Tailors

A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing to fit a person’s measurements. While the term is often associated with suits and jackets, tailors work on a wide range of garments. In common usage, a tailor may also make alterations to improve fit or style.

Historically, tailoring developed in medieval and early modern Europe, with guilds regulating craft, apprenticeship, and quality. By the 18th and 19th centuries, bespoke tailoring flourished in cities such as London, Paris, and Milan, supplying court and civilian attire. The advent of sewing machines and standardized sizing in the 19th and 20th centuries expanded production and created categories such as bespoke, made-to-measure, and ready-to-wear. Today, tailors may work in small shops, luxury ateliers, or large fashion houses and often specialize in suits, coats, and formal wear.

Typical work includes taking precise measures, drafting or adjusting a pattern, cutting fabric, assembling pieces, and performing fittings. The process may involve multiple fittings to ensure drape, balance, and comfort. Common tasks also include pressing, finishing, and advising clients on fabric choice, linings, and construction details. Advanced tailoring uses canvassing, padding, and other techniques to achieve structure.

Training often involves an apprenticeship or formal program in tailoring, pattern making, or garment construction. Prospective tailors learn measurement, cutting, sewing, pressing, and quality control, as well as fabric behavior and garment wear. Professional organizations may certify skills and provide continuing education.

Economically, tailors serve individuals seeking custom fit and garment longevity, as well as institutions such as hotels, theatre productions, and uniform suppliers. In popular culture, tailors are associated with precision, craftsmanship, and the tradition of bespoke clothing.