The tailoring industry is a booming one, with many people working in the field. If you want to become a tailor, here are some steps you can follow:
- Get some experience in the industry. This will help you gain knowledge about what it takes to be a tailor. You can do this by working at a shop or even just volunteering your time in one.
- Learn the basics of sewing. Sewing is an essential part of being a tailor and knowing how to sew will help you succeed in this career path. There are many online tutorials that can teach you all about sewing and making clothing, so take advantage of them!
- Start making clothes from scratch. You don’t have to start out by making entire outfits; instead, try making simple things like pillowcases or t-shirts at first so that you can get used to working with fabric and patterns before moving on to more complicated projects like dresses or suits (which require more skill).
- Consider going back to school if needed because most states require their tailors to have at least an associate’s degree before they’re allowed to practice their trade legally,
How To Become A Tailor
- Get your education. The first step to becoming a tailor apprentice is completing your education. …
- Gain work experience. …
- Create a resume. …
- Apply for tailor apprenticeships. …
- Fulfill your apprenticeship’s requirements. …
- Start building your tailor portfolio.
What Do Tailors Do?
Tailors create, repair and modify pieces of clothing to fit their clientele. Tailors know how to place a garment on a client and study it for optimum fitting. They alter clothing items to fit the client better, but they also sew garments from scratch using needle and thread or a sewing machine. They can measure, mark and adjust hems and seams for alteration. Tailors who own their own shops must also have basic business management knowledge, such as how to use bookkeeping software and handle client transactions. Since a large part of a successful tailor business is gaining clientele, tailors should also be good at interpersonal communication.
Look at the following chart for an overview of how to enter this field.
| Education Required | High school diploma; apprenticeships and certificate programs available |
| Training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Key Skills | Sewing by hand or machine, measuring, attention to detail, hand-eye coordination, communication, technical ability, basic math |
| Job Growth (2020-2030) | -7% (for all tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers)* |
| Median Salary (2020) | $32,640 (for all tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers)* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
What Is a Tailor?
A tailor is a skilled craftsperson who repairs damaged clothing and makes alterations in clothing to better fit individual body types. Tailors also design and make new clothing. Measuring customers, recommending sizes based on those measurements, drawing patterns, operating a sewing machine or working a needle and thread are among the other tasks you can expect to perform as a tailor. In some jobs, you might interact with customers as a salesperson. According to O*NET Online, there are no formal degree requirements to become a professional tailor.
Step 1: Earn a High School Diploma
Many high schools offer classes relevant to tailors, including fashion design, hand sewing and industrial power sewing. You can learn fabric types, basic and advanced stitch types, pattern sewing and sewing machine operation. You’ll also need to develop your basic math skills because tailors work with measurements. Art courses can help you develop an eye for design, style and color.
Step 2: Work an Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship to become a tailor may be available in your state. The US Department of Labor has a program that registers apprenticeships, and it gives prospective apprentices access to more than 1,000 career areas. Some states may have program requirements including how many hours you should apprentice before officially being labeled as a tailor.
Step 3: Take College Courses
Community colleges and technical schools offer a range of beginner, intermediate and advanced courses in sewing and fashion design that you can apply to tailoring. Basic construction, patterns, fabrics, custom finishes, detailing and fit are among the topics you’ll study. In most classes, you’ll spend a majority of you time practicing sewing techniques. If you have a college degree or some college training, you’ll have a better chance of advancing to supervisory positions if you work for a major retailer or clothing manufacturer.
Step 4: Develop Social Skills
Because customer interaction is an essential part of your job if you work for a clothing retailer, strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Customers need to feel as comfortable as possible when you’re taking their measurements. You’ll need to earn their confidence in your judgment when providing fashion advice or recommending particular items of clothing they could buy.
Step 5: Choose a Work Environment
O*NOTE Online reported that roughly 42,000 people in the U.S. worked as tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in 2020. If you work as a tailor, your leading employers are clothing stores, dry cleaning and laundry services, apparel manufacturers and department stores. An as option, you could start your own business.
The advantage of working for someone is that you won’t have to manage or market the business, although your earnings will be limited. If you’re in business for yourself, you’ll have to devote time to performing clerical and administrative tasks, establishing a professional reputation and developing a clientele. But, your earning potential will be directly determined by your financial success.
