LETTER: Local Seamstresses Appeal for Fairness in T-Shirt Mas Production During Carnival

I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out to voice a significant concern that deeply affects local seamstresses and tailors like myself, especially during the Carnival season.

The recent practices of T-shirt Mas producers are not only undermining our trade but also threatening our livelihoods. As a seamstress of over 35 years and going, this has been one of the hardest years to make a suitable income.

Traditionally, individuals would visit T-shirt mass camps to purchase packages containing T-shirts.

Not only this fact but also these troupes are distributing the week OF carnival which hinders the person wearing the costume, as they leave no time to have their clothing altered to their liking. And this I have heard countless times from many people over these past few carnival seasons.

These garments provided us with an opportunity to redesign them for customers, allowing us to earn a modest income during the festive season. However, over the past three years, we have seen a troubling shift.

The mass producers have started producing bathing suits instead of T-shirts, effectively blocking local seamstresses and tailors from obtaining the business we rely on.

If these troupes are looking for a way to increase their income, the T-shirts should be available in two different fabrics: a stretch fabric for ladies and regular cotton.

Initially, when the mass producers recognized that we were transforming T-shirts into eye-catching designs for customers, they attempted to enlist our help in their operations.

When we declined to partake in their proposed plans as they were wishing to receive a specific percentage of each item that we suit for each patron , they opted to introduce bathing suits to the market, thereby diminishing our opportunities to earn during Carnival.

While we may still make a small profit, it is nothing compared to what we used to earn during this festive time.

In previous years, Carnival was a chance for us to thrive, creating different outfits showing the creativity and individuality of each person. Still, now the influx of these bathing suits has severely impacted people who buy these costumes, as they have no time to get their clothes altered by us or even created by us, and this has heavily impacted our earnings.
As well as raised anger with purchasers of the clothing.

We believe this practice is unjust and urge the Carnival Committee and relevant authorities to intervene—the essence of what we do lies in transforming T-shirts and providing unique designs for our community.

The T-shirt Mas has always been a staple in our carnival season, showcasing the creativity of each person. We urge the authorities to address this matter in time for the upcoming carnival season of 2026.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Seamstress