Tommy Tafunai is on a mission to break a gender stereotype that only women can sew and he has already started to challenge the preconception by enrolling in a course at the Don Bosco Technical Centre. 

The 19-year-old of Fagalii village is one of 10 male students who have signed up for the Don Bosco Technical Centre’s sewing course as one of their electives.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Mr Tafunai said the potential to generate income from a successful sewing business is immense, and there could be long-term family benefits as well.

"I took up this course because I know I can earn a lot from sewing. Not only that but I'll be able to help my family financially,” he said.

“I can also develop my own family if I am to have the training. We don't really know what our future holds.”

Sewing has always been seen as a skill that only girls learn when they are young and gradually become seamstresses as they grow older, Mr Tafunai said. But he begged to differ, telling this newspaper that learning to sew should be open to anyone.

“This skill is very helpful for anyone in the future, not only for the ladies but us boys as well,” he said. 

“We will be able to sew our parent's clothes without sending them to someone else to sew them and pay them an expensive price."

Some males persist and take on sewing classes but they are often ridiculed by peers according to Mr Tafunai.

"I know most of the boys make fun of us who are taking this course because in their thoughts and thinking this is only for girls, well no, boys can also sew," he said.

In fact the first-year Don Bosco student has already signed off on two sewing projects: a school bag sewn out of used clothing and a men’s shirt (alo’a).

"As you can see at the back, my first ever shirt (alo'a) is hanging on the wire and the school bags are right there,” he said.

“The task of sewing an alo'a was very hard for me because if the cutting goes wrong then the shirt will not look good. 

“If you sew the wrong end then it's a waste of materials, however, for the bag I had no difficulty in sewing the bag.”

Having a passion for the art of sewing can also help, especially for the first-timer student, which is why it isn’t surprising that Mr Tafunai’s first foray into the art was when he started sewing by hand.

Today he has upgraded to the electrical sewing machine which he now uses for all his sewing assignments. And he is determined to ensure nothing stands in his way.