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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Kimo Potgieter of Mossel Bay can make almost anything, using a sewing machine.
"If I can just get behind a machine..." she says, not finishing the sentence. But one can finish it for her: "...then miracles happen."
She still marvels how she came from being a Lieutenant-Colonel in the police force to a seamstress of note.
She was in the police for 23 years. While she was a plain clothes detective she received a small clothing allowance of R500 a year. "They gave me the concession that I could buy material and make my own clothes." When Kimo left the police she worked as a health and safety officer.
"I've sewn since I was very small," she says.
Her mom, aged 91, with whom she lives, also "did beautiful work". This was before she had a stroke in 2017, which affected her sight badly.
Kimo makes whole caravan awnings, furniture covers, umbrella covers, ranger bags for a wildlife estate, doggie jackets, matric farewell gowns, suits and even drama costumes.
Heavy work
For the heavy, canvas-type work she does, she uses a fabric called Riptek or Ripstop.
She has been in Mossel Bay for four years. "My mom lives with me. The two of us relocated to Mossel Bay from Pretoria.
"The moment I landed here, I bought industrial sewing machines and the sky was the limit."
Kimo even makes bakkie covers and has just completed one for a construction company.
"I do everything on my own. I'm a one-man band."
When Kimo was retrenched, she decided she and her mother should move from Pretoria. Kimo's brother asked: "Where are you going with mom?" Kimo replied that they would go to Paternoster or somewhere else on the West Coast. But her brother said it was too far away. He said: "I will give you one of my flats to live in, in Mossel Bay."
The day after he said that, their mother had a stroke. But "everything fell into place", Kimo says. "I sold my flat and we moved to Mossel Bay. The Lord is keeping His hand over us. We're very fortunate."
Stage and party costumes are also Kimo’s speciality.
Kimo Potgieter even makes bakkie covers.
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