I quit my day job to concentrate on research and writing the paper on it after COVID -19 was declared a pandemic. The timing couldn't be worse as just two days after it, classes and exams were cancelled so I was left with nothing to do. While passing time at the neighbor's watching the news, the fact that stores have already ran out alcohol and face masks (thank you hoarders!!!) stood out. I thought out loud, "Why don't we sew washable masks and sell them?"
Sis took out her sewing machine (and I helped a little in setting it up) and her stash of fabrics from the loft. She took charge of cutting and left me with the sewing. When two prototypes were done, took a photo of them which I sent to our group chat to see if there will be takers. It was no surprise at all that there is definitely a market for it but I wasn't ready for the overwhelming number of orders we received and I doubted if we can finish everything through the night given that I was still on practice mode.
So sew I did until midnight and my right arm felt sore.
I woke up early the next day to make the quota. We made it but it was already 4PM. Later that night, I received another message. It was from a friend who has a pharmacy and she ordered 50 pieces. This time, we didn't only work until our arms were sore but stopped only when our eyes couldn't be helped from involuntarily closing from drowsiness.
Mind, we are into this not purely on a business sense. Despite our regular sources of income suspended, we still have it better than most and did share whatever little (masks) we have to our dear frontliners: one for the city public information officer, three for the checkpoint volunteer (plus books), three for the ECQ pass holder down at phase 1 and two for my cousin who lives a few blocks away from our house.
Sis took out her sewing machine (and I helped a little in setting it up) and her stash of fabrics from the loft. She took charge of cutting and left me with the sewing. When two prototypes were done, took a photo of them which I sent to our group chat to see if there will be takers. It was no surprise at all that there is definitely a market for it but I wasn't ready for the overwhelming number of orders we received and I doubted if we can finish everything through the night given that I was still on practice mode.
So sew I did until midnight and my right arm felt sore.
I woke up early the next day to make the quota. We made it but it was already 4PM. Later that night, I received another message. It was from a friend who has a pharmacy and she ordered 50 pieces. This time, we didn't only work until our arms were sore but stopped only when our eyes couldn't be helped from involuntarily closing from drowsiness.
