At the end of a lane in authentic Port-Louis, Gaston Fauzoo is at his table sewing and mending customers’ trousers. The small workshop faces the street and he can see everything from his window while he works on his 42 year-old sewing machine. “New machines have nothing to do with older ones specially in terms of solidity,” he says with a zest of nostalgia.

Gaston has been working in his small shop for 36 years but he has been tailoring for more than 52 years. “When I started, I was near St François but I had to leave in 1968 with racial fights that were raging in Port-Louis.” Gaston was just 17 when he opened his workshop. He owes both his know-how and his love for the profession to his father, himself a tailor. “I used to help my father since I was 14. He taught me everything.”

Gaston surely loves his job and has it at his fingertips. As we talk, his hands run on a piece of green cloth, which gradually becomes a pair of trousers. “You know, the business has really gone down with ready-to-wear clothing. Of course, we have less customers, but fortunately, we have some regulars from Port-Louis, Beau-Bassin or Rose-Hill, who keep coming to the workshop.”

At one time, he had three or four helpers but Gaston had to part with them since the business was not profitable enough. He now works alone in front of his window but he doesn’t complain. “My job nevertheless allows me to live comfortably.”

His workshop has a “from the past” look with his old sewing machine and his coal iron that dates from 1954 and which is his pride. “This iron used to be my father’s. It irons suits better than any other modern appliance.”

Gaston Fauzoo has two sons and one daughter but none of them has ever been interested in taking over. Gaston understands… After all, the job is no longer what it used to be!