General Apprenticeship questions

[StevenKeith]

Hello. I have a few general questions for anyone currently in an apprenticeship program. If there is still such a thing?

You still cool with the decision? Can you see it becoming what you were after slash wanting, whatever? I know rarely do things work out exactly as you had planned & some things can be polar opposites of what you thought but are you still as optimistic & enthusiastic about the craft now that you've submersed yourself in the field? The reason I ask is because I'm seriously considering, granted I find the right person/place, jumping in head first. No "toe in the water". More Acapulco cliff diver & moving cross country & everything that entails, so to hear what some of y'all think would be really helpful. Have any of you pulled up stakes & left home to chase this? Maybe had a career & just pulled a 180 & went for it? Do you consider it art & are you thankful you found it. It is as rewarding as you thought it might be?

I don't know? Just kind of typing out loud here. I'd really like to hear from people in a true apprenticeship though & would like to thank you in advance for any response.

[Greger]

Not going to answer how you ask.
You need to be quick and make garments that look good and feel comfortable and are not a problem.
At one time, for a long time, tailors made all kinds clothes for the male population (and some even made for females).
Specialist made certain kinds when it brought in enough money. Some Specialist, for example, only made white tie coats. They were good and lived in the right location. If they didnt want to live in one of those locations, then they made other clothes as needed.  One thing for sure, don't expect to make a lot of money. When customers lost interest in custom clothing many tailors found other kinds of work. It's a fickle business. I hear some Savil Row tailors are now making jeans. Throughout the centuries now and then clothing expectations have made sudden changes and many continuous small changes. Nobody knows what the future will be. Used to be tailors were always at the top of this game. But, not so sure anymore. They should be. But, have the futuristic lessons been forgotten?
If you are barking up the wrong money tree, you will be disappointed. Many tailors sent their children to college, because the earnings are way higher.
Being aware of change and, capable of quickly doing it.
At one time tailors made ski clothing. Today ski clothing cloth is very different. Are there any real tailors that make ski clothing, anymore? (Synthetic cloth is different cutting methods, hot knife, vacuum to suck the deadly fumes out). Horse riding, only a few, nowadays. How many other kinds of clothes you can find to make a profit?  Maybe you might do fine making only suits, sports coats, blazers, vest, trousers. Some tailors found they had to make themselves available, instead of, just exclusivety.
There are some who rolled in big money from working in the stock market, banking, etc.who gave it all up and found more satisfaction working in a trade, or some other lower paying job. Money doesn't buy everything.

[StevenKeith]

Thanks for your time, Greger.

[Hendrick]

Hi,

Really well argumented Greger!
One thing, though, we shouldn't ever foget; there is no greater luxury than a personalised product. And being able to look into the eye of the maker is, from my point of view, what sparked the interest in made to measure, bespoke and so on... I think that slowly people are growing aware of this.

Good luck, StevenKeith

[Henry Hall]

If one is dead-set on an apprenticeship, what other people think or how their particular one went is not really relevant. Neither is the state of tailoring today as compared to 50-70 years ago.