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at 5:45 pm
at 9:39 pm
at 9:42 pm
at 1:57 am
at 5:55 pm
my dears if they tell you the reason they picked you is for exposure especially when you are single..na lie…glorified housegirl, hostess,, food sharer,
Am not bitter oh!! I believe God is in control and has conquered every battle and all in due time but can a sister just sit and cross leg for one wedding like americans do!! and hafnaija-haf cameroon, I sympathize with you…that kind wardrobe malfunction calls for court tv…. I can see it already will the plaintiff please rise…I think it carries more weight if you wear the tear tear cloth to the courtroom and then iya will be on the other side..then behind you, the multitude of other martyrs whose clothes were sewn too tight and had to dance small small when karolina and gaou came on the radio…
oya make I stop hia!! until later
at 5:29 am
at 4:50 am
please let us know if they actually pay you guys back
the whole conversation with the tailor should make for a great follow up article.
at 12:35 pm
This is very funny. I keep trying to explain to my African America friends that being a friend of an African who is getting married is an expensive and time consuming adventure. It's not a "go to the mall and pick a dress" event. It has to be planned months ahead of time.
Bless your heart for that experience but you did love it in the end, so good for you.
My Sista, I do agree with you Iyabeji or whatever her name is was a bad experience. The latest lady I used Francesca was a great experience. I recently was referred to this Senegalese guy who works out of his garage. After driving for forever to get there he was going to charge me $80 for a skirt. I was soo pissed I could have asked him for gas money. Can you believe it! When I paid $70 for an entire outfit, why in God's name will $80 for a stupid skirt when I can just wrap the cloth around me. lol
So I decided to sew the darn thing myself. I'll make time.
Cindy aka Ngozi
at 10:43 pm
at 1:42 pm
at 8:10 pm
at 8:25 pm
Take heart, as long as you have friends getting married and you wish them to be at your own wedding too in your own ASO EBI, then you might just continue to pay thru your ……….!!!
at 12:56 pm
Sorry to put iyabeji on blast sha but that woman had the worst customer service experience ever, plus her sewing was one in town. Can you believe the shoulder of my dress ripped on my way to the wedding when i was trying to turn the steering wheel?? then to top it off, it was like where the yansh of the dress was supposed to be, she hiked it up to the back. so it was like i had this hump in the back of my dress where my backside (how ever little it is) was supposed to fill it. i was so ticked, i had to use my belt to try and hide it.
But as Francesca said that is what u pay for going to Obioma cuz there are Obiomas, tailors and then fashion designers! I said oturugbeke!
Ehen Jummy I don catch u, so dis na why you no gree buy my aso-ebi begin gist me story about color of cloth no match wetin u buy kini kan kini kan. no yawa, i forgive u sha cuz 540 is serious. u fit pay credit card bill with that one if not 1 bedroom apt rent sef.
I say I am going to learn how to sew, by the Grace of God I must to learn am. that way i can stay at home with my brood of 6.
And then em, Ngozi, u know i have to pick on u, lol.
ahem, i have shared my 10 kobo…
at 2:54 am
at 12:06 pm
at 5:28 pm
I so concur with everything said so far. Ladies, This is my last aso ebi Men (hissing).
Good read
at 4:54 pm
We are glad you are enjoying the blog
at 5:09 pm
She has sewed once for me b4 when I lived in the Atl but I have moved out of state and could not find a tailor in Fl do I went back to her. We have not even talked $$$ yet. My greatest fear is that I may need alterations when she ships them to me!!!!
WHAT TO DO????? Is it the same person? Off Old Norcross road????????
at 5:26 am
at 1:39 pm
at 12:14 am
at 4:33 am