P2 Indigenous Ribbon Skirt
The skills needed to create ribbon skirts, shirts, and regalia are closely related to those used in the clothing and textile industry. Mastering these skills can lead to job opportunities while also allowing designers to celebrate and share Indigenous culture. Sewing ribbon skirts can open doors to various careers in the clothing and textile sector, including apparel production, manufacturing, management, sales, and entrepreneurship. Apparel production is a precise profession that requires creativity as well as skills in measuring, tracing, cutting, sewing, fitting, adjusting, and finishing garments according to specifications. Sewists can also develop their own designs and create patterns for custom garments, which can be sold directly to clients or offered for sale in retail stores.
Traits and Talents
If you are interested in designing regalia or other apparel and enjoy being creative while working with people, a career in this field may be a great fit for you. As a garment maker, it is essential to follow instructions and patterns carefully. You will need to be flexible and meticulous to meet client specifications. These skills also offer many opportunities to work from home and serve your local community. Additionally, manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and good eyesight are crucial for the precise work involved in apparel production. Custom work requires strong written and verbal communication skills, as these are vital for interacting with clients and collaborating with colleagues. You will often need to understand and visualize the written or verbal descriptions of the garments you are creating.
Education and Training
- Completion of a college or art school program in theatre design, clothing design or exhibit design is required or a university degree in fine arts or visual arts with specialization in theatre design, clothing design or exhibit design
- Creative ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, is required.
- Use of computer-aided design (CAD) software may be required.
- Immersing yourself into practicing at home is essential to honing in your skills.
The Workplace
Typical duties include:
- Designing the look and feel of garments
- Measuring and cutting garments to appropriate size and lengths
- Cutting, sewing and fitting garments to clients and adjusting and tailoring to suit the needs to the purchaser
- Working with computers and CAD to ensure precision and feel or clothing.
- Following instructions when creating garments.
- Creating clothing and accessories for men, women and children
Skills for Success
The key Skills for Success for this career path are:
- Reading
- Adaptability
- Creativity & Innovation
Sample Job Titles
- Regalia designer
- Sewing machine operator
- Pattern maker
- Fashion or costume designer
- Teacher
Companies and Sectors
- Manufacturing and service
- Retail stores
- Education
- Powwows