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Clothing alteration hand

Clothing alteration hands adjust and repair garments and clothes.

£14,000 to £22,000 average per year

35 to 40 per week

1. Entry requirements

There are no set requirements, but you’ll usually need sewing experience. You could start by working as an assistant to a dressmaker or a tailor, or as a sewing machinist in a clothing factory.

You could take a college course in fashion or textiles to learn some of the skills you’ll need to do this job.

You could get into this job through an apprenticeship.

Creative Skillset has more information about this role.

2. Skills required

You’ll need:

good sewing skills – both by hand and on a machine
good attention to detail
communication skills and tact when dealing with customers

3. What you'll do

Your day-to-day duties may include:

fitting the customer with a garment and deciding where to make adjustments
agreeing alterations and marking them out, using chalk or pins
deciding which kind of stitching would suit different types of fabric
taking up or letting down hemlines
adjusting seams, darts or waistbands
repairing zips and other fastenings
stitching by hand or using an industrial sewing machine, like an overlocker
dressmaking or tailoring

4. Salary

Starter: £14,000 to £16,000

Experienced: £18,000 to £20,000

Highly Experienced: £22,000 (supervisor)

You may earn more by working on a piecework basis, where you’re paid per item.

These figures are a guide.

5. Working hours, patterns and environment

You’ll usually work 35 to 40 hours a week, which may include evenings and weekends.

You’ll be based in a shop, workshop, or at a dry cleaners. If you’re self-employed, you may work from home. Most of your time will be spent sitting at a sewing machine.

6. Career path and progression

With the right skills and experience, you could move into a supervisory position or set up your own business.