Dressmaker (Seamstress)

Creation of Wedding Gown

Brief Description: If you know how to operate a sewing machine and enjoy the details of dressmaking you might want to explore this lucrative and easy to start business. This business is also called custom clothier or custom dressmaker. Your task will be to sew garments for individual clients.

Startup Costs: Startup cost is quite considerable for this business. A well lit room, a sewing machine and basic sewing materials are needed. Sewing machines can cost anywhere from $140 to $5,000, depending on the features they offer.

I highly recommend getting the best machine, second hand. You may also need a serger machine that allows you to create decorative and construction overlock stitches on all types and weights of fabrics. A serger machine can cost anywhere from $300 to $1600.

Other things you will need are measuring tape, rulers, shearing and cutting scissors, pattern markers, needles, threads. You also need a full-length mirror to check on an individual garment in the making.

License/Legal Requirements: No special license is required other than the business license that your local jurisdiction might require.

Education: No special education is necessary other than some design and fabrics oriented education.

Detailed Notes: There are several facets of this business and they are listed below;

• Weddings. Bridal business is a lucrative aspect of the sewing business. Many seamstresses make good living focusing on the creation of wedding gown and wedding accessories.
• Home Decorating. Home decors and accents can also provide a big market for the home sewing business. You can specialize in sewing custom window treatments including draperies and curtains, slipcovers, specially-made pillows, shower curtains, bed covers and other bedding materials.
• Alterations. Alterations can be a profitable business as many people have something in their closet that needs repair and they have no skills how to do it.
• Sewing for pets. This is a growing segment. You can create horse blankets, clothes for dogs and other pets.

To enter successfully in this business, you will ideally have the sewing expertise for your chosen field combined with adequate general sewing knowledge. If you are focusing on draperies, you should know the best materials, the latest styles and fabrics to create the drapes your client desires. If you plan on starting a bridal gown sewing business, you should know everything about wedding gowns.

Marketing: Word-of-mouth advertising is far the most effective way of spreading the word on a new sewing business. You do a good job for one client and the word gets around.

Other ways to advertise include posting on community boards, leaving your business cards and/or flyers in fabric shops, beauty salons, senior centers and cleaners. Contact charity organizations and lend your sewing talents to charitable events. Also get in touch with local performing groups that may require your services for any costumes or set designs. Visit craft fairs, so you will be able to network and meet potential clients.

You might want to establish partnership arrangements with your neighborhood cleaners. In the past most cleaners kept an on a-staff tailor, but now most of them partner with seamstresses for alterations. To partner with cleaners, you simply call around to find out who needs your services. When you work with a cleaner, you will need to set up regular times each week when they can have you in the shop, so customers who need alterations can meet you.

These are some sources where you can get more information about sewing as a Home Business:

• Home Sewing Association http://www.sewing.org
• American Sewing Guild http://www.asg.org
• International Machine Collectors’ Society, http://www.ismacs.org
• Professional Association of Custom Clothiers,http://www.paccprofessionals.org
• The Applique Society, http://www.theappliquesociety.org
• Smocking Arts Guild, http://www.smocking.org
• http://www.hemmingaway.com