"My upbringing ultimately led me to pursue a career as a tailor and seamstress. Growing up, I watched my mom hem and mend our school outfits and my dad's work pants. I thought it looked like something I could do, so I started doing the same for my own clothes. Pretty soon after that, I was making alterations for my friends and then got brave enough to start making some of my own clothes. I loved visiting thrift stores to piece together new outfits or going to the fabric store to find prints and colors to create an amazing look for an event. I even made my own senior prom dress! Now my full-time job is to make designs, garments, and alterations. I love owning my own business and doing what I love for a living!"

Interested in this occupation? Download the job flyer here!

Job Description

SOC Code: 51-6052

Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.*

*Source: This information is based on O*NET™ data. O*NET is a trademark registered to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.

Top Job Skills:

• Customer service
• Hemming of jeans
• Repair textiles or apparel
• Operate sewing equipment
• Adjust fabrics

General Work Activities:

• Mental Processes
  • Estimate costs of products, services, or materials
• Interacting With Others
  • Confer with customers or designers to determine order specifications
• Information Input
  • Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators
  • Measure clients to ensure proper product fit
  • Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements
• Work Output
  • Record operational or production data
  • Trim excess material from workpieces
  • Adjust fabrics or other materials during garment production
  • Position patterns on equipment, materials, or workpieces

Source: SC Works Online Services (SCWOS)

*All data is factual, but names, Images, and quotations have been adapted to protect the Identity of employees and businesses.

Job Statistics

 

Examples of Workforce Areas with Job Openings

• Midlands
• Greenville
• Trident
• Upper Savannah
• Lower Savannah
• Waccamaw

Source: SC Works Online Services. Ask an SC Works representative for more information about postings in your area.

Examples of Employers with Job Openings

• Buckle Inc.
• Tailored Brands

Source: SC Works Online Services. Ask an SC Works representative for more information about postings in your area

Related Occupations

• Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
• Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
• Sewers, Hand
• Sewing Machine Operators
• Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers

NOTE: All data based on state averages. Information may vary depending on region, experience, and specific employment situation. Last Updated: 2025

Learn More with SCWOS

SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) is the state’s largest job database and provides all of South Carolina's job postings from all major sites, including Monster and Career Builder, in one resource. SCWOS has thousands of positions listed by employers all over the state. To access SCWOS, visit jobs.scworks.org.

Find in-depth breakdowns of occupational statistics such as necessary job certifications, job skills and abilities, current job openings, overview of general work activities, and more by visiting O*NET.org.