The Complete Tailoring Short Course
Course description
Course overview
Step into the world of bespoke tailoring with this highly practical short course, designed to introduce you to one of the most respected crafts in fashion. Gain foundational skills and understand the precision and artistry behind high-end garment construction.
You’ll begin by exploring the history, traditions, and contemporary practice of the tailoring industry, taking part in a visit to London’s iconic Savile Row, the global centre of bespoke menswear.
Over the following weeks, you’ll design and construct your own individually fitted jacket, guided step-by-step through the full tailoring process—from pattern cutting and fabric selection to assembly and finishing techniques. By the end of the course, you’ll have developed practical skills and a deeper appreciation of the tailoring craft, along with a finished garment to take away.
The course is delivered by experienced tutors from our degree programmes, ensuring you receive professional, industry-informed teaching in a supportive studio environment.
Who this course is for
This course is suitable for beginners. You should have an interest in the subject area and a desire to learn but no previous experience is required.
Key information
Topics covered
- What does bespoke mean?
- Equipment – Selection, Use and Care
- Measuring and Fitting
- Examples of Tailoring – Traditional and Contemporary
- Hand sewing techniques
- Pressing - Equipment and Techniques
- Tailoring fabrics and Interlinings
- Anatomy of a jacket – construction and deconstruction
- Tailoring Vocabulary – Pockets, Collars and Sleeves
- Finishing – Buttons/Buttonholes/Linings
- Technology in tailoring
- Trip to Savile Row
Learning outcomes
- Gain an understanding of the world of bespoke tailoring
- Explore tailoring skills
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
Please bring the following materials to class:
Pattern Cutting Equipment
- Tracing Wheel
- Eraser
- Map Pins
- Pattern Square (Perspex, either a grading square or a Fashion Curve)
- Pencil (preferable ‘Pentel’ 5mm lead)
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Tape measure
Garment Manufacturing Equipment
- Basting Cotton (reel)
- Box of Pins
- Chalk (White)
- Hand Sewing Needles, size 3/5 Sharps
- Hand Sewing Needles, size 8 Sharps
- Reel White Sewing Thread
- Reel Black Sewing Thread
- Fabric Shears, 17cm
- Small pair of scissors
- Small screwdriver
- Tailors Thimble (Open Ended) – to fit your middle finger on the hand you hold the needle with
- Camera
- Small notebook
- A3/A4 Layout Pad
- Masking Tape
All of the above equipment can be purchased from Morplan, 56 Great Titchfield St, W1P 8DX or visit www.morplan.com
Recommended Reading
The below books are recommended reading during the course, to supplement your studies.
- Aldrich, (2004) Metric Pattern Cutting for Menswear. 4th ed. Oxford: Blackwell Science
- Aldrich, (2002) Pattern Cutting for Women’s Tailored Jackets: Classic and Contemporary. Oxford: Blackwell Science
- Cabrera, (1984) Classic Tailoring Techniques: a construction guide for menswear. New York: Fairchild.
Tutor
Anthony Gouldbourne
Anthony Gouldbourne has a wealth of experience in bespoke tailoring gained from both education and occupational pursuits. From 1991 to 1994 he studied Diploma in Handcraft, which covered handcraft tailoring, production tailoring and pattern cutting for menswear and womenswear. Since graduating, he has worked for various companies within the fashion industry, including Lipmans & Sons, Royal Opera House, and Thierry Mugler. Across his career these positions required sample garment making, pattern cutting, alterations and fittings for men, women and children.
For many years Anthony has been producing commissioned tailored garments for individual costumers, both male and female, advising on style, cut, fabric type and fit. One of his proudest moments within his tailoring profession was being commissioned to produce a suit for the then HRH Megan Markle.
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