Seamstress/ Pattern Maker WAGE? NEED ADVICE.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Camille Wood on September 8, 2010 at 2:49pm

Hi Gina,

I just wanted to offer you my best wishes for your new start-up clothing line. I am in a similar position with my line of hats as I am also seeking a person or persons to help with embellishing my designs.

Please stay in touch and I will do the same - perhaps we will each glean info that will be of help to one another.

Best regards,
Camille
Dazzlme

Permalink Reply by Gina Marie Landes on September 8, 2010 at 11:51pm

Thank you Chamille! Best of luck to you too, lets keep in touch : )

Gina Marie Vintage
http://www.ginamarievintage.com/

Permalink Reply by Mariella Adrian on September 9, 2010 at 12:53pm

the wages depend on the type of line you are producing and the pattern & construction steps to fully develop it. Sometimes you can hire a patternmaker and a sample maker separately, instead of one person to do it all.
You should have a background in pattern and clothing construction before you venture into your clothing line, otherwise you will not be able to tell how good is your patternmaker, nor your sample maker.
Again, specify the category of your collection and submit one or two sketches for better guidance.
Mariella

Permalink Reply by Gina Marie Landes on September 9, 2010 at 1:27pm

I graduated from FIDM with a fashion design degree and currently have an online vintage boutique (http://www.ginamarievintage.com/). I can sew and make patterns, but I would prefer to hire someone to do this part of the line because of the time it would take me. Thank you for the advice, I might look into hiring a pattern maker and a seamstress. I do not have quality sketches quite yet for Spring 2011 but my design style is usually fairly simple, but with interesting fabrics. I would say American Apparel with a vintage/unique flare would be a good comparison. Would you have a rough estimate for a starting wage?

Thanks,

Gina
http://www.ginamarievintage.com/

Permalink Reply by Malissa K Long on September 9, 2010 at 6:34pm

Pattern makers who get paid by the piece most garments are usually a flat rate $250 for patterns and the same for a samples. Pattern makers that get paid by the hour usually make about $30-$45 per hour. Most production houses have in house pattern and sample makers and offer that service. Kathleen Fasanella has an article on her blog about hiring a pattern maker at fashion-incubator.com

Malissa Long
MLWear.com
Houston Fashion Week Oct 10-17