Sewing is one of the oldest human art forms. In the past, humans stitched together animal skins for clothing in order to protect themselves from harsh weather and to cover themselves. Today, a seamstress is a woman who sews garments, such as costumes, or mends clothing in order to make them wearable again. Starting your own seamstress business can be done with the proper experience, materials and skills.
Instructions
1. Realize what a seamstress business requires. A successful seamstress business requires someone who is passionate about and enjoys sewing. As a seamstress, you need to know hem pants, skirts and dresses, and fix buttons, zippers, snaps and waistbands. Custom clothing also can be created by a seamstress and sold to clients or given to them as an example of what can be created. Alterations of prom gowns, wedding gowns or other formal attire may be asked of you.
2. Invest in a high-quality sewing machine and other materials for your seamstress business. The most expensive sewing machine with lots of features can cost several thousand dollars, but you should be able find a high-quality machine for a few hundred dollars. This is the biggest expense when starting a seamstress business. You also need sharp cutting scissors, needles, threads, fabrics, shearing, a pattern maker, measuring tape and rulers.
3. Choose a quiet place, such as in your home, where you wish to work. Set up your sewing machine on a hard, flat, sturdy table. Place your materials in small tubs or cubicles near the table. Keep all sharp materials out of the reach of children.
4. Create a work schedule. Decide how often you will work. To make your seamstress business successful, you need to work at least 15 hours a week creating custom designs for others or mending garments.
5. Sew some custom designs. Create a costume or a fine cocktail dress to give potential customers examples of your work.
6. Take photographs of the garments you made and post them for display, such as on a website. If mending clothing, take before and after pictures of your work.
7. Have business cards made. Include when you're open for business, when your available for contact, the address and phone number of where you sew (whether at home or a shop), and what types of sewing jobs you do. Create a logo and a name for your business as well as a catchy slogan. Place thumbnails of your before and after photos on your cards. Carry the cards wherever you go. Seamstress businesses usually grow fastest by word of mouth.
8. Look into the prices of other seamstresses or tailors in your area. Do not price your work too high or you will not get enough business. Do not price your work too low, though, or you will not be compensated properly. Select a reasonable hourly wage for your work, plus set a profit based on what you spent to start the business. Consider the cost of materials and the time you will spend on a product when discussing prices with customers.
9. Market your services. Network with companies such as clothing stores in order to have your business recommended by a company to its clients. Place advertisements in phone books, online, in newspapers or in magazines if possible.
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