Tailors cut and sew customized clothing for a living. The word "tailoring" literally means "the art of cutting." In the United Kingdom, where professional tailors originated, traditional tailoring is known as bespoke tailoring. In the United States and Hong Kong, it is simply known as custom tailoring.
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History
Tailors developed from the 12th to 14th centuries in Europe. The first reference of the word "tailor" was seen in 1297, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. English tailors were highly regarded by the beginning of the 18th century, as fashion was a priority of the wealthy.
Since these early days, developments and innovations such as the sewing machine have reduced the need for hand-made clothing, and tailors. However, they can still be found throughout the world for those who prefer a personalized touch to their clothing.
Function
The tailor's job is to create clothing based on the measurements of the individual. Tailors are experts in the area of measurement, sewing, cutting and fitting. Today, tailors most commonly create men's and women's formalwear suits, jackets and skirts. They are also often used for modifying pre-made clothing to fit.
Types
There are several sub-types of tailors. A custom clothier creates clothing on an individual basis to meet the needs of the customer. A custom dressmaker specializes in creating custom women's garments, including dresses, suits and bridal wear. Alteration specialists restyle or refit garments that have been previously completed. A seamstress is a type of tailor who works on a machine, typically completing seams on machine-made garments. A tailor may specialize in one or more of these sub-types.
Benefits
There are many benefits to visiting a tailor. Many people enjoy the personal attention and customized fit of tailored clothing. There is also the ability to choose your own styles, designs and fabrics that are not available when buying mass-produced clothing.
Misconceptions
Contrary to popular belief, in the past tailors were most often men. Despite the reputation of sewing as women's work, in the early colonies of New England in the United States, female tailors were unheard of. However, the art of tailoring eventually evolved to include women as well as men.
