Tailoring Business II SS3 Fashion and Garment Making Lesson Note

Subject: Fashion and Garment Making 

Class: SS3

Why Costing is Not “Guesswork”

Many tailors fail because they look at a customer and guess a price based on how rich the person looks. This is a mistake.

What is Costing? Costing is calculating every single penny you spent to make a dress. If you don’t know your costs, you are just “sewing for fun,” not for business.

The Two Types of Costs:

1. Direct Costs: Things you can see on the dress (Fabric, buttons, thread, zip, lining).
2. Indirect Costs (Overheads): Things you can’t see but you paid for (Electricity, shop rent, fuel for the generator, transport to the market).

Important Rule: If you spend ₦5,000 to make a dress and charge ₦5,000, you haven’t made a profit; you have only recovered your transport fare.

The Ingredients of a Price (Direct Costs)

To get your price right, you must list your “ingredients” just like a cook.

1. The Main Fabric Even if the customer brought the fabric, you must account for it if you are the one buying it. Always add a small “extra” for waste.
2. The “Hidden” Materials (Trimmings) These are the things tailors often forget to charge for:

• Interlining/Stay: To make the collar or bust firm.
• Thread: Don’t just assume thread is free. If you used three different colors, count them.
• Zips and Hooks: Use quality ones so the customer doesn’t come back complaining.
• Padding/Breast Cups: Essential for luxury gowns.

3. Labeling and Packaging If you put your dress in a nice nylon bag with a brand label, that costs money. Include it in the cost!

The “Invisible” Bills (Overheads)

This is where most SS3 students get confused. How do you charge for rent on one shirt?

How to calculate Overheads: You have to divide your monthly bills by the number of clothes you sew.

• Example: If your shop rent is ₦10,000 a month and you sew 20 shirts a month, each shirt must “pay” ₦500 toward the rent.

Don’t forget:

• Generator Fuel: If the light goes out and you turn on the “I-pass-my-neighbor,” the customer must pay for that fuel through the price of the cloth.
• Machine Maintenance: Every few months, you need to oil your machines or change the needle. A small part of every sewing fee should go into a “repair box.”

Pricing Your “Workmanship” (Labor)

Your skill is not free. You spent years learning how to cut a perfect princess dart or a Senator top.

How to value your time:

1. Complexity: A simple A-line skirt should not cost the same as a 6-piece padded gown.
2. Speed: If a customer wants a dress in 24 hours (Express Service), they must pay an “Urgency Fee.”
3. Your Level: A “Master Tailor” charges more than an apprentice because they make fewer mistakes.

The Formula:

Direct Materials + Overhead Share + Labor (Your Profit) = Final Selling Price.

Common Pricing Mistakes to Avoid

To survive in the fashion world, watch out for these traps:

1. The “Sentimental” Price Charging your best friend or sister too little. If you don’t charge them enough to cover the “Direct Costs,” you are losing money from your own pocket.
2. Not Checking the Market You should know what other tailors in your area are charging. If everyone charges ₦3,000 and you charge ₦10,000, you must explain why your quality is 3 times better.
3. Forgetting the “Running Around” The time you spent in the market under the sun looking for the exact shade of blue thread is work. You must include a “Logistics” fee.

Summary for the Student: Pricing is about Respect. Respect for your tools, respect for your time, and respect for your talent. If you charge too little, you can’t buy better machines. If you charge too much without quality, you lose customers. Find the balance.