Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners
Career Overview
Tailors, dressmakers and furriers make, alter and repair tailored clothing, dresses, coats and other made-to-measure garments. Milliners make, alter and repair hats. This occupational group also includes alterationists, who fit, alter and repair garments.
People in this occupation:
- Work for clothing retailers, clothing alteration shops, dry cleaners and garment manufacturing companies or they may be self-employed
- Should be creative and enjoy careful, precise work
- Should have the ability to work independently, as well as good interpersonal skills to work with clients
Job Titles
Duties
Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners perform some or all of the following duties:
- Review clients' needs and prepare sketches or models that outline the finished item of clothing
- Select and modify commercial patterns or design patterns to fit measurements
- Mark and cut fabric, fur, leather and other materials
- Sew pieces together to create finished garments
- Fit, alter and repair garments by hand or using sewing machines
- May perform small business duties, such as recruiting clients, marketing services, purchasing supplies and equipment and keeping financial records
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,785% Employed Full Time
27%Most tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners work a 40-hour week. Those employed in retail may work evenings and weekends.
Working conditions for this group of workers are varied. Some work in large workrooms or factories, and others work within retail stores or in smaller shops with only a few co-workers. Those who are self-employed may work alone in a small shop or in a home workshop. Workplaces are generally clean, well lit, and well ventilated, however, sewing areas can be noisy and dusty. Some older factories may be cluttered, poorly lit and hot.
Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners perform detailed, precise and sometimes repetitive work, which requires good eyesight and manual dexterity, as well as attentiveness. In some factories, new machinery and production techniques have decreased the physical demands on workers.
These workers can be susceptible to eye strain, sore shoulders and neck pain from spending long hours sitting in one position.
Career Pathways
Some tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners begin their careers in an informal apprenticeship under a more experienced worker.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Completion of secondary school may be required. Other training or requirements may include:
- Completion of college or other courses in tailoring, dressmaking, fashion design or costuming,
- On-the-job training
- A demonstrated ability to sew, style and fit men's or women's garments
Furriery requires several years of experience in selecting pelts and making, fitting, styling and altering fur garments and accessories.
Millinery requires a demonstrated ability to sew, style and fit hats and caps, and alteration requires a demonstrated ability to sew, alter and repair garments.
Alterationists require an ability to sew, alter and repair garments.
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,785Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 0.6% |
| Kootenay | 45 | 2.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,250 | 69.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 1.1% |
| Northeast | 40 | 2.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 175 | 9.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 250 | 14.0% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
900Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | 20 | 0.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 720 | 1.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.2% |
| Northeast | 20 | 1.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 80 | 1.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 70 | 0.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 360 |
| Retail Trade | 240 |
| Manufacturing | 150 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 60 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 40 |
Insights from Industry
Although the projected growth in B.C.'s population may increase the demand for clothing and the associated services of tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners, a number of factors are diminishing the need for these services.
The trend toward casual clothing styles is reducing the demand for tailored clothing. Job openings for furriers and milliners are expected to be limited, since the market for custom-made hats and furs is small. In addition, B.C.'s apparel companies are increasingly moving their clothing production offshore, reducing the number of local jobs available.
Although these factors will limit growth in the industry, future work prospects will remain high, mainly due to the large number of openings expected to result from retirements in the coming years.
Resources
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Apparel Human Resources Councilwww.apparel-hrc.org
