Custom Sewing and Alterations
If you want clothes that fit!
|
Custom Sewing and Alterations |
Why Custom-Made?
|
||||
"I can't find anything to fit."Everyone is different, and the ready-to-wear clothes available in the shops are made to 'fit' the largest number of people. This means that those who are closest to the 'average' for a particular size will get garments that more or less fit, but those with variations from the average are less satisfied. In addition, most manufacturers make certain changes to their designs to make the clothes look good on a hanger, in order to entice you to try on and buy their garments - and none of us are shaped like a clothes hanger! Custom made garments, on the other hand, can be made to fit your own body. I use the process of making a trial garment (toile) to check the fit, proportion, placement of details etc. to make sure that the garment, when it is made, is right for you, and you alone. "I can't find what I want."The ready-to-wear industry, by definition, follows fashion. This means that certain types of garment, in certain colours, will be everywhere, and if you want something different it can prove impossible to find. Custom made clothing, on the other hand, can be made in whatever design you want, regardless of whether it is in fashion at a particular time. If the design you want is not available in the commercial pattern catalogues, someone like me, trained in pattern cutting, should be able to create a garment design that meets your requirements. There will also be a wider range of colours available - however, be warned that 'fashions' also dictate what fabrics are available. It may require some searching to find the colour, fibre and finish you want. |
"I want to be unique."The ready-to-wear industry makes its money by mass producing a large number of garments to one design. A custom made garment is, by definition, individually made, and the particular design and fabric combination you choose is unlikely to be duplicated by another person. "It's cheaper."Unfortunately, this is not a reason to have clothes custom made. Many of us have mothers who made clothes to save money. However, the savings came about because they only took the cost of the fabric, thread, etc. into account; their time was 'free' because they made these clothes for 'love' not 'money'. The ready-to-wear industry uses mass production techniques and industrial machinery to reduce costs, and most manufacturing takes place in countries where labour costs are lower, so garment prices are low to reflect this. It is therefore impossible for custom made clothing to compete with ready-to-wear in terms of cost. However, custom made clothing, being individually fitted and carefully constructed, may be better quality and therefore last longer and be worn more often, offering better value for money. An alternative strategy is to learn to sew yourself. This approach demands you spend time designing, fitting and making the garments. For a lot of people, this is an enjoyable process, and there are many people who take up sewing as a hobby and derive a great deal of satisfaction from the creative process. However, this will not necessarily save you money - you will find that the nicest fabrics are not the cheapest. Bargains are available, but these may not be right for the project you have in mind. If this approach appeals to you, but you feel that your skills are not what you would wish, you may want to make use of my individual tuition service. |