Kurdish Tailor’s Timeless Craft: Preserving Faith and Tradition
In the heart of Ravansar’s historic market, ninety-year-old tailor Mustafa Johari stands as living proof of what dedication and passion can do. For more than eighty years, his small shop has been a quiet haven for craftsmanship, weaving his community’s story one stitch at a time.
In a quiet, sun-drenched alley in Ravansar’s market, the hum of Mustafa Johari’s sewing machine never really fades. At nearly ninety, folks call him Wasta Mustafa, and he still guides fabric under the needle with hands that have seen a lifetime of work.
His focus is almost meditative, a calm in a world obsessed with speed and trends. It’s honestly something to watch.
Wasta Mustafa started young, and he’s seen tailoring tools change—old, foot-powered sewing machines giving way to electric ones. But he never lost his passion for the craft.
His workshop once buzzed with activity, as he crafted everything from soldiers’ uniforms to elegant coats and trousers. People from all over the region sought him out.
Stepping into Wasta Mustafa’s shop feels like walking into a living museum. The simple clay walls, cool even on the hottest days, hold decades of stories—conversations, measurements, and the quiet rhythm of needle and thread.
This isn’t just a workplace; it’s a sanctuary that tells his story. You can almost feel it in the air.
In one corner, Wasta Mustafa keeps a small shelf of religious books. When things slow down, he reads the Holy Quran and Prophetic hadiths, finding comfort in those pages.
For him, faith and craft are woven together. He believes a person should keep working until their last day, not out of obligation but because creating gives life meaning.
As he reflects on his career, Wasta Mustafa remembers the muscle it took to power those old machines and the care needed for every cut and stitch. His skill and dedication earned him deep respect in the community.
The steady whir of his sewing machine is more than a sound—it’s the heartbeat of a life shaped by intention and quiet pride.
The Enduring Love of Work
In a world where many see retirement as the ultimate goal, Wasta Mustafa stands apart. He doesn’t treat work as just a means to an end—it’s the journey itself.
Every stitch he makes, every fabric he cuts, tells a story of years spent pushing forward. His shop isn’t simply a business; it’s a living tribute to a life poured into craft.
Wasta Mustafa, at ninety, still works as Ravansar’s tailor. He’s as solid and connected to his home as the Zagros mountains that have watched over him for decades.
His legacy, woven through needle and thread, quietly shows what it means to love your work and hold onto the dignity of honest labor. There’s something undeniably moving about that, isn’t there?
For more on the life and legacy of Mustafa Johari, visit the full article on Kurdistan24.
