The Princess was 5 on Saturday. Let joy be unconfined. Other than among her brothers where a certain amount of jealousy was evident. She got many lovely presents and parcels from far flung places and, believe me, I know how much of a pain it is sending parcels. For the first time, she examined each present and played with it in turn before opening the next.
One of her presents was from me. It was a dress from Uganda. She loves it. I love it. The only problem is that it is freezing in Brussels and it is cold wearing her summer dress round the house. But we don’t care. Her father is a little concerned though.  She knows that a nice lady in Africa made it for her – we got to examine the stamps on the parcel and the shopping bag from a local supermarket. Very thrilling.
You are doubtless distracted by this exotic African element in the birthday frenzy. I bought the dress from Lizzie who was brought to my attention by the lovely Heather. Lizzie is starting a business with her housekeeper, Eva, who is also an excellent seamstress. Lizzie is rich (well, you know, relatively) and looking after marketing abroad and Eva is poor and looking after working and getting the profits.
I sent off the Princess’s measurements and Lizzie organised the dress in no time (also producing a baby in the interim, speedy work). When the parcel came, there was a handwritten note from Eva saying thanks for the order and God Bless. People, is this better than buying from child labour in China? You know, I’m half inclined to think that it is.
Total cost is 28stg – 25 for the dress and 3 for p&p (to Belgium anyway) and, frankly, with sterling in freefall at the moment – what’s not to like? It’s an ill wind and all that.
The dress is lovely: proof here. If we get a summer, she will wear it constantly. I think we might buy another one.
It’s the first time that she has ever had something made for her.  She is charmed by the idea. When I was little, my mother used to make a lot of my clothes. She once, memorably, said to my father as she looked at him coming out of mass with us in our beautiful wool coats with velvet collars, that he looked like the groom following the children from the big house. He still brings it up occasionally. I digress.
So here it is, big plug for Lizzie and her business (there’s that link again) which absolutely deserves to prosper.
She looks amazing. What a great idea. Does Eva make things for big people??
It is better than buying from children (or slaves) in China but it would be even better if the fabric was made in Uganda (or at least in the region) – cheap fabric imports have more or less destroyed local manufacturing industry. They do very nice batik.
So pretty!
Happy birthday Princess. (my favourite ever dress of Belle’s was one my sister had made by a lady in Tanzania, gorgeous local fabric and beading but made up into a “Western” style….She’s long grown out of it now…)
The dress is beautiful. Lizzie is quite fabulous, and now owns 3 children just like you!