A father’s love can go leaps and bounds. For 12 year old child singer Taylor Louise, her father’s love translates into the beautiful dresses she adorns during her many performances. Whether she is singing on local stages or abroad, Taylor’s papa is always behind the scenes — burning the midnight oil just so his daughter can appear confident and beautiful on stage.
What started as a passion project for a first time, self-taught designer, Taylor’s father, who prefers to be known simply as Papa, began making dresses for her in 2024.
“I remember it very clearly when I decided to make her dress with zero experience,” he said.
He said the idea came after he and Taylor’s mother realised that finding the perfect dress for her, one suited to her age and stage, was not always easy.
And with each journey a soaring one, Papa admits, there can be many expenses involved. From training and competition fees to travelling, accommodation and many other costs, a beautiful custom-made performance dress can also be expensive.
With every stitch, Papa said he could save every penny he could and put it towards Taylor’s lessons, competitions and travelling costs.
“It may seem like a small saving compared with everything else, but over the years, it does make a difference. We are an ordinary family trying our best to support our daughter’s dream within what we can afford.
“As her father, I just wanted her to look beautiful and feel confident when she stepped onto the stage,” he added.
Having sung at various stages prior to her first international performance at the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Los Angeles, Papa took the bold move to create Taylor’s first competition dress. According to him, he watched numerous sewing videos on YouTube and tried to see what worked well for the dress.
Honing his skills little by little, Papa learned to cut, sew and stitch different parts of a dress together.
“I was nervous because I really wanted Taylor to look beautiful and feel confident on stage. When I finally saw her performing in Los Angeles wearing something I had made with my own hands, I felt very proud and happy,” he said.
Though the dress may not have been perfect, he felt it was made with a father’s love. Since then, Papa has continued to make each and every performance dress for Taylor whenever he could.
“I am still not a professional dressmaker. I’m just a father who learned something new because I wanted to do what I could for my daughter.”
Burning the midnight oil
Having a day job does not hinder Papa from working hard on Taylor’s dresses. When the sun sets and everything for the day has been settled, he can finally work on his designs. By then, it would already be midnight. Papa would then work until 3 am before going to bed and getting ready for the next day.
While it can be tiring, whenever he is at the sewing machine, making the best dress for his daughter, he thinks about Taylor on stage, standing proud in his handiwork. This is what keeps him going through the quiet hours as he works on the dress, he recalled.
“As a father, I may not be able to sing for her or stand on the stage for her, but this is one of the things I can do. Every parent supports their child in a different way. For me, making her dresses is one way of telling her, ‘Papa is behind you. Go and do your best.’”
And when Taylor flaunts the dresses he made confidently on stage, it feels like the late nights were worthwhile. Never thinking about how tired he was or how many hours it took him to finish each dress, he simply feels proud looking at his daughter doing what she loves to do.
Depending on the design, Papa revealed that the time needed to complete each dress varies according to how intricate the design is. However, one thing is certain — it can take him many nights to complete.
The design, he said, usually comprises a combination of ideas.
“Sometimes Taylor tells me the colours or styles she likes, and sometimes we look at different designs for inspiration.”
He would then adapt these ideas into something suitable for her age, the song she is performing and the occasion.
“Sometimes I also add little details without telling her because I like to surprise her.”
As for the fabric, he said his choice depends on the design he has in mind.
“I look for materials that can create a nice shape and movement on stage, but comfort is very important because Taylor still needs to breathe properly, move around and perform.”
Journey to London
As a child singer, Taylor’s next journey takes her to London, where she will be auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent (BGT). Though she expressed on her social media that she may not be able to progress further as there are many other competitors, simply going for the audition provides her with another stepping stone in her journey.
For Papa, it means that his support, through the dress he makes, allows Taylor to carry a little piece of home and her family with her. Still surreal about his daughter’s next opportunity, Papa has chosen something fresh for the London stage.
“This time, I chose a maroon theme because it is a colour Taylor has never worn for her competition dresses before. Since this is only the first-round producer audition, I don’t want to overdress her. I want to keep the dress simple, sweet and age-appropriate, while still making her feel special and confident,” he said.
If she does progress further in BGT, then Papa would need to think about something a little more special. Nevertheless, this journey is not necessarily about the dress, but the focus remains on Taylor and her voice, he shared.
With the dress in the making, Papa hopes that it will tell a story of love, perseverance and family ties.
“It doesn’t come from a famous designer or an expensive boutique. It comes from a father’s hands, made after work and late into the night, for a daughter who has a dream.”
Adding on, Papa said that the meaning behind the dress also carries something bigger. It represents the love and encouragement from the community that helped give Taylor the opportunity to travel from Sarawak to London and try.
“Of course, as a father, I hope she does well. But more than anything, I hope she enjoys the experience, learns from it and stays humble. We know there is no guarantee she will make it to the next round,” he said.
While he does not want her to feel pressured to win, he hopes that her courage will continue, as opportunities and experiences like this have become part of her journey.
As Taylor practises her next notes and Papa busies himself with making her dress, he wants her to know: “Don’t worry about whether you make it to the next round. Just go there, sing your best and enjoy the moment. Papa is already proud of you for having the courage to try. No matter what happens in London, you will always come home to us.”
