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Tailor

Alternative titles for this job include Bespoke tailor

Tailors make or alter custom clothes for individual customers.

Average salary (a year)

£20,000 Starter

to

£40,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

36 to 39 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

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

More Information

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

More Information

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.

More Information

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.

More Information

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.

Further information

You can get more information on a career in tailoring from The Bespoke Apprentice and UKFT Futures.

You can find out more about creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

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

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

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.

We've identified this as a potential green job

For a tailor to be a green job, you could:

  • repair clothes so they last longer
  • use eco-friendly fabrics
  • source local materials to reduce the carbon footprint

Find out more about green careers

Working environment

You could work in a workshop or in a factory.

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

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

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a tailor right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Are you interested in becoming a tailor?

Search for training courses near you.

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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Related careers

Skills assessment

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