Bespoke Tailoring Level 1 - September 2025

Course content

Bespoke means hand crafted and individually made. Bespoke tailoring involves the personal attention of a cutter who measures the customer, creates and cuts a pattern, and directly supervises the making and fitting of the garment.

You will learn about basic tailoring, and the technical and practical skills involved in the hand production tailored garments. You will pay visits to Savile Row to see how the industry works, and some sessions are delivered by Savile Row tailors as master classes.

English, maths and IT are an integral part of the course, as well as the study of; hand sewing skills, workshop practice, using sewing equipment, body measurements, bespoke patterns, block construction, canvases and bastes, pockets and other details, making up and alterations, and finishing techniques.

You will learn in a variety of ways - through talks and demonstrations, by completing practical tasks and exercises, and by presentation and evaluation of your work. The course is based at East Ham campus in modern, well-equipped garment production and pattern cutting workshops. You will take part in an induction at the beginning of the course.