Clothing--Custom Made

Custom made clothing services are usually provided by a tailor, seamstress, or a dressmaker.

The main difference in the service they provide is that a dressmaker specialises in clothing for women and tailors work with both women and men but most often only on men’s business clothing such as suits, jackets and shirts. Men and women have very different body shapes that call for a different approach to pattern making, garment cutting and construction. More often a tailor will also be a skilled pattern maker, whereas a dressmaker may lack this advanced skill. Pattern making is a highly valued skill, and in the realms of women’s wear, a designer or couturier would be the equivalent of a dress maker with pattern making skills, who is able to create original garments.

A truly custom made garment would therefore be designed from scratch, and would stand alone as a totally original item. To accomplish this, the couturier would translate the client’s thoughts into a design idea from which a pattern could then be created to cut the garment to fit the client. Clients may start with just a mental image, or with a series of photos or drawings illustrating their ideas and thoughts. A couturier must be able to translate these nascent designs into an achievable whole. This type of work is most common with wedding dresses and formal occasion gowns.

Custom made clothes also include custom fitted garments created from a standard pattern; this is most often the case with suits and shirts for both men and women. A tailor will be able to use a range of standard patterns and styles to create a garment which incorporate the specific wishes and tastes of the particular client.