RETAY BON TWAL; PA JETE

Literal translation for this proverb is: “They don't throw away leftovers of a good fabric.”

In the Haitian society, people are proud of what they wear. Even though someone can just buy a suit or a dress from a store, for example, they prefer having a tailor they trust sew it for them. They like to go shop the fabric and give it to be sewed. Afterwards, they can tell other people the fabric they are wearing.

In fact, those fabrics are expensive and uncommon. The tailors always store the leftovers to make other projects or use them as samples when somebody else is asking them for advice.

Haitian people use this proverb to talk about the remaining importance of some people, groups or organizations in the society when they are no longer at their best. They say that these people, even though they lose their wealth, influence or get old, they always have something special to offer. They can make the difference anytime.

When someone loses what he/she possesses - strength, wealth, social position - they should not be thrown away from society. The value remains with the person no matter what happens because “Retay bon twal; pa jete.”