Women in the village of Trang Bang make the basic parts in a workshop run by a Roman Catholic sister who trains young women to make handicraft products.
To make a tape measure:
- One person cuts out the legs and body
- One person sews it and puts the tape measure inside
- One person sews the face and stuffs it.
- Once completed, one person carries out quality control, with another packaging the finished product.
Duyen (in pink) and Vy (in green) work at Mai Handicrafts offices in Ho Chi Minh City, where the final stages of making the decorative tape measures are carried out.
"I have been working with Mai for four years," said Duyen, who is married with a three-year-old son. "I like this work. I can do quality control, packaging and also sewing and embroidery."
Duyen enjoys the work so much that she encouraged Vy to join her, as Vy explained.
"I knew about the work from my friend, Duyen, who works here. I have been working for Mai for one year. I started here after I graduated from high school.
"Even though I have an education, I also like this work and I don’t want to do another job in an office.
"I am proud when I make a good product. We would like to thank Traidcraft for giving us the opportunity to have some work when they buy our products."
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