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Tailors and Dressmakers

Tailors and dressmakers prepare patterns and make, fit and alter tailored garments, dresses and other articles of clothing.

Wages

New workers
AVERAGE
Experienced
£13,678
£23,170
£35,672

New workers start around £13,678. Normal pay is £23,170 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £35,672.

Available jobs

In the past year there were 8,275 vacancies for this type of job

6.89%

Projected job growth over the next 8 years

Related courses

People work towards these careers by taking these courses at college and uni.

What they do most days?

  • Makes alterations to finished garments according to customer’s requirements.

  • Shapes garment by pressing seams, pleats, etc..

  • Sews garment parts together by hand or machine, makes buttonholes and sews on fasteners and trimmings.

  • Pins/tacks and fits garment on customer or dummy model and makes any necessary alterations.

  • Arranges pattern on correct grain of fabric, marks position and cuts out garment parts with hand shears, electric knife or cutting machine.

  • Examines fabrics or skins for flaws and prepares materials for cutting.

  • Prepares individual or adapts stock pattern.

  • Takes customer’s measurements and discusses required style and material.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Sewing

  • Garment Alterations

  • Textiles

  • Garment Construction

  • Photo Stitching

  • Selling Techniques

  • Product Knowledge

  • Warehousing

  • Embroidery

  • Inventory Management

Soft Skills

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Detail Oriented

  • Communication

  • Customer Service

  • Sales

  • Time Management

  • English Language

  • Coordinating

  • Ability To Meet Deadlines

  • Management

  • Self-Motivation

How do I get a job like this?

People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.

Routes to this career

See all

  • Fashion Design

    Chichester College Group (inc Brinsbury, Chichester, Crawley, Northbrook & Worthing Colleges)

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · West Sussex · 09/2024

    Tariff points: N/A

  • Craft & Material Practices

    Arts University Plymouth

    BA (Hons) · 4 Years · Sandwich · Plymouth · 09/2024

    Tariff points: 104/120

  • Fashion Design

    Southampton, Solent University

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Southampton · 16/09/2024

    Tariff points: 104/120

  • Fashion

    Manchester Metropolitan University

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Manchester · 09/2024

    Tariff points: 104/112

  • Textile Design

    University of Central Lancashire

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Preston · 23/09/2024

    Tariff points: 96/112

  • BA (Hons) Fashion Design

    Morley College London

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · London · 23/09/2024

    Tariff points: N/A

  • Fashion Design

    University of Bedfordshire

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Luton · 09/2024

    Tariff points: 96/96

  • Textiles

    Coleg Sir Gar

    Cert · 1 Year · Full-time · Carmarthen · 09/2024

    Tariff points: 96/96

  • Art and Design (Fashion and Textiles)

    South Thames College Group (inc Carshalton, South Thames and Kingston College)

    HND · 1 Year · Full-time · Kingston upon Thames · 09/2024

    Tariff points: N/A

  • Fashion and Textiles

    Gloucestershire College

    HNC · 1 Year · Full-time · Cheltenham · 16/09/2024

    Tariff points: 48/48

  • Fashion Design

    University of South Wales

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Cardiff · 23/09/2024

    Tariff points: 96/96

  • Fashion Design

    Regent's University London

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · London · 09/2024

    Tariff points: N/A

  • Fashion

    Teesside University

    BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Middlesbrough · 13/01/2025

    Tariff points: 96/112