A dressmaker is a person who makes clothing and is also called a Tailor. Clothing is one of the basic needs of human being as people are becoming fashion conscious. The sewing of garment changes with the changes in garment industry. Hence keeping in view the market demand and the change in fashion design, courses on dressmaking have been suitably designed in the structure of non-formal education. The beneficiaries are new literates and people with low education levels. Besides in Pakistani tradition girls/women are expected to know tailoring to fulfil the basic sewing requirement at home. Sewing of garments at home is a money saving activity for lower middle income group. Besides tailoring can be a vocation for self-employment.

Purpose of the training programme:

The purpose of the training is to provide skilled manpower to improve the existing garment industry. This will improve the quality of garments/dresses in terms of consumer’s acceptability and willingness. The availability of such quality of garments in the local and international market will ultimately bring economic benefits to the producers and processors.

Main objectives of the training programme:

The Six Months Dress Makers training course is for those trainees who want to work in the garment making sector with the aim to learn, develop and practice required by the market. In this course, the emphasis is put on the trainee to acquire the ability to perform as a confident and competent Dress Maker. 

Following are the main objectives of the training programme:

• To acquire the skills and knowledge of Dress Making along with minor maintenance of machine.
• Quality production of the garments.
• Produce skilled manpower for garment/cottage Industry in the field of dress making.
• Improve the level of skills of the workers in cottage industry and contribute towards economic growth.
• Use of tools & equipment used in dress making trade.
• Learn sewing terminologies.
• Taking correct body measurements
• Prepare basic hand & machine stitches
• Designing, drafting, pattern making and fabric estimation  Cutting, tailoring & finishing of garments.
• Defects and alteration to fitting problems.
• Processes of quality control, packaging, labelling
• Skill to develop presentable professional garments.
• Enhancing employability & entrepreneurial skills.

Competencies gained after completion of the course:

• Identify and take care of the various tools and equipment used in drafting, cutting and tailoring.
• Identify and practice basic (temporary and permanent) and decorative stitches.
• Take body measurements (length, width and circumference) systematically.
• Master the use of sewing machine and take care of the machine.
• Follow precautions while using a machine.
• Make different types of seams using bias, piping and facing and plackets.
• Perform hand stitching Attach hook and eye and attach buttons, button hole etc.
• Follow rules of pattern making, layout and fabric estimation.
• Design, draft, pattern making cutting, sewing and finishing of the garments.
• Fold, iron, pack and cost evaluation of stitched garment. 

Duration of the course:

The proposed curriculum is composed of 07 modules that will be covered in 800 hrs. It is proposed that the course may be delivered in a six months period (six days a week).Training can also be scheduled on part time basis or in the evening classes. The distribution of contact hours is given below:

Total              810 hrs (including assessment guidance) Theory        hrs (20%)        Practical          hrs (80%)