How to Become a Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes or alters clothing. Some tailors design patterns and are part of the process from start to finish. They choose the fabric for the pattern design, cut the fabric, sew the garment and then fit the garment to the individual. Tailors then press the garment and have it ready for the customer to wear.
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Instructions
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Understand that if you want to become a tailor, you'll need some basic math skills. Learn how to measure and use those measurements with accuracy. If you become a self-employed tailor, you'll need basic bookkeeping skills as well.
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Consider enrolling in a college of fashion and design. You'll need to have knowledge that includes drawing and using diagrams. A good fashion design school will help you focus your creativity to become a tailor who designs original clothing.
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Apply your natural talent for working with clothing and make or alter clothes for family and friends. You'll gain experience and the practice will improve your skills.
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Check with local dry cleaning services. They often employ people full-time to do alterations. This can provide not only great experience, but contacts for your future business as well.
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Know that a good tailor can have numerous opportunities. You can be self-employed, work in a family-owned business or a specialty clothing shop. You'll also find clothing factories around the country and internationally who are always looking for new talent.
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Focus on developing good people skills, including excellent communication. You'll be working with the public and with all sorts of personalities.
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Tips & Warnings
Becoming a good tailor requires attention to detail. Make sure you are a detail-oriented person who can work well on your own without supervision.
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Comments
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finn39
Jun 07, 2009
hi there, im a third year architecture student and am considering going into tailoring to further my knowledge of structure, form and detail. i have a few questions,how long does it take to acquire the above skills?how is the best way to go about learning to tailor?must this education occur in a real tailors? -
perrybriant
Jun 05, 2008
... most fashion and design schools dont teach the art of tailoring. and, it takes much more than simple math and bookeeping skills. its like saying you can be a basketball star by just shooting a few hoops here and there. yes, you can learn tailoring from a dry cleaners, but they also use blind hemming machines to do all the work. its not that hard to turn on a machine. heres what the steps should say: step 1: learn how to sew. step 2: learn how to be perfect at everything. step 3: learn the way a suit should fit a person. step 4: apprentice or work closely with a well seasoned tailor who has many successes in the business. step 5: at this point, you should be able to flat pattern a suit. step 6: when you start to get customers, they will notice your honesty and expertise and you wont need to practice your 'good people skills' that you learned on step six above. you
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perrybriant
Jun 05, 2008
... most fashion and design schools dont teach the art of tailoring. and, it takes much more than simple math and bookeeping skills. its like saying you can be a basketball star by just shooting a few hoops here and there. yes, you can learn tailoring from a dry cleaners, but they also use blind hemming machines to do all the work. its not that hard to turn on a machine. heres what the steps should say: step 1: learn how to sew. step 2: learn how to be perfect at everything. step 3: learn the way a suit should fit a person. step 4: apprentice or work closely with a well seasoned tailor who has many successes in the business. step 5: at this point, you should be able to flat pattern a suit. step 6: when you start to get customers, they will notice your honesty and expertise and you wont need to practice your 'good people skills' that you learned on step six above. you
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perrybriant
Jun 05, 2008
who wrote this explanation of lies?? a tailor is someone who makes the clothing. specifically, they are the ones putting all the padding in the chest, rolling the lapel perfectly and manipulating the wool to make the customer look his/her best. shaping the suit is an art in itself. a suit from a good tailor usually entails not just a suit. but, it becomes a reflection of the body. if you want to make the patterns, you will be known as the cutter. they are the ones specifically working with the customers. they make the patterns with the customers' specific body shape and type. they then give it to the tailors to make with instructions on shaping and suit details. i am a working tailor who has only a few years experience. but, i have enough experience to know that not everyone can tailor. just going to a fashion and design school does not make you a tailor. most fashion and desig
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perrybriant
Jun 05, 2008
who wrote this explanation of lies?? a tailor is someone who makes the clothing. specifically, they are the ones putting all the padding in the chest, rolling the lapel perfectly and manipulating the wool to make the customer look his/her best. shaping the suit is an art in itself. a suit from a good tailor usually entails not just a suit. but, it becomes a reflection of the body. if you want to make the patterns, you will be known as the cutter. they are the ones specifically working with the customers. they make the patterns with the customers' specific body shape and type. they then give it to the tailors to make with instructions on shaping and suit details. i am a working tailor who has only a few years experience. but, i have enough experience to know that not everyone can tailor. just going to a fashion and design school does not make you a tailor. most fashion and desig
