The Process
 
 
   

 Day 1  »
  1. Discussion of purpose of gathering and manufacture of garment
  2. Discussion of Motherhood/ Birthing experiences
  3. Each woman writes a story of her own motherhood/birthing experience. Each woman to add her name, date of birth and address to her written story. If the woman cannot write the co-ordinator should write her story for her verbatim.
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 Day 2  »
  1. A drawing is made by each women which represents the story she has written.
  2. Practicing and learning stitches and beading
  3. Choose woman to represent group in India
  4. Cut out garment to size
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 Day 3  »
  1. Composition discussion and decisions for garment – skirt in this case - as the primary “canvas”for the design
  2. Each woman now draws her drawing on to the garment including any text she wishes to include and her name.
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 Day 4  »
  1. Continue to draw drawings on to the garment. As the garment cannot be worked on by all the women at once turns must be taken. The wrap-around skirt made in this instance can only be worked on by about 5 or 6 women at a time.
  2. Any secondary garment (the blouse in this case) is now drawn on to plan the embellishment
  3. Commence with the embroidery/beading on the garment/s
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 Day 5  »
  1. Start making head gear
  2. Continue Sewing
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 Day 6  »
The group continues sewing on the skirt and the shirt is also worked on as is the head gear


   

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 Day 7  »
Continue sewing
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 Day 8 and 9  »

 

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 Day 10  »
At the beginning of this day it is necessary for the group to gather and reassess the overall design of the garment. The group from Umlazi decide to add an umbilical chord in red on the skirt “joining” the pictures as well as using a blue theme for the letters on the shirt.

The group now work on all parts of the garment.
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 Day 11  »
Work continues on all parts of the garment

Two midwives from King Edward Hospital, Ayanda Nsibande and Gabi Mahlangu visited the group to discuss safe pregnancy, birthing and motherhood.
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 Day 12  »
On Day 12 the Co-ordinator takes head and shoulders photos of each woman in the group. These are then developed (same day if possible to check the quality of the photos) and the name, date of birth and address of the woman is written at the back of the photo.

Eunice Gambushe
Co-ordinator
Thuleleni Nzimande
Bongekile Joyce Mhlongo

Gertrude Zulu
Kholiwe Nok'thula Mkizwe
Thandiwe Mkizwe

Dolly Collen Mbatha
Elsie Nzama
Lilian Mthiyane
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 Day 13  »


On this day the group again looks at the overall design of the skirt and shirt. An umbilical chord has been drawn in in the skirt which is outlined in many colours. They decide that they will fill the chord in with Red. This device is used as a design element to join the different stories together.


The ladies also assess their personal story pieces which are part of the whole and decide how to finish them off.


The letters on the blouse/ shirt have also been outlined. These will be filled in in blue.

  
Dolly Mbatha’s story:

To be a mother is difficult because you are pregnant for nine months. On 19 February 2002 I got pregnant and no one could notice that I was pregnant and my stomach was too small. I started attending the clinic for check ups, and they were saying I was lying as they could not see the stomach. I went to the traditional healers. They helped me and my stomach started to grow. I went back to the clinic and everything went well.

They referred me to the hospital to check on my high blood pressure. There they told me that I was about to give birth. They used a pill on me that was gong to make it quicker for me to give birth. Unfortunately this did not help me. I had to have a ceasar. I was in so much pain that I did not even know what kind of baby I had. They told me it was a boy. They took my baby away for two days and then brought him back. I gave him the name Simangaliso.

  
Lillian Mthivane

When I gave birth to all my children everything went well but what was sad was that my sister Elsie, when she gave birth, had difficulties. She was in pain for three days and her body was swollen. Doctors tried everything to help her but after four days they had to operate to take the baby out. The baby died. She was in hospital and could not move or walk. She was paralysed and still cannot walk. I hate King Edward Hospital because of their carelessness. Now I am the mother of her three children. They are all young. The firstborn is 10 years old, the second child is 8 years old and her last born is now 4 years old. I take care of my sister. Bath and feed her. It is difficult to be a mother.

The cloths of the other ladies in the group which they were assessing on Day 13



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 Day 14  »
message

As the women have by now spent some time together on the project and have, over the period discussed their personal mothering stories as well as having been exposed to the discussion with the professional midwife, DAY 14 should see them collectively, under the guidance and penmanship of the Co-ordinator, relate their message in their indigenous language on to paper, to be read out in Delhi by their representative. This message should reflect that which is most needed by the women of that particular community in terms of making birthing and motherhood safer.

The women of the group are now working towards finalising the garment by DAY 16. At this time all the aesthetic decisions have been taken to complete the garment and they are merely working on the pre-decided areas which require stitching and beading.

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    Day 15  »
The group works on all the elements of the garment in an endeavour to complete the selected designs by the end of DAY 16.

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 Day 16  »
On this day the women in the group complete the embroidery/sewing as far as possible and then wash the garment. After this the finishing touches are done as well as any last minute embellishment which are seen to be incomplete. Any linings or skirt belts/bands etc. are then attached.
I'M DYING OF/FROM PAIN
THE WATER BREAKS
AH! A BABY

WOW
BRIDE
YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE
A BABY!
THE BABY
IS SILENT
AFTER(ENDURING)
SO MUCH PAIN

SHAWL

BIRTHING
FORWARD
WOMEN
SAFTEY
HAT

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