I had a professor in college who wrote a book about the history of furniture. She told me a story about a furniture shop she visited in her research. This shop made furniture to order for the richest people in the world. They made paneling inlaid with gold for the Shah of Iran’s coffee room. Shah was deposed while work was still in progress and there was no market for this kind of paneling. The shop owners decided to keep it for themselves, which was why they took their breaks in a gilt coffee room.

My professor interviewed the craftsmen who worked at this shop. These were among the world’s best carpenters and cabinet makers, but they were dissatisfied with their jobs. Not because of their hours, working conditions or wages, but because they were not inspired by the work they did.

They dealt with their frustration by stealing wood. One worker re-furnished the interior of his car in mahogany. Another made guitars out of ebony and Brazilian rosewood.

I hope I am not committing libel against carpenters when I say, this probably happens a lot. Likewise, many tailors steal silk. Don’t get upset about it. It’s the way of the world.

Unfortunately, my tailor has gone too far. I went to see her last week to get a skirt copied. The skirt was a wrap-around style and I bought three meters of silk before going to see her. In my limited Chinese, this is what I said:

“I want this (gesturing to the skirt) in this (gesturing to the fabric). But this is too small. I have a baby and now I am big. I want this big. OK?”

She seemed to understand.

Yesterday I went back to pick up my skirt and I wasn’t happy with the results. She made the skirt much too small. The two sides barely came together, resulting in a slit up the front. Not the look I was going for.

She must have used only two meters of the three I gave her. I’m left with the inescapable conclusion that she made my skirt too small so that she could pocket more of the extra fabric.

I don’t begrudge her the extra silk. I just wish she had made my skirt the right size before taking her cut.

Maybe it’s my fault. Maybe this wouldn’t happen if she were more excited about the work I would give her. She might want to work on intricate qipao dresses. The simple wrap-around patterns I give her aren’t inspiring.

One way or the other, I need to find a new tailor.