Tailors are experts at specialized hand sewing. They may be known as cutters,
alteration tailors or shop tailors. Tailors design clothes according to instructions
from clients.
Tailors must also consider other factors. These include the size, shape,
weight and color of the product. The materials used are another factor.
Ted Lazich owns a tailoring shop. He says his tailors increase armhole
sizes, lower collars or reduce chest measurements. Some of these tasks take
several hours, since the tailoring is all done by hand. "On an average day,
three to four suits are completed with these types of adjustments," he says.
Tailor John Philbeck's average day runs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. He has some
evening appointments that might last until 8 p.m.
Tailor Mike Vonella usually works six days per week for 10 hours each day.
"On average, tailors work 40-hour workweeks," says Lazich. "Saturday is required
in retail establishments."