Old School Vintage Tailoring
 

At some future point, I want to be able to work for myself. Doing custom, made to fit, more ergonomic to each fit/person custom high quality tailoring. Also looking at doing custom medical (example: custom foam pieces, bed gowns, or clothing for wheelchair persons). And even doing custom made boots down the road.

I also might have a chance to help out doing costumes for the local high school drama class. So, besides staying local, maybe posting my work on a Facebook, how would support myself & wife till I was keeping a study businesses? Maybe, have the individuals buy the supplies, make the wife and I, our own clothing, which is what Im already starting to do. And use our selves, and the work Id do for cost "Just to get my name and work out there?"

At the moment, we're just living on her SSD, and I havent worked in a few years, I hurt my back/neck at work, so working for myself would be key here. And till I was doing and keeping work "Tailoring" and money I make hurts the wife's SSD "Which is just not right!"

Upcoming projects:

Denim jacket with leather trim
Denim Vest with leather trim
Motorcycle jackets & Jeans Super Light armor (That will actually work because it fits you right)
Denim Patch Dress "custom made for wheelchair needs"
Custom phone/tablet neck lanyard "Custom made for wheelchair needs"
Denim/leather Moccasins "custom made for wheelchair needs"
Leather/Mesh Moccasins with cork/leather insoles " I have fibromyalgia, & be nice for diabetics too"
Denim jeans that actually fit me
Cotton Twill work dress shirts, that actually fit me
Custom backpacks, saddle bags, "Pretty much Toddler proof/tough:)"
Custom Rain/Outdoor jackets
Wall Hanging Picture quilts of the Red Desert and Teton Mountains


Ive looked online, and really not finding a forum Im liking. And Im guessing we have a few members on QB that does clothing as well? Im not planning on making cash or this as a job for two years or so, but Im wanting to make some kind of plan here, and just do what I enjoy doing, and just seems not to be off the shelf opinions for kids/adults with limited mobility, and for a one person shop, this would give me a great selling point vs big corp/dept clothing stores?

Thoughts?
Shane

Added pic:
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I think there is definitely a market for clothing for the physically impaired/handicapped/limited mobility. Tapping into that market will take work. I would think that making a few garments for your wife and taking some great photos and making up a flyer is where I'd start. Then show the folks at the Doctor's office, Hospital, Church or wherever you can what you've made and tell them how it improves her life. The get permission to leave flyers and see if you can get them to refer customers to you. If you can get a few people excited about your wares, word of mouth is cheap and effective advertising. Just what came to me reading your post.

I agree with Tom. Word of mouth can be one of the best things for a new product. I hate to mention this place but Facebook can be great for getting it out there too.

Cari

It's fun to look how custom clothing was made long ago - this is a McDowell Garment system used to make patterns based on an individual's measurements. At some point I do intend to learn how to use it.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psmrar5dyc.jpg

Do you have home health care in your area. You might contact them and see if they can help you. There is a market if you can tap into it. If you have a neck and back injury use a machine that you can see to sew with out adjusting your neck. You may get some wise council over at the Victorian sweat shop. It isn't just about sewing machines and quilts.

Fibromyalgia and back & neck problems don't play well with the idea of sewing for a living.

The availability of cheap clothing from WalMart has just about done away with tailor shops and custom clothiers.

A woman I know makes western shirts from a basic pattern and fabric supplied to her, then mails them back to someone who decorates them with a lot of "bling" and sells them at fantastic prices. The lady who makes the shirts gets paid very little.

My sister was an excellent and fast seamstress. She made far more money doing custom sewing for an interior decorator than at her day job. Many times someone would ask why she didn't make wedding dresses, etc., and her stock answer was that a sofa cushion didn't gain or lose weight or have personality issues. The decorator would give her the fabric and an idea of what was desired, and she got paid, very well paid, on delivery.

If you're set on sewing clothing, I'd think that re-enactments would be a good place to test the waters.

I agree with elnan. Custom clothing is a hard road to go. With all the cheap garments available it's hard to get people to pay the price you will need to get to make it worth while. It's important to have a solid construction and fitting background before you start making clothes for others. I used to make all my suits and dresses and tailoring is definitely not easy. I never learned to make my own patterns, but again that is a talent in itself. As is sewing on leather. What is your sewing background?

McDowell Garment system looks pretty awesome. Macybaby, did you make those jigs(the ones on the wall) your self?

Can you still get McDowell's book(s) in print?

Here's the McDowell's Pantaloon Delineator
https://archive.org/details/amcdowellsameric00mcdo

Just wondering if you have spent some time at the Ozark Folk Life Center in Mtn. View, Arkansas. That could give you some new ideas if you're looking for something out of the ordinary to get into for income. Willow furniture, bent cedar, musical instruments, weaving, etc. usually sell well. If you do go to Mountain View, plan to stay at least one night so you can absorb the warmth and emotion as each evening everyone migrates to the outdoor singing and playing. I have never met anyone yet who has been a part of that and not felt that they had "come home".

I havent been up to the Folk Center since I was a kid. Would like to make my own fabric one day.

Im not the only one getting sick of $2_POS from the big store shelves!

Cathy, love those pattern things, the whole photo is really neat looking with your machines all there surrounding the Patterns, I love the looks of them hanging on the wall. I want some too!

This is an online manual for the McDowell system..just scroll down a little...
https://archive.org/stream/instructi...0mcdo_djvu.txt

The McDowell system was developed in the victorian era as a way to allow seemstresses to try to make even close to what Tailors were paid. (Women's clothing was SIGNIFICANTLY more complex but seamstresses were paid about 1/5th of what a tailor was)

They went out of business in the 20's as I recall. They came out with updates to the "system" as clothing styles changed.

There is a LOT of info out there.

Here are a couple of search terms to get you going: Bespoke (this is the term for properly made clothing) Dever (Devere's) McDowell, Cornwells

I have posted the manuals for all of these on our forum, check it out in the manuals section (the forum is in my signature)

also this gentleman is offering classes in historical bespoke tailoring (I have not used his services yet)
http://williamsclothiers.com/

Ive been reading up online abit, and there is alot of info. I even took one of my fav work shirts and took tape to it, lol....

I never thought all my shop and art skills would help me make my own clothing :)!

I so want those! Has anyone ever updated with plastic? I so want!!!!!!!

Plastic.... ewwww.