Hi. Please delete if inappropriate!
I saw someone else introduce themselves and thought I would do the same! My name is James and I am 20 years old from East Yorkshire. I don't have masses of professional sewing experience but am currently about to finish my final year at London College of Fashion on the BA Costume for Performance Course. This final year obviously hasn't been as much of a success so when I found out about this series I jumped at the opportunity.
I hope everyone is staying safe and hope we can all help and guide each other through the lockdown. Would anyone be interested in sharing Instagram usernames if they have design accounts to network with each other?
Happy Sewing peeps!
James :)
Welcome James. I can imagine how hard it must be to do construction classes remotely. I only lurk on Instagram, I never post. If that ever changes, I'll let you know.
Hello James ,
i post on Instagram as hand-m-made-garments
i have learned a lot just by having a close look at the work of bespoke tailors
I’ll give you a follow! Yes same! It’s very helpful isn’t it! My Instagram is - jfrankishbespoke!
Hi James, Rory here. You are very welcome to our community. I did reach out to a few of the colleges in an attempt to inform students of the availability of this course. I first conceived the idea of the series when I was a student of LCF tailoring diploma, back in ‘05. Students that time had digital cameras and some had laptops too. My vision was that one could access a video of each detail which would coincidence with the lecturers teaching. I am still holding out that this could be a reality. I did contact the staff at LCF, sent some block patterns over but haven’t heard anything back. One student who reached out direct said they never saw the blocks. So it never made it’s way to the students. Block patterns are gold dust to those who can’t create them. I can imagine how difficult it must be for the students. A limit on class sizes and a shorter class time. It was hard enough when it was 20+ students to one lecturer in the good old days, but now it must be near impossible. But as my father would say ‘you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink it’. I think the main issue is probably a realistic one. You sign up to a course at a prestigious school and the facility tell you to subscribe to another schools online material. I thought perhaps with the lockdown there would have been more of an uptake with the colleges but I am not seeing that. Maybe I am wrong, was it the facility that suggested the course to you or did you find it via social media? Looking forward to your response. Regards, Rory
Hey,
Yes I completely understand! Unfortunately I didn’t hear it from university! I took it upon myself to try and teach myself as a career in tailoring is the pathway I wish to take. So I was recommended to get in contact with you.
It was a shame that in the first lockdown, the lack of services made available was quite disheartening and the lack of support we have had especially in the third and final year hasn’t been enough. Hence the joining of your programme. I can’t thank you enough. It couldn’t of come at a better time.
Regards,
James
Hi James, That’s what I thought. I do understand why the universities wouldn’t inform their students. But they should also be doing something similar to provide for their students needs. When I taught at Parsons the New School I allowed my students to record my demonstrations, I was the only lecturer there that did that. I think many were afraid that the students would upload them online, but none of mine did since I ask them not to. But I don’t need to tell you about the failings at third level. Anyways hope you enjoy your time with us. If you have any questions please let us know. Best, Rory
When I took evening classes at FIT we were never supposed to make recordings, although some teachers looked the other way. One, who never allowed it, said FIT had won a judgment of about $80,000 in a lawsuit against a student who posted a recording. I hope the pandemic will cause a revision of that policy. Some people just aren't good at taking notes and videos are usually superior.
Hi James,
I'm also in my final year on a Costume Production course but at Rose Bruford College. I had been missing learning new practical skills as we are only having online classes now and not about practical work. This course is giving my days working from home some structure as I find it beneficial having something to follow to help me learn!
My Instagram is @handmadebyheather20
Thought id introduce myself, I've been lurking around for a couple of weeks 🤗. My name is Sam, I am coat maker on Savile Row.
Im currently subscribed to the trouser making series & then at some point commit to the pattern cutting online course to broaden my knowledge.
You might ask "Why not ask the trouser makers on Savile row to show you?". Well to be honest, a lot of them do not like to be pestered, some are very secretive about the way they do things & sometimes just reluctant to share their knowledge.
So hello all!
Welcome to the club
Welcome. I used to enjoy reading The Notebook, a blog by Anderson & Sheppard about its apprentices. It's not updated much anymore. If you don't mind and have time, can you answer the following questions?
When you became an apprentice, had you attended a tailoring college or fashion design school or had other sewing experience?
Do apprentices choose whether to become a trouser maker or a coat maker or is it a matter of what's needed at the time in a particular shop?
Is there a hierarchy, meaning, are coat makers considered better, more important than trouser makers? (As you're a coat maker, I figure it's safe to ask.). 😉
@Kunsthandwerk I used to read that too! It is a big shame that its not updated anymore.
I did level 1 & 2 "pre-apprenticeship" in 2012 course at Newham College in east London. It was pretty much a introductory course to bespoke tailoring, teaching all the basic hand techniques, how to use industrial sewing machines & to make a waistcoat. (Level 2) Was on drafting trouser patterns and making them. Before doing the course I had never picked up a needle. Looking back on the first day, I remember looking at loads of patterns & drafting books and thinking WTF I do not understand any of this.
I wanted to learn making before cutting, reason was that it would give me a better understanding when eventually I take the time to learn cutting. Most cutters can't make, they are just cutters, previously they would do their coat making apprenticeship and then go on to be a undercutter.
I choose what I wanted. Think I was quite lucky because the guy who taught me was quite old. I was his last apprentice, I pretty much hassled him everyday he took a chance on me, saw how eager I was, but I was not getting much luck anywhere else in finding an apprenticeship. Some people in order to get their foot in the door will start out just doing alterations, finishing, trouser / waistcoat making and wait till a position opens up. Pretty much what the shop needs at the time.
The Hierarchy usually is the Cutter, Coat maker, Trouser maker, Waistcoat maker, Finisher/Alterations tailor. But I find that quite an outdated view... I think finishers are undervalued. I work with 1 finisher, her button holes are just sublime and the finishing all around the jacket is immaculate.
If you asked the coat maker who taught me he would say "Cutters don't know what they want" which is The age old cutter vs tailor disagreement!
Always happy to answer questions 🙂
Hi Sam, You are very welcome here. Hope you make good use of our trouser series. Please remember to share it with your friends. Best wishes, Rory