Trending Now - Rising Demand for Skilled Sewers as Tailors Retire
WHO:
ABC News - Kil Bae, a longtime tailor in New York, is mentioned as a source of insight regarding the industry.
WHAT:
ABC News - The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that there were fewer than 17,000 tailors, custom sewers, and dressmakers working in business establishments nationwide, representing a 30% decline from a decade earlier.
ABC News - The median age for all sewers, dressmakers, and tailors was 54 in 2025, which is 12 years older than the median for the entire employed population.
ABC News - The mean annual wage for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers was $44,050 as of May 2024, compared to $68,000 for all workers.
ABC News - The Fashion Institute of Technology received 200 applications for the inaugural cohort of 15 students in the training program, which started in October 2025 and concluded with certificates of completion in February 2026.
ABC News - Ten members of the first class of the training program were hired or are in the process of being hired by Nordstrom.
ABC News - The number of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewing specialists in the U.S. is declining.
ABC News - There is a growing demand for the services of tailors and dressmakers as younger shoppers seek alterations for ready-made clothing and thrifted pieces.
ABC News - The Fashion Institute of Technology has partnered with Nordstrom to create a training program to address the shortage of skilled sewers.
WHERE:
ABC News - The situation is occurring across the U.S., with specific mention of New York as a location where Kil Bae operates.
WHEN:
ABC News - The articles refer to the current situation in 2026.
WHY:
ABC News - The income that proficiency with needle and thread commands relative to the skills needed and the physical toll of the work likely discourages teenagers and young adults from pursuing careers in tailoring.
ABC News - The rise of weight-loss medications such as Zepbound and Wegovy has led to an increase in demand for alterations as people's body sizes change.
ABC News - The pool of skilled workers is shrinking due to the retirement of experienced sewers.
HOW:
ABC News - Nordstrom employs 1,500 people to provide tailoring and alterations, including services such as hemming jeans, repairing rips, fitting suits, and reworking evening gowns.
ABC News - The Fashion Institute of Technology and Nordstrom are collaborating to create a training program aimed at addressing the shortage of skilled sewers.
(UPDATED April 6, 2026 11:13 UTC)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a significant decline in the tailoring industry, with fewer than 17,000 tailors, custom sewers, and dressmakers currently working in business establishments, marking a 30% drop from a decade ago. The median age of these workers is 54, which is notably older than the median age for the overall employed population, and they earn a mean annual wage of $44,050, considerably less than the $68,000 average for all workers. In response to this trend, the Fashion Institute of Technology launched a training program that accepted 200 applicants for just 15 spots, and ten graduates have already been hired or are in the hiring process at Nordstrom, which employs 1,500 people for tailoring and alterations services.
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(UPDATED April 6, 2026 09:18 UTC)
The number of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewing specialists in the U.S. is on the decline, despite a growing demand for their services as younger shoppers seek alterations for ready-made clothing and thrifted pieces. In response to this shortage, the Fashion Institute of Technology has teamed up with Nordstrom to launch a training program aimed at cultivating new talent in the industry. Kil Bae, a longtime tailor in New York, highlights that the rise of weight-loss medications has also contributed to the increased need for alterations as people's body sizes change.