Born without fingers, Liza stitches together a life of independence

PASIR PUTEH: The hum of a sewing machine fills Liza Mamat’s home as she carefully guides fabric under the needle.

A baju kurung takes shape piece by piece, stitched with the confidence that comes from more than 20 years at a sewing machine.

To her customers, Liza’s role as a trusted tailor is made more impressive by the fact that she was born without the five fingers on her left hand.

For the 46-year-old mother of four, that has never defined her life. Instead, it pushed her to develop a skill that would allow her to earn a living, support her family, and build her independence.

“I realised I needed a skill of my own despite not having a high level of education,” she told Bernama. “So I chose sewing and worked hard to master it.”

Her interest in tailoring began as a teenager while watching her elder sister, Yati, complete orders for women’s clothing, including baju kurung.

Inspired, she enrolled in a tailoring course at the Industrial Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Bangi, Selangor, in 2003.

The learning process was not easy. Most sewing machines and tailoring tools were designed for people with two fully functioning hands, forcing Liza to adapt and develop her own techniques.

“One of the difficulties was using tools that required both hands, including handling sewing equipment and cutting fabric,” she said.

“But I never gave up. Through constant practice, I developed my own methods that made sewing easier.”

After completing the nine-month course, she began taking small orders from neighbours and friends. Word spread and, overtime, a steady stream of customers followed.

Today, Liza produces everything from baju kurung and baju Melayu to alteration and repair work, serving a loyal clientele that returns year after year.

She can complete up to three outfits a day and as many as 60 orders a month, depending on demand.

“Alhamdulillah, customers continue to trust my work,” she said. “Many have become regular clients and return whenever there is a festive season or special occasion.”

Working from home gives her the flexibility to manage both her business and family responsibilities, while customer satisfaction remains at the heart of everything she does.

Each completed garment represents not only an income, but also a quiet reminder of how far she has come.

Liza credits much of her strength to the support of her family, particularly her husband, Mohd Kufri Omar, who is also physically disabled. Together, they have built a life centred on perseverance rather than limitations.

“I have never viewed my disability as a barrier to success,” she said. “Instead, I use it as motivation to prove my capabilities.

“If we focus only on our limitations, we will never move forward. I believe everyone has their own strengths and opportunities to succeed in their own way.”