Yes, I vaguely remember that while we were living in El Salvador, we sometimes hired a seamstress to make clothes for us, because it was not that easy back then to find good clothing in stores, and it was quite affordable to hire a seamstress or dressmaker. You could pick a picture, buy the fabric and associated notions, and take this to the seamstress, who would from the picture whip up a dress or blouse and pantsuit to fit your body exactly from your measurements. Our seamstress' name was Leticia and she did a very good job for us, I always thought. But while we were there, Leticia was our seamstress. I think the Stewarts and maybe other missionaries also hired her.
Years later, I was getting online messages from some people, I was not sure how they were related to our seamstress Leticia, saying things about how she has moved up in the world of the garment industry and is no longer available to work for us. Ok, fine! So the clothing industry there has changed their systemand I do not want to sound like I would begrudge someone else's success in hitting the big-time of the fashion industry with their sewi g talents. But also, I am long gone from there anyway, so why am I hearing all of this stuff? Anyway, it was not me who did that sewing.
I can only guess from some things I heard, that the U.S.-based garment industries went down there big time and hired many of the good seamstresses who are no longer available to work for white people because they have moved up in the fashion world. Now they make really big money working for everybody, and expensive clothing sold in U.S. stores is now often found to be made in El Salvador. Wel, isn't that nice/ My, how things change.
Coincidentally, I noticed from the high school alumni news that our classmate Joan was working for The Gap. I don't remember if I ever shopped there or not, maybe a pair of jeans or something, I forget.
I really never have much thought of Joan. I was not paying that much attention to what she was doing later. I am a person who shops now and then, but I have no insider connection to the garment industry.
