Seamstress with a cause: Josephine Ng and the women behind Alteration Initiative

You can take the woman out of the business, but you can't take the acumen out of her. For many years Josephine Ng and her husband ran an integrated marketing firm before selling it in 2001. For the next six years they pursued more leisurely options: golfing, traveling and remodeling their home.

But after attending a talk on social entrepreneurship and philanthropy, they came away with an idea to sew up the two: Alteration Initiative, a sewing and alteration service employing single mothers.

Fast forward to January 2010, when they launched their first store at Dhoby Ghaut X-change. Its "encouraging success" prompted the opening of Haute Alteration at Mandarin Gallery in July, with a third one on its way soon.

CNNGo: After landing every entrepreneur's dream of being bought out, why did you decide to return to work? Do you read much?

Josephine Ng: I wanted to give back to society. I realized I've been very blessed. Maybe it's because of my Catholic background as well that stirred this desire to do good for others. Last year, I was considering being a volunteer but my husband and I decided to see if we could still run a successful business for a social cause. We attended a talk on social entrepreneurship and philanthropy where we learnt more about the plight of single mothers. We knew then that we'd identified our cause. 

CNNGo: Why an alteration service and why single mums?

Ng: Sewing and alteration are dying trades, and seamstresses don't get enough credit. It shouldn't be just designers making all the money. I wanted to give these women a sense of pride and let them know their skill is one worth keeping. I also wanted to change the image of the alteration business. As to why single mums, it's because they're one of the more under-privileged groups in society. There are only two organisations -- HELP (Help for Every Lone Parent) and PPIS As-Salaam Family Support Centre -- helping them. Moreover, sewing is a skill they can learn and keep for life, and one that allows for flexible working hours, which means that they can spend more time with their children.

CNNGo: Why has the response been like?

Ng: It has been very encouraging. We have customers who first came to alter one item but returned with suitcases of clothes to alter and replicate. We also have customers who bring their expensive shirts and dresses to us knowing that we'd do a good job with them as they had been disappointed with the alterations that the brands provided. Of course, there are some who don't quite understand our business. There was one customer who complained we were expensive and that we ought to charge less since single mothers were "cheap labor."  But that's exactly what we're trying to change. Many places actually don't pay single mothers fair wages. One of our single mothers told me she took one week to sew an entire wedding gown and only got S$80 for it. Over here, we pay them monthly wages if they're full-timers and daily if they're part-timers. They get about an average of S$8 to S$10 an hour. Our belief is because we give quality work, customers should pay us fairly too. 

CNNGo: What's your recruitment process like?

Ng: Recruitment is a stringent process. Applicants have to first undergo a trial session and they're paid for that. If they're suitable, we offer them a trainee position with a probationary period. During that time, they do not handle customers' clothes at all until we're sure they're ready. Out of 20 applicants, usually only one is selected. 

CNNGo: How different is running a social enterprise compared to a normal business?

Ng: It's a lot more difficult for one! [Laughs] There are more things to look into -- we've to maintain the business, manage the employees and ensure that the social mission is met. Just take, for example, management-wise, I have to be more patient and empathetic when it comes to handling the single mothers. There are other challenges working against us. Many malls weren't receptive to the idea of a social enterprise when we were opening our first outlet. They were worried that it would provide sub-standard services and even inquired about the kind of people we were hiring as if they were afraid that they'd have unsavory characters in their malls. I also never realized retail business is such hard work, even hiring good service staff is tough. But the upsides more than make up for it, especially when customers come back, and to see that you're making a real difference in the lives of others where they don't need to depend on welfare anymore. 

CNNGo: Now that you've opened Haute Alteration, what are your future plans for the Alteration Initiative?

Ng: We hope to open a third branch this year. I'd also like to open a sewing academy to teach more people the skills. Youths at risk are another group of beneficiaries we hope to help. Not every kid is academically inclined and the sewing academy could be one way of equipping them with a skill.

Alterations range from S$8 for a simple alteration to S$250 for a full man’s suit.  
B1-06/07/08 Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station, 11 Orchard Road ; #03-20 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road. Tel: +65 8228 0020