Career Suggestion

Dressmaker

Dressmakers create, alter and repair garments and dresses for their customers.

Average salary (a year)

£0.0 to £0.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

30.0 to 37.0

You could work

in your own business managing your own hours

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
  • short specialised training courses

College

You could take a college course to learn some of the skills you'll need for this job. Courses include:

  • fashion
  • fashion and textiles
  • pattern cutting
  • 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

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
  • search for courses|/find-a-course

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a clothing company, such as:

  • Sewing Machinist Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Garment Maker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Fashion and Textiles Pattern Cutter Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Direct Application

You can apply directly to work as a dressmaker. You'll need experience in dressmaking and fashion, and the ability to demonstrate to employers and clients that you have the skills they are looking for.

Other Routes

You can find short courses in dressmaking techniques at adult education centres and with private training providers. These cover how to use a sewing machine, pattern making and pattern cutting.

You can also find guides and tutorials online.

More Information

Career Tips

It's a good idea to keep a portfolio of your designs and work to showcase your skills and creative ideas to employers and clients.

Further Information

You can find out more about garment making and dressmaking from UK Fashion and Textiles (UKFT) .

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • design skills and knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • knowledge of maths
  • the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day-to-day tasks

As a dressmaker, you could:

  • advise clients on fabrics, prints, colours and styles
  • give quotes for costs and timescales
  • take accurate measurements
  • create a new garment pattern or use a ready made one
  • cut out fabric pieces and tack together for fittings
  • stitch pieces together with a sewing machine or by hand
  • fit the garment and make minor adjustments to suit the client
  • make alterations and repairs to existing garments

Working environment

You could work in a workshop or from home.

With experience you could take on a supervisory role, move into a related career like fashion or textile buying, or become self-employed.

You could specialise in making or altering particular garments like children's clothes, dance costumes or wedding dresses.

You could also work in costume production for theatre, TV and film.

Related careers

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