Q&A for How to Become a Tailor

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What qualifications do I need to be a tailor?

Alessio Iadicicco
Apparel Manufacturing Specialist
Alessio Iadicicco is an Apparel Manufacturing Specialist based in Dallas, Texas. He was the CEO and Co-Founder of MarkersValley, an online apparel and manufacturer sourcing platform that connects luxury fashion brands to a network of highly-vetted, truly Italian manufacturers. After 6 years building MarkersValley, he transitioned into a career as a SBA Lender, currently working as VP of the SBA Business Development Office at U.S. Bank. Through this role, he helps small business owners secure the SBA funding they need to thrive. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economy and Management of Financial Enterprises from The University of Naples Federico II. MarkersValley has connected fashion brands in over 100 countries and has a network of over 100 independent Italian factories and artisans. MarkersValley has been featured in Forbes, EQ, St. Louis Business Journal, Il Mattino, and Corriere Della Sera.

Alessio Iadicicco

Apparel Manufacturing Specialist

Expert Answer

Fashion academies and professional schools can qualify you, but ultimately, practice is the most important thing.

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How much money does a tailor make?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

It depends on where you live, but the national average in the U.S. is currently about $15 per hour. Some areas have a stronger tailoring industry than others—for instance, tailors in San Francisco, CA make significantly more than the national average.

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How many years does it take to become a tailor?

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Staff Answer

While you won’t need a specialized degree to become a tailor, you’ll probably need at least 2-4 years of on-the-job training and experience. If you want to do more complex work (e.g., making custom suits or dresses as opposed to just doing alterations and repairs), you may need at least 9-10 years of practice and training.

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Is tailoring hard to learn?

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Staff Answer

Tailoring involves a variety of complicated sewing techniques, especially if you plan to create custom clothes and not just do simple repairs. Some of these skills are difficult to learn and can take a long time to master. You’ll pick it up faster if you’re willing to spend a lot of time practicing your craft.

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How can I gain more knowledge about my job if I am already a tailor?

Enoch Ogundele

Community Answer

Keep updated on the trends. Adding your personal creativity to the trends can create your own niche and increase your worth with clients or your employer. As a tailor, more knowledge can be sought through attending fashion workshops, the media, by following an already-established designer online (and receiving the newsletter), and asking questions when necessary, especially communicating with your customers to discover their personal tastes and preferences.

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I am a tailor in Kenya, how can I work in the United States?

Community Answer

You will need a work visa or a green card to work in the U.S. Visit the U.S. embassy near you and discuss it with them.

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How can I pay myself?

Community Answer

Allocate yourself a reasonable salary, think of it as the company (your business) paying you for your work as if it were a living entity. Just make sure you're not drawing capital out of the business.

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What is the use of measuring tape as a tailor?

Community Answer

Getting a customer's measurements is completely necessary in order to tailor their clothing to fit them, so the measuring tape is used to gather those measurements. Without one, you would have no idea how to size someone's clothing.

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What can I do to become a great tailor?

Brett Gilbert

Top Answerer

Practice, practice, practice. One of the biggest things is getting used to all the tools and techniques a tailor uses. Learn to alter clothes, whether for yourself or other people. You could also try making your own clothing for additional practice. Tailoring is a very hands-on profession, so it's all about your skills, which often comes through experience.

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