Creativity is one of your greatest strengths. For several years now, you have been passionate about sewing and making custom-made clothes. Why not turn this passion into a real career? In this job description, discover the various facets of the work of a tailor and dressmaker. Training, duties, role, salary, skills and qualities required... We tell you everything!

A tailor is a profession in the textile and clothing/arts and crafts sector. This professional specializes in creating clothing and alterations on various textiles (leather, silk, wool, cotton, jute, etc.). At the customer's request and according to the project presented to them, they design a tailor-made suit. Their role is to take measurements, choose the right fabrics, draw patterns, sew, and make alterations.

To become a tailor and dressmaker, you need to have rigorous expertise, a keen sense of aesthetics, and commercial acumen to meet customer requirements.

A tailor is a professional who creates, transforms, adjusts, alters, and modifies clothing. Their main tasks are as follows:

Creation of a custom-made garment:

• The artisan offers the customer an existing model, which he adapts or creates from scratch. Based on this choice, he advises the customer on the cut best suited to their body shape and helps them choose the fabric.

Pattern design and finishing touches:

• He draws the pattern based on the measurements taken.
• He then cuts the fabric and moves on to the sewing stage with the necessary equipment.
• He conducts fittings in order to make any necessary alterations and final adjustments.
• Finally, the expert carries out the finishing touches (topstitching, pockets, ironing).

The designer creates the garment in its entirety or divides the tasks among several professional tailors and dressmakers. They may work alone and independently in their own workshop, in a team, or for haute couture fashion houses.

This job requires many qualities and skills:

• artistic sense (creative spirit),
• passion for art, fashion, and clothing,
• precision in movement and measurement,
• rigor and perfectionism,
• mastery of cutting, assembly, and hand and machine sewing techniques,
• sense of touch and love of textiles,
• management of deadlines and working time,
• good organization within his workshop,
• concentration, patience, and listening skills,
• know how to establish a relationship of trust with the customer and make them feel valued.

This profession is accessible directly after the 9th grade. Future professionals can prepare for a CAP (Certificate of Professional Competence) in two years at fashion professions :

• Vocational training certificate in fashion, specializing in loose-fitting garments,
• Vocational training certificate in fashion, specializing in tailored clothing.

This initial diploma in the craft sector can be supplemented by a vocational baccalaureate or a vocational certificate:

• Vocational baccalaureate in sewing and dressmaking
• BP custom-made clothing, women's tailor option
• BP custom-made clothing, men's tailor option
• BP custom-made clothing with loose-fitting option

A BTS (advanced vocational training certificate) in fashion and clothing is also possible.

In order to pursue a career in a field such as fashion and luxury goods, it is recommended to enroll in a school such as ISAL PARIS.

This institution, which specializes in fashion and design professions, offers a variety of training programs that provide students with real-world professional experience alongside experts and enable them to acquire extensive knowledge about fashion services and products.

The training course “Bachelor of Fashion Creation and Design” is ideal for honing their skills and techniques in fashion design, pattern making, sewing, textiles, and design. During several workshops, students give free rein to their creative imagination and come up with unique clothing collections, which they also present at the end of their studies.

Once the training is complete, each graduate can join independent workshops that offer jobs on behalf of haute couture or luxury clothing manufacturers.

Alteration and service shops are also creating more and more jobs in the sector.

After several years of experience, tailors and dressmakers can set up their own businesses.

A beginner tailor earns an average gross monthly salary of €1,400. Tailors specializing in haute couture earn between €4,000 and €7,000 gross per month.

The level of compensation varies depending on experience, reputation, seniority, and the company where the position is held.