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Pattern makers are responsible for taking a fashion designer's drawing or idea for an article of clothing and creating a paper pattern that can be translated to fabric. Often the pattern maker using spot and cross paper to first make the base pattern and when it is approved the approved 1st fit pattern is then transferred onto card for durability reasons.
Pattern making is a skilled profession and many pattern makers have to work from just a sketch transforming the one dimensional line drawing into a three dimensional garment. Consequently pattern makers play a highly respected and influential role in the fashion industry - many top designers will work in tandem with their pattern maker with life long friendships developing.  Many pattern cutters have an art or fashion degree background but there are also the "working on the job" route too as pattern making is regarded as a craft. It is always recommended to review a profession thoroughly before deciding on a career e.g. obtain experience in retail or design first on a part time basis so you can carefully review if you wish to specialise in pattern making. You also need to review if you have the right skills for the job of a pattern maker too; are you 1) Good with your hand to eye coordination 2) Do you have good attention to detail? 3) Can you work effectively on your own - once the designer has created a sketch it is your responsibility to make this line drawing alive and 3 dimensional. Not everyone likes this responsibility! 4) You need normal colour vision - if you are colour blind this can make the job difficult for you. 5) Remember you have to stand up a long time at the cutting table and design table...do you have the stamina to work in these conditions? 6) Are you a good communicator - you will need to liaise with the designer, the factory and the grader too. Everyone is different and skills can be learnt but it does help to be an effective talker. 7) Be prepared to work with tools of the trade such as callipers, squares, straight and curved rules and the all important wheel too. 8) Are you prepared to embrace technology too - many pattern makers are now versed on using CAD software which consequently generates patterns and a nest of patterns too for grading.  There are ways in which to enter the industry e.g. most high street retailers now have a centralised design department and you can always apply here as a trainee. There are also apprenticeship training schemes available too e.g. with Seville Row tailors and a skills academy has been set up with Skill Fast UK. You can also work directly with a factory too remember - these are the real experts in production and finding a factory today in the UK is one good way to enter the industry. There is a lot of discussion regarding the demise of factories and CMT (cut make and trim units) in the UK but actually our research (as at August 08) reflects that there is in fact a resurgence of demand for local London production at both high street level (for stop store ranging) and also at the designer level where there is a unique cache for the "made in London" generic brand name! There are many ways in which to get started - you can buy videos on line to learn the basics of pattern cutting, attend a summer school course with leading colleges such as London College of Fashion and you can also attend full time education too. There is a listing of educational courses available on www.fashioncaptial.co.uk under learning. Share this Article:                        Advertisement |
