Tailoring Business I – SS3 Fashion and Garment Making Lesson Note (First Term)

A tailoring business is a workshop that makes clothes for customers, either made to measure or in standard sizes. Setting one up needs a plan for the type of work, a good location and layout, the right machines and tools, safe working habits, and business records, pricing and marketing that keep it going.

Subject: Fashion and Garment Making
Class: SS3

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• Name the three types of tailoring business: bespoke, ready-to-wear and specialty.
• State the factors to consider when choosing a location for a workshop.
• Describe the three zones of a workshop layout.
• List the main machines, tools and notions a tailor needs.
• Explain safe working practices in a workshop.
• Describe how to keep records, price work and market a tailoring business.

How do you plan a tailoring workshop?

Before you buy a single needle, you need a plan. Setting up a workshop is like building a house: you do not start with the roof.

Choosing your niche

You cannot sew everything for everyone. Deciding what you want to be known for helps you buy the right tools.

• Bespoke tailoring: Custom-made clothes for individuals (for example, native wear and suits).
• Ready-to-wear (RTW): Making clothes in standard sizes (S, M, L) to sell in shops.
• Specialty: Focusing only on bridal wear, children’s clothes or uniforms.

Why does location matter?

Where you put your shop affects how much money you make. Consider these points:

• Visibility: Can people see your sign?
• Accessibility: Is it easy for customers to park or walk in?
• Competition: Are there 10 other tailors on the same street? Sometimes being near others is good, but too many can make business difficult.

How should the workshop be laid out?

You need a space that “flows”. You should not cut fabric right next to where people are trying on clothes. A good workshop has three zones:

• A Cutting Zone
• A Sewing Zone
• A Fitting Zone

What equipment does a tailoring workshop need?

You do not need the most expensive machines to start, but you do need the right ones.

Sewing machines

• Manual/straight stitch machine: The “old reliable”. Good for beginners and for places with bad electricity.
• Industrial straight stitch machine: Faster, stronger and built for long hours.
• Overlocking (serger) machine: Needed for a professional look. It cleans the edges of the fabric so they do not fray.

The cutting table

This is the heart of the workshop. It must be:

• High enough: So you do not hurt your back leaning over.
• Large enough: To spread out at least 2 to 4 yards of fabric.
• Smooth: So it does not snag delicate materials like silk or lace.

Ironing station

In tailoring, we say: “A seam not pressed is a seam not finished.” You need a heavy-duty steam iron and a sturdy board.

What small tools and notions does a tailor need?

If the machines are the “bones”, these tools are the “fingers” of your business.

Measuring tools

• Measuring tape: Your most important tool. Never let it get stretched out.
• Rulers: Yardsticks and L-squares for drawing straight lines on fabric.

Cutting tools

• Fabric shears: Never use these to cut paper, because it dulls the blade quickly.
• Seam ripper: Everyone makes mistakes, and this tool removes stitches cleanly when you need to fix them.

The small stuff (notions)

• Different sizes of needles (for thick and thin fabrics).
• Tailor’s chalk or disappearing ink pens.
• Quality threads in basic colours (black, white, navy, beige).

How do you manage people and safety in a workshop?

A workshop needs people as well as machines.

Hiring help

As your business grows, you will need:

• Apprentices: People learning the trade who help with basic tasks.
• Tailors: Skilled workers who can handle a full garment.
• Finishers: People who handle buttons, hemming and final ironing.

Safety first

Workshops can be dangerous. Stay safe by:

• Keeping it tidy: Leave no scraps of fabric or threads on the floor, because people can trip.
• Using proper lighting: You cannot sew what you cannot see. Bad light causes eye strain and mistakes.
• Using finger guards: Fit them on industrial machines to avoid accidents.

Customer service

Your workshop needs a “Front of House”. Even a small corner with a nice chair and a mirror makes a customer feel valued.

How do you keep a tailoring business running?

Once the shop is set up, these habits help it stay in business.

Record keeping

Do not keep your orders in your head. Use a Job Card or a notebook to record:

• Customer measurements.
• Date the cloth was brought in.
• Agreed price and deposit paid.
• Delivery date (never miss a deadline).

Pricing your work

Do not guess. Calculate:

• Cost of materials (thread, zips, buttons).
• Cost of electricity or fuel.
• Your time and skill level.

Marketing (getting noticed)

• The mannequin: Put your best work on a dummy outside your shop.
• Social media: Take clear photos of your finished garments.
• Word of mouth: A happy customer is your best advertisement.

Evaluation

1. Explain the difference between bespoke tailoring and ready-to-wear.
2. State three points to consider when choosing a location for a tailoring shop.
3. Name the three zones of a workshop layout.
4. Why is an overlocking machine important in a tailoring workshop?
5. List four things a tailor should record on a job card.

Assignment

1. List three safety rules for a tailoring workshop and give a reason for each.
2. State three things a tailor should include when calculating the price of a garment.
3. Describe three ways a tailor can market their work.