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Constructing garments - bringing the design to life, following specifications and quality standards.
This standard has options. Display duties and KSBs for:
This occupation is found in the manufacturing, creative and design sectors across the apparel (clothing) industry.
The UK apparel industry consists of mainly micro, small and medium enterprises, producing premium garments for various markets, including womenswear, menswear and childrenswear, for example from bespoke tailored suits, creative designer womenswear, and costumes for opera and theatre, to luxury fashion and couture pieces as seen on catwalks in major capitals across the world.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to construct garments - bringing the design to life, following specifications and quality standards. They may work on one-off products for specific customers or garment samples to be replicated. They help determine the best production method for each design, review fit, deal with manufacturing issues and monitor resources. Garment makers know and understand the end-to-end garment making process. They are extremely proficient sewers, operating sewing machines effectively and applying stitching techniques by hand. They work with different materials and trimmings, appropriate to the design. They work to a high level of accuracy; with close attention to detail, they apply efficient time management skills and may need to work under pressure to meet customer or season deadlines.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with personnel involved in garment design, development and production. It will vary depending on the business size, structure and working environment. Typically, in a small production unit, they would interact with the designer and pattern cutter. In a workshop producing couture or bespoke garments, they may interact with a tailor, cutter or the designer. In a wider factory setting, they may work as part of a larger team, this could mean working in a sample room or on the factory floor, interacting with production tailors, designers, product technologists, pattern cutters, fabric cutters, quality controllers and sewing machinists.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the pursuit of excellence in relation to the assembly, finish and look of the end product. Throughout the construction of the garment, they need to meet the design brief, which includes specifications and quality standards. They must work effectively on their own or as part of a wider team and must comply with health and safety requirements..
Sustainable costume tailor
Sustainable costumier
Sustainable couturier
Sustainable dressmaker
Sustainable production machinist
Sustainable production tailor
Sustainable sample machinist
Sustainable seamstress
Sustainable tailor
Tailor
Wardrobe assistant
Wardrobe assistant quality controller
Typically, previous sewing experience is required.
| Duty | Criteria for measuring performance | KSBs |
|---|---|---|
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Duty 1 Comprehend, decipher and work to given garment specifications, design directives and instruction. |
Garments produced meet specifications | |
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Duty 2 Quality check garment components and materials before during and after completion of the garment, for example, the number of components, fabric quality, pattern match,trimmings, construction. |
Garment components meet quality standards throughout production | |
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Duty 3 Develop and operate a systemised, logical and efficient workstation and work process. |
The correct equipment, tools and work aids are selected and work the workflow is optimum and continuous | |
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Duty 4 Apply a variety of sewing and handling techniques and methods to assemble and finish garments or parts of garments, using own initiative, knowledge and experience to create processes and products that meet quality requirements |
The appropriate machinery, and most effective technique, and method is used for the task in hand |
K1 K2 K3 K6 K7 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K18 K24 |
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Duty 5 Measure and figurate garment components and the finished garments. |
Garments/ garment parts are measured and figurated to meet quality standards and specifications | |
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Duty 6 Develop, monitor and refine the best production techniques and work sequences that will inform future production process and identify continuous improvement in relation to work methods and garment quality. |
Production methods are efficient, cost-effective and compliant |
K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K18 K21 K24 |
|
Duty 7 Review and assess garments including fit, quality, cost and finish against design, specifications, quality standards and customer requirements. |
Finished Garment drape, fit and balance in line with the deign brief |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K25 |
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Duty 8 Produce hand sewn work such as beading or blind hemming. |
Hand sewn work meets quality standards and specifciations | |
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Duty 9 Apply trimmings, for example bindings, fusing’s, buttons, braid. |
The application of trimmings meets quality standards and specifications | |
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Duty 10 Press garments/garment parts (underpress and final press). |
Garments are under pressed and pressed appropriately, in the right sequecne with no creases, marks or over pressing |
K1: The ‘end-to-end’ process required to make a garment from concept to finished product for example design, pattern development, sampling, cutting, sewing, final checks
Back to Duty
K2: The principles of clothing design and construction for example style, function, fit, balance, proportion, aesthetics
Back to Duty
K3: Garment making quality standards, for example, British Standards (BSI) International Standards (ISO)
Back to Duty
K4: Garment making instructions and specifications, for example pattern markings, grain lines, component shapes, garment dimensions, allowances, tolerances
Back to Duty
K5: The characteristics, properties, and cost of materials including compatibility with different designs, faults,threads and different handling methods for a range of materials, for example, stretch jersey, satin, wool, linen, cotton
Back to Duty
K6: Different types of machines, equipment and tools used to produce garments, for example lockstitch machine, blind hemmer, scissors, snips, corner shaper, loop turner, measuring tape, mannequins; machine testing, setting up and operating machines safely
Back to Duty
K7: Health, safety, welfare and environmental policies and procedures including Health & Safety at Work Act; safe working practices, workplace risks employer and employee legal obligations, employees’ rights and responsibilities, ethical trading standards, equality and diversity
Back to Duty
K8: Sewing needle systems, functions and physical characteristics including needle point, size and specialism
Back to Duty
K9: Sewing work aids and attachments including function, compatibility and advantages for example to decrease handling, increase production, improve quality decrease manufacturing cost
Back to Duty
K10: Hand stitches and what they are used for, for example basting, buttonhole stitch, catch stitch, beading weaving stitch, blind hemming
Back to Duty
K11: Seam types and what they are used for, for example lapped seams, bound seams, decorative seams
Back to Duty
K12: Finishing techniques, for example rolled hems zips, closures
Back to Duty
K13: Garment assembly processes including sewing methods and assembly sequence
Back to Duty
K14: Garment shaping techniques, for example, darts, gathers, and tucks
Back to Duty
K15: Garment labelling and related legislation for example fibre content, care requirements
Back to Duty
K16: Measurement and figuration techniques, for example measurement points, girth measurement, length and breadth measurements, body shape
Back to Duty
K17: Garment balance, drape, silhouette and sizing, including national, international, made-to-measure and bespoke sizes
Back to Duty
K18: Specialist terminology used in garment construction, for example drape, ease, baste, nap, ruching, applique
Back to Duty
K19: Common manufacturing issues and construction faults, and rectification for example unsuitable sewing techniques, poorly cut components, incorrect construction, mismatched seams, damage, incorrect markings
Back to Duty
K20: Garment making costs and effective use of resources for example minimising waste, time and materials
Back to Duty
K21: The garment review and approval processes, for example review of fit, balance, drape, measurements, quality, design, pattern, construction, cost and risk assessment, sample sealing, customer approval
Back to Duty
K22: Returns and faults analysis and the impact of faulty products
Back to Duty
K23: The use and importance of garment making documentation, for example production make-up sheets, dockets, electrical systems
Back to Duty
K24: The principles of lean manufacturing, for example continuous improvement, work flow, performance monitoring, production rates, waste elimination
Back to Duty
K25: Customer and brand awareness for example customer profile, customer expectations and target market
Back to Duty
K26: Routine sewing machine maintenance, for example machine cleaning, lubrication, stitch setting, needle replacement, reporting more serious machine problems that require a machine mechanic
Back to Duty
K27: Garment pressing techniques, equipment settings and the effects of heat, steam and, pressure on fabric and garments
Back to Duty
S1: Interpret and follow garment specifications, patterns and/or instructions
Back to Duty
S2: Inspect garment components, identify and deal with any issues found, for example material/design compatibility, surface flaws, shading, misprint, pulls, holes, shrinkage
Back to Duty
S3: Select, prepare and operate sewing machines, for example lockstitch machine, blind hemmer including machine adjustment for different materials
Back to Duty
S4: Organise work and workstation layout
Back to Duty
S5: Assemble fabric components to make a whole garment
Back to Duty
S6: Select and use different types of sewing needles for different materials, for example size, diamond point, ballpoint
Back to Duty
S7: Select and use different types of attachments, for example adjustable presser foot, zipper foot, seam guide, applique foot
Back to Duty
S8: Match fabric prints, checks and stripes during garment assemble
Back to Duty
S9: Hand stitch garments, for example baste, catch, running, slip, chain or couching stitch
Back to Duty
S10: Sew different seam types, for example, flat seams, lapped seams, over locked seam
Back to Duty
S11: Shape garments using different sewing techniques, for example, darts, gathers, tucks
Back to Duty
S12: Position and attach trimmings, for example braid, bias lace. buttons, eyelets
Back to Duty
S13: Finish garments; selecting appropriate techniques, for example rolled hems, zip insertion, pockets, fusing
Back to Duty
S14: Press garments; set up and operate pressing equipment for example steam irons, block press, trouser press and steamroll
Back to Duty
S15: Check the balance, component positions, set, grain, ease and drape of garments using mannequins or modelling
Back to Duty
S16: Use the tools of the trade to make and shape garments, for example scissors, snips, steamroll, corner shaper, loop turner, measuring tape, mannequins
Back to Duty
S17: Measure and figurate garments considering critical measurement points, body shape and silhouette
Back to Duty
S18: Select, position and apply labels for example care, size and brand labels
Back to Duty
S19: Complete records and technical documents, for example production make-up sheets, work dockets
Back to Duty
S20: Inspect the quality of construction during the garment make-up process and change methods if required
Back to Duty
S21: Identify, diagnose and rectify garment faults, for example poor fit, sizing, mismatched seams, fabric damage, incorrect markings, returns
Back to Duty
S22: Develop and apply the production sequence and assembly method
Back to Duty
S23: Review complete garments, contribute recommendations that may benefit the garment or the manufacturing process
Back to Duty
S24: Communicate with colleagues and/or stakeholders – verbal and written; using industry terminology, for example drape, ease, baste, nap, grain
Back to Duty
S25: Make and apply collars for example shirt collar and stand, convertible collar, shawl collar or mandarin collar
Back to Duty
B1: Health and safety first attitude, for example prioritises the health, safety and welfare of self and others over other demands
Back to Duty
B2: Takes ownership for work, for example accepts responsibilities, demonstrates initiative, motivated and self-managing,
Back to Duty
B3: Team player, for example builds co-operative and respectful working relationships across all relevant levels and department; takes account of equality and diversity interactions
Back to Duty
B4: Committed to continued professional development, for example reflects on knowledge, skills and behaviours, seeks opportunities to develop and advance in response to the evolving production environment and technologies
Back to Duty
Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
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this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Standard revised | 07/11/2023 | Not set |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 27/09/2019 | 06/11/2023 |
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