Skip navigation
Search
Search
Back

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
£9,949
£22,784
£33,523

New workers start around £9,949. Normal pay is £22,784 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £33,523.

Available jobs

In the past year there were 8,370 vacancies for this type of job

6.43%

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

  • Image Stitching

  • Embroidery

  • Flatbed Truck Operation

  • Selling Techniques

  • Trailer Repair And Maintenance

  • Product Knowledge

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

  • English Language

  • Sales

  • Coordinating

  • Time Management

  • Management

  • Ability To Meet Deadlines

  • Operations

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

Costume

Arts University Bournemouth

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Poole · 30/09/2024

Tariff points: 112/120

Fashion Design: Knitwear

University of the Arts London

BA (Hons) · 4 Years · Sandwich · London · 23/09/2024

Tariff points: N/A

Craft & Material Practices

Arts University Plymouth

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

Tariff points: 104/120

Fashion Design

Solent University (Southampton)

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

Creative Arts Practice

Bath Spa University

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

Tariff points: 104/128

Textile Design

Hereford College of Arts

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

Tariff points: 80/80

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

Fashion Design

University of Portsmouth

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

Tariff points: 112/120

Related careers

Merchandisers

Upholsterers

Footwear and Leather Working Trades

Print Finishing and Binding Workers

Florists

Housekeepers and Related Occupations

Cleaning and Housekeeping Managers and Supervisors

Visual Merchandisers and Related Occupations

Routine Inspectors and Testers

Bar Staff

Related industry guides

See all