Rama Alteration Tailor
In a small, shoebox-like space barely wide enough for one to stretch his legs, is Rama Alteration Tailor, manned by 79 year-old Uncle Rama himself. He smiles sheepishly as he first declines our interview, saying he is busy - evidently so, as seen from the bags of clothes on the floor that are awaiting his tailoring. We end up engaging in a small chat instead.
Uncle Rama is a man of few words, but definitely not one to shy away from social interaction.
Opposite him are the ladies of Carol Young's Salon and ever so frequently, one of them comes over to banter with him. Most of the time he just chuckles at what they say and nods his head.
When asked about how he started this small space, he points to the mama shop next to him and says that the space is actually split between him and his friend, who encouraged him to continue working though he retired 12 years ago from his old job. He proudly says he dedicated 40 years to Singapore Airlines as a control room officer.
Raising his spectacles, he then goes back to his sewing machine, his delicate hands moving deftly with the fabric he holds, his mind completely at peace in his small shoebox space.
Uncle Rama poses for a picture before returning to sewing.