A person whose job is sewing garments: assembling them, altering them to fit and repairing them, by hand or by machine.
Seamstress is a sewing occupation whose work can involve making garments, altering existing clothing or carrying out repairs. The work may use hand stitching, sewing machines or a combination of both, depending on the garment and the task. The title alone does not establish whether someone makes complete garments or specialises in a particular operation. Seamstress is traditionally a gendered title, and employers also use titles such as sewing machinist or alterations specialist for particular roles. Dressmaker overlaps with this work but more specifically describes someone who makes women’s clothing.
In job listings
Gucci’s London In-Store Tailor posting accepted previous experience as a seamstress, tailor or alterations specialist in luxury, high-end or premium contemporary fashion. That wording shows how seamstress experience could provide a route into a related alterations role. It also makes the fashion environment part of the stated experience requirement. Search local jobs for “tailor”.
