Tailors usually repair and modify existing garments, but may also create new garments based on patterns and designs. You need to know how to sew, join, sew, and finish clothes to be successful in this field as well as how to adapt clothes to different body types. And you need to know the basic principles of design to be able to advise customers on fashion. Although the written prerequisites for becoming a tailor are not very strict, building a successful career in the field may be difficult if the steps for personal training are not followed. Keep reading for more information.
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Part 1 of 3: Education
Step 1. Get a high school diploma
There are no formal educational requirements to become a tailor. But, as a general rule, you should have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED (General Education Development), especially if you want to work as a tailor for a large fashion company.
- Find out at your high school if there are subjects relevant to the field. At the very least, you should try taking a home economics course. Some high schools may even hold more in-depth sewing courses that can teach fashion design, hand sewing, and industrial sewing.
- Take elective subjects to develop a better aesthetic sense so you'll be better equipped to work with color and style.
- Make sure that the subjects you take also help maintain your math skills so you won't have problems working with measurements.
- A course or two in business can also be helpful if you plan to become an independent or self-employed seamstress.
- Job training courses can also be useful as their instructors may be able to help you find work for people in the clothing industry.
Step 2. Take a college course
While you don't need to have a college degree, you can benefit from taking a college course on fashion and design.
- Besides being useful for self-improvement, by completing several courses or having a college degree, it is likely that your boss will consider you for a promotion. You may even be able to work your way up to the top and be assigned to be a supervisor for other tailors.
- Check with your local vocational training centers and technical schools as they are usually more likely to hold sewing, design, and fashion courses than four-year public colleges. The cost of studying at a community college or technical school will also be cheaper.
- Look for schools that offer a variety of courses at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.
- Learn things related to the manufacture of clothing, patterns, textiles or fabrics, apparel, accessories and clothing fittings.
- Ideally, the classes you take should provide a large amount of written information and practical sewing exercises.
Step 3. Consider taking a business course
Many tailors end up being self-employed. Although it's not really necessary, it's a good idea to take business and business finance courses at the college level to prepare for the responsibilities and duties of running your own business.
Look for business classes at your local community college. Pay close attention to general business classes, business finance classes, entrepreneurship classes, marketing classes, and other classes related to small business topics
Part 2 of 3: Experience
Step 1. Work as an intern
One of the best things to prepare to work as a professional seamstress is to take an internship under the direction of a tailor who is well established in the business. The internship will train your ability to enter the corporate world, and the experience gained will look good on your curriculum vitae or CV.
- Maybe you can get an internship under the supervision of a tailor, tailor or tailor in a shop. Internships with formal tailors will cover approximately 4,000 hours of work, while internships with tailors and shop tailors will cover approximately 8,000 hours.
- The seamstress you are apprenticed to will begin hiring you with simple tasks related to sewing, patching, and changing clothes. As you demonstrate skill and understanding, you will be given more complex tasks.
Step 2. Choose informal training, if necessary
Since actual apprenticeships can be difficult to obtain, you can get some training simply by working with a tailor or in the modification department to do tasks that are not directly related to a tailor's job.
If you can't find a formal internship, try getting hired by the modification department at a clothing store or other similar workplace. Even if you're doing nothing but picking up the phone, tidying up, and scheduling meetings, you'll at least gain some knowledge of the work environment you'll be dealing with and important terms or concepts
Step 3. Practice retail work
Tailors need to work with the general public, so practicing your sales and customer service skills will benefit you in the future. In addition, having experience working in a retail company looks good on your resume or CV if you decide to apply for a job as a professional tailor or modification department.
- You need to develop communication and interpersonal skills so that customers will feel comfortable when you measure them while discussing how to improve their clothes.
- While all retail jobs will give you experience working with the general public, some are better than others. Part-time jobs in supermarkets, clothing stores, shoe stores, and accessories stores are preferred over jobs in fast food restaurants or conventional restaurants. Store jobs, especially the ones mentioned above, will allow you to get used to the atmosphere of a fashion retail business rather than a general merchandise retailing environment. On the other hand, jobs in pet stores, convenience stores, and grocery stores are unrelated to the industry, and therefore these stores are less than ideal.
Step 4. Improve your own abilities
Official and professional training can help, but if you want to become a skilled seamstress, you'll also need to practice on your own. If you are planning to be self-employed, practicing on your own may be enough to get you started.
- You can shop around in bookstores looking for manuals on new sewing techniques or information on fabric types, fashion designs, and other topics related to the field.
- You can also look up video guides online to learn different sewing techniques if you need more thorough and detailed examples.
Step 5. Practice with the equipment related to the job
Regardless of how you choose your training and work experience before starting your career as a tailor, you should make sure you have plenty of experience with the actual equipment in that line of work.
- You must be proficient in using standard clothing tapes and other measuring tools. A tape measure is usually used to measure the body, but a short ruler is used to space buttonholes and seam lengths. The "French curved ruler" helps tailors work with slanted seams.
- You will also need to work with a professional sewing machine and overlock. It is also a good idea to learn when to use the settings on these machines, the different needle types, and the different thread types.
- Use cutting tools, including sewing shears, trimming shears and rotary cutters. Know when to use these tools and for what purposes.
Part 3 of 3: Finding a Job
Step 1. Decide whether to work alone or for someone else
Of course there are advantages and disadvantages to both options, so you need to review it before making a decision. Prepare for both paths to give your career more flexibility, but focus your efforts on the path you want.
- Working for someone else limits your responsibilities and concerns about managing or marketing the business. The downside, however, is that you have less freedom from the job and you won't make a full income from it.
- If you are self-employed as a tailor, you will need to spend time doing marketing and administrative tasks. However, you can set your own hours and terms and get a larger share of your income.
- It is estimated that 44 percent of seamstresses are self-employed while 26 percent work in retail trade. The remaining 30 percent work for services and other industries.
Step 2. Find a job with a professional tailor
Professional tailors are often employed by supermarkets, bridal boutiques, and other clothing stores and manufacturers that require people to modify clothing.
If you plan to work for someone else, look for job openings at textile and apparel manufacturers, supermarkets, and dry-cleaners. A shop or manufacturer that is in the fashion industry is a possibility that you should try. You can also check with existing tailor shops if they need additional help
Step 3. Starting Your Own Business
Starting your own business as a tailor can be difficult, but doing so will give you more control over the work, and can get to work quickly without needing to be screened or interviewed by potential employers.
Be aware of the legal and financial requirements for starting your own business. Make sure that your business is registered and that you can secure its finances
Step 4. Develop a portfolio
The portfolio should include photos and examples of work related to the stitches you've already done, including your work in modifications or designs. The portfolio can be a valuable asset when applying for a job or finding a customer.
- The portfolio should include photos of examples of clothes you've modified and clothes you've designed. You can also include a sketch of the design you have.
- Try to include examples of different types of clothing, from casual to formal, and from men's to women's. That way you will look more versatile or flexible, making your talents more attractive.
Step 5. Join a professional organization
Professional organizations of tailors and people in the clothing industry can provide you with additional support and educational resources. This can be of benefit to you regardless of what career path you take, but it is even better if you decide to venture into that field yourself.
- Professional organizations worth checking out include the "Custom Tailors and Designers Association", "Association of Sewing and Design Professionals", "American Sewing Guild", and "Embroidery Trade Association".
- Professional organizations can make it easier for their members to take additional educational courses. They also provide opportunities for tailors to join lists of professionals, and many organizations also provide marketing resources and networking opportunities.
Step 6. Attract customers
Unless you work in a supermarket that only allows you to work for its customers, if you know how to attract customers yourself then that is an important knowledge to have for career development.
Take advantage of traditional advertising, such as newspaper ads, and digital advertising, such as social media accounts and business websites. Also, you should never underestimate the power of “word of mouth” advertising. Happy customers will let others know, thereby spreading the word about your business
Step 7. Know what to expect
If you have the requisite interest and talent for the job, working as a tailor can be very satisfying. However, this field of work is relatively slow growing, and you shouldn't expect to get rich running this business.
- As of May 2010, the median hourly wage for a tailor was $12.77, while the median annual income typically stands at around $25,850.
- In 2010, there were an estimated 57,500 sewing jobs in the United States.
- The "United States Bureau of Labor Statistics" estimates that employment opportunities for seamstresses will only grow by 1 percent from 2010 to 2020.
- Aspects that affect the lack of demand for tailors include the fact that most garments are currently produced cheaply in other countries, as well as the demand for more expensive bespoke garments continues to decline.
