Tailor
Tailors make or alter custom clothes for individual customers.
Also known as: Bespoke tailor
- Starter salary£20,000 a year
- Experienced£40,000 a year
- Typical hours36 to 39 a week
- Green jobPotential
What you'll do
As a tailor, you would:
- speak with customers about what they want
- create designs by hand or using computer software
- make new patterns or adapt existing ones
- cut and assemble fabric pieces to make up garments
- check quality at every stage of the process
- fit garments to customers and make final adjustments before pressing and finishing
You could also carry out repairs and alterations for customers.
Working environment
You could work in a workshop or in a factory.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with your hands
- design skills and knowledge
- the ability to work well with others
- complex problem-solving skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- customer service skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a tailor
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You could start by doing a degree in:
- fashion design
- fashion and textiles
- bespoke tailoring
- fashion atelier and tailoring
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- a foundation diploma in art and design
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
College
You could take a college course to develop your sewing, pattern cutting and design skills. Courses include:
- fashion and textiles
- fashion design
- bespoke tailoring
- T Level in Craft and Design
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You could do an apprenticeship to get started in this career, for example:
- Garment Maker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Fashion and Textiles Pattern Cutter Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Bespoke Tailor and Cutter Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship
These can take around 2 years to complete.
You may be able to get into the industry through the Savile Row Bespoke Association (SRBA) apprenticeship programme. This can take between 2 and 6 years to complete.
You would apply directly to SRBA member tailoring companies . Competition for places is strong.
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
Work
You could start by working as an assistant to a master tailor in a tailoring house. You may be able to arrange this yourself, if you can show you have a keen interest in making clothes and have sewing skills.
You can find information on tailoring houses from The Bespoke Apprentice.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could:
- supervise a workshop team of cutters and tailors
- become a head or master tailor with a company
- move into training future tailors
- set up your own business or work freelance
Career tips
If you are aged between 13 and 16 you can find out more about careers in the fashion and textiles industry and learn new skills through the National Saturday Club , which is supported by the British Fashion Council.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleFashion designer
- Job roleFashion design assistant
- Job roleDressmaker
- Job rolePattern cutter
- Job roleTextile designer
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0