The best clothing alteration service near you might just be a kilometer or less from your step and finding them is no big deal these days.
This means that you don’t have to give up the idea of wearing the stylish little dress you once used to wear even if it is now a size smaller or bigger.
The same goes for all your other clothes whether you put on weight, lost some, or came into a clothing deal you couldn’t resist. Here’s the best part; you will be saving money!
But, how to find the best alterations near me? With, technology, all you need is to conduct a quick search on your mobile phone and all other digital devices, and voila! The only problem is, what do you do with all the information that comes up in all these searches?
This post covers everything you need to about alterations including spotting nearby ‘alterations‘ using our locators, differentiating alterations from similar terms, finding alterations near you, and choosing an alteration that suits your needs.
Alterations Near Me
To discover the “best alterations near me” simply use our locator and the interactive map displayed below, which instantly pulls all of the alteration businesses near you with a click of a button, try it out for yourself!
What is an Alteration?
In terms of fashion, alteration generally refers to the act of making changes to clothing so that it better fits the wearer’s body.
This might involve something as simple as taking in a seam or letting out a hem, or it could be something more complex like adding or removing sleeves. Alteration can also refer to the act of changing the style of a garment, such as adding ruffles or lace trim.
There are two main types of alteration work: self-alteration and professional alteration.
Self-alteration is when someone makes changes to their own clothing, generally using a sewing machine or needle and thread. Professional alteration is when someone takes their clothes to a tailor or seamstress to have the changes made for them.
What is the Difference Between a Tailor, Seamstress, and Cloth maker?
A tailor, seamstress, and cloth maker are all terms associated with making clothing. These people all work in the same industry – the fashion industry. However, they have different skills, and therefore their areas of specialization may also differ.
- A tailor is a professional amender trained to alter clothes by cutting existing clothes and restyling them to fit. He can alter almost all kinds of clothes, for instance, pants/trousers, shirts, skirts, dresses, jackets, shirts, coats, and others.
- A seamstress is popularly found in garment factories where they sew repeatedly garments of the same style and design. Likewise, they are often responsible for the fixing and replacing of cloth buttons, zip, and pockets.
- A cloth maker or dressmaker is a professional who makes the cloth. Dressmakers have both the knowledge of designing and tailoring. They use these two pieces of knowledge to create, more often than never, none existing outfits for either a customer or ready-to-wear outfits to be sold in boutiques.
The term cloth maker can be used to encompass all the other terms associated with making clothing.
So, in simple terms, a tailor is someone who alters clothes for people to wear, a seamstress is who sews clothes for people to wear, and a cloth maker is anyone someone who makes clothing of any kind.
How to Find the Best Alteration Near Me?
Whether you need a custom-made garment for a special occasion or alterations to clothing that’s already in your closet, a sewing and design professional can help you look and feel your best!
And, finding the best clothing alteration service doesn’t have to be difficult. There are plenty of great options available right at your fingertips.
1. Google Search
The best alteration near you can be found with a google or bing maps search. For instance, you can fine-tune your google search to “cloth alteration service near me”, “the most reviewed alteration near me’, “tailor near me”, and “seamstress near me”. Be sure to have your location enabled to access the geographic location of your device.
Use our locators below to automatically pull the best alteration services near you…
2. Ask for a Recommendation
How many times have you checked out a restaurant, nail salon, or some other service just because your BFF or your family member recommended it? Several times I guess!
This puts you among the 88% of people who trust the word of mouth of a friend or family. Where alterations are concerned, having people close to you recommend someone they liked may save you a lot of effort.
Do you have tailors or designers you have used before but they don’t do alterations? Chances are that they know someone who does.
And no, you don’t have to limit recommendations to people you know; even strangers from your social media accounts like Facebook can give you great ideas.
3. Yellow Pages
Or simply head to Yellow Pages and enter the words “clothing alterations“, “tailor“, or “seamstress” into the search bar with your location turned on your device. You’ll be able to see a list of local alteration businesses that can help you with your needs.
You can even read reviews from other customers to get an idea of what to expect. And best of all, you can find businesses that offer great prices on their services. So don’t wait any longer, start your search today and find the perfect tailor or seamstress for your needs.
4. Craigslist
Just go to the “services” section on your city’s Craigslist, and then enter the term “tailor” or “seamstress” into the search bar. Craigslist has different web pages for various locations but lucky for you, you receive searches specific to your location.
Nevertheless, you can still narrow down your searches by inputting your preferred search location.
5. Use Online Directories
The online directories for clothmakers put together all manner of professionals in the sewing and design industry and most will allow you to search by location and/or search by specialty for members.
Good examples include the Association of Sewing & Design Professionals, Love Your Tailor and Fashion Listing.
How to Choose the Best Cloth Alteration Service Near You [7 Tips]
Finding listed alterations is not enough if you cannot comb through the list to pinpoint one that meets your specific needs. The tips below can point you in the right direction.
1. Check Reviews
Most alteration shops have a website, Facebook page, or Google My Business page. Once you’ve found a few potential options, pay attention to customers’ feedback on each of the shops you browse through – no one sells a business better than a satisfied customer.
To weed out the bad ones, sort the reviews from the lowest to the highest and read through them carefully to get a better idea of each business’s quality of work and customer service.
2. Visit Their Website
Check out their website if it has one. While not every tailoring business will have a website, those that do make your search easier. For starters, a business that invests in an official website is definitely serious about what they are offering.
On the website, you can find almost everything you need to know about the business including:
- Physical location,
- Contact information,
- Photos,
- Open hours,
- Testimonials,
- And expected charges.
That said, you shouldn’t overlook alterations stores just because they don’t have websites. As long as they have some online presence with a way to contact them, you can always call ahead of time to ask any queries you may have.
3. Check for ‘Before-After’ Photos
It is difficult to tell whether an alteration is good or not based on photos, but the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is actually something you can go by.
For example, pictures of a dress before and after alterations, for instance, can help you understand what to expect. Also, you might just get a peek into their style and execution and see if it appeals to you.
Most tailors will keep a collection of photos in their shop but long before you visit, you can check them on their website and sometimes on their Google My Business Page.
4. Be Clear
Have you across posts dabbed ‘what I ordered versus what I got?‘ Better check that out – it looks hilarious but that is someone who invested time and resources into something they loved only to get disappointed.
The best way to ensure that you get what you want is to be clear about it. If need be, bring photos or examples.
Ask questions and let your tailor take you through what they understood to ensure that you are on the same page. Before you leave, have them write it down.
5. Avoid Busy Hours
A busy tailor means they know their stuff well. Still, you might want to time your alterations at times when they are not so busy especially when you don’t have much time on your hands.
Typically, tailors are said to be busy in spring and fall. As for busy hours, these can vary from one tailor to another- you can find out their busy hours and regular hours on their Google My Business pages.
Busy means a longer turn-around time while not so busy results in a quicker turn-round, so why not avoid them?
6. Get a Pricing Estimate
Get a price estimate in writing before you leave your clothing items. We are talking about an estimate because costs can vary based on a number of factors including the type of garment and the specific alterations needed.
Most tailors might, therefore, not have the exact cost for you before they have executed the project. Nevertheless, you should leave the store with a written estimate of the cost to avoid surprises and to enable you to plan accordingly.
7. Start with a Trial
Some tailors offer a free trial of some sort but even if you end up with one that doesn’t, you can still have your trial. This is where you ask them to take in your old pair of pants and gauge your gut feeling before entrusting them with your multi-layered evening gown.
While the work needed might differ from the trial, a trial helps you ascertain how well they follow instructions and factor in your unique needs.
8. Ask for a Sample
Alongside pictures of past work, real samples of past or recent alterations can paint an even clearer picture of a tailor’s work.
Once you’ve found a reputable place you’re comfortable with, schedule an appointment for your alterations.
What is the Most Reviewed Alteration Near Me?
Below are some of the most reviewed and highly-rated alterations in the United States, I hope they are nearby;
- Alterations Dot Com Tailor Shop (805 3rd Avenue 2nd. Ste 3080, New York)
- MH tailoring and alterations (303 N Laurel Ave 90048, Los Angeles, CA)
- Wazin Custom Tailor and Alterations (57 W 57th St Suite 1212, New York, NY)
- Shin’s Sewing and Alterations (15033 Nacogdoches Rd Ste. 100 San Antonio, TX)
- Only One Tailoring (2506 8th Ave S Nashville, TN)
- Tad More Tailoring and Alterations (6116 Mulford Village Dr 15, Rockford, IL)
- Cheung’s Tailor Alterations (419 87th Ln NE, Blaine, MN)
- Erol’s Tailoring and Alterations (314 Columbine St, Denver, CO)
- 111 Sage Tailoring and Alterations (520 E Church St Ste 110, Orlando, FL)
- Alterations by Alice (11150 74th Ave, Seminole, FL 33772)
Is It Expensive to Alter Clothes?
It should not be difficult or costly to alter clothes, but in rare circumstances, this may be the case.
Why are alterations expensive, you might wonder? Most often, the cost of alteration is determined by the kind of cloth material you intend to alter and how hard it is to alter such.
Alteration can also become expensive when you visit an A-list alteration shop. A-list alteration shops offer top-notch services and therefore require their customers to pay well. Generally, alteration might not cost as much as it cost sewing or designing the cloth at first.
Pro Tip: What if your clothing alteration needs to be redone? Most tailors will do it for free but it helps to have this fact right before committing.
Do You Tip Someone for Alterations?
Not necessarily. A tip is a sign of satisfaction!
Someone shouldn’t have to ask for it after you have paid for the service rendered. However, it will be kind of you to appreciate the great effort in cases such as a rush order and exceptional service in form of a tip, a gift card, or some other form of gratitude. Still, you should check if the tailor accepts tips.
How Long Does Clothing Alteration Take?
It can take three days or more for your clothing to be altered.
Occasionally, an article of clothing meant for alteration might spend several days unattended depending on how busy your tailor is.
You can reduce delays with your alteration by keeping in touch with your tailor.
Can Any Clothing be Altered?
Yes, any clothing can be altered!
While everyone hopes that clothing stays as how it was originally made, textiles are created in a way that makes them easy to alter to desirable outcomes.
That said, you should always seek professional alteration services to ensure you get what you want.
How Much Does a Tailor Charge Per Hour?
With alterations, most tailors will charge based on piece work – depending on what requires to be done. Where hourly charges apply, they can range widely based on factors such as the location, the kind of tailor, and the work that needs to be done.
When it comes down to the hourly rate, ZipRecruiter, puts the average at $17.23 per hour with the rate ranging between $6.25- $27.40.
A tailor will charge $3 per hour if your cloth is not overtasking their creativity. When altering, tailors have to be at their creative best to be able to get the right result.
How Much Does a Seamstress Charge Per Hour?
According to ZipRecruiter, seamstresses earn between $8.41 and $56.01 per hour. This gives you an idea of how much they charge. The rate can vary based on whether the seamstress is employed by a factory or working from their own shop.
For instance, a seamstress charges $11 to $20 per hour while working for a factory, and $14.84 per hour while working in their shop.
If you are seeking the services of a seamstress who is self-employed the rate may differ from seamstresses that work for a company where the cost needs to cater to the company’s commission and the seamstresses’ pay.
How Much Does It Cost for Alterations?
It could cost as low as $10 for minor alterations, or as high as $50 on average, while some shops charge prices above $100 for specific alterations.
In cases where there are no fixed prices, you can negotiate a favorable price. For instance, some alteration shops will accept a payment of $12 for an alteration that would cost $15. You can also get a much lesser price if you have great negotiation skills.
Below is a typical price list of various alteration services based on a variety of sample alteration service providers
| Type of Alteration | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Dress alterations | The cost often depends on the alteration needed and the difficulty involved in the process. A tailor may charge $75 to $150 to either hem or alter a 3-layer dress. A normal dress will cost less. Other alterations such as adjusting the shoulders, shortening, re-hemming, and replacing the zipper vary in costs ranging from $20-$40. |
| Taking a dress in or out | The standard cost of taking out a dress ranges from $100 to $200. Tailors sometimes experience difficulty with reshaping small-size clothes into big sizes. On the other hand, it is easier and cheaper to reshape a big-size cloth into a small size. This may cost about $25-$120. |
| Pants alterations | Tapering pants are charged at the rate of $20 to $40. Hemming a pant cost $10-45. Other alterations including re-stitching, waist adjustment, and replacing a zipper can cost anything from $10-$40. These prices are always open to negotiation. |
| Altering Tops, Shirts & Blouses | This can cost $15-$60 depending on whether you are taking it in, shortening the sleeves, turning or replacing the collar, or hemming. |
| Skirt alterations | Expect to pay $15-$55 for each alteration ranging from tapering, adjusting the waistband, hemming, and zipper replacement. There is room for bargaining. |
| Jeans alterations | The cost of altering jeans is within the rate of $10 and $50. This largely depends on the texture of the material and the nature of the alteration you requested for. However, you can also demand alteration from the store you bought the jeans from if it is new. Some stores support their customers with free service or discounts on alterations. |
| Jackets and Coats alterations | Adding darts falls at the bottom of the range starting at about $15 while replacing a lining can go over $100. Everything else including hemming, tapering, adjusting sleeves, adjusting shoulders, and replacing zippers falls in between. |
Cheap Alteration Near Me: How to Find Alteration Deals?
There are popular brands and shops with free or discounted alteration rates; they are Madewell, Ralph Lauren, Self-Edge, and Buckle.
- Madewell provides free alteration for registered customers who are called Madewell Insiders. To enjoy this offer, you have to purchase Madewell jeans. Madewell alteration stores are located in New York, Chicago, and Seattle, among other places.
- Ralph Lauren offers free alterations for women’s clothing and men’s suit that are bought in select stores. They have shops in Chicago, New York, McLean, Howell, and other places.
- Self-Edge provides alterations at fair prices.
- Buckle store offers free jeans hemming for all jeans purchased at their store within 30 days. This offer only lasts for 30 days after purchase. Buckle alterations shops are located in Syracuse, Humble, Denver, and some other selected places.
- Blue Owl is a men’s clothing store in Seattle offering free hemming on Denim jeans purchased online.
- The Banana Republic is a clothing and accessories store in San Francisco offering free alteration to shoppers who have attained the Icon level of their rewards program.
What Should You Take To a Fitting?
When you are going for a fitting you should be ready with all that is needed for a dress-up. What then should you take to a fitting?
- Extra shoes – You might have to go to a fitting with extra shoes so that you can try out your outfit in different shoe types.
- Jewelry – When going to a fitting, you should go along with your jewelry. It is better to see how your jewelry fits your new dress before taking it home.
- Underwear – You should consider appropriate underwear knowing that you will have to try out your dress several times.
Will you Have to Go Back for Additional Fittings?
Additional fittings might not be needed if nothing has changed. However, there are reasons you might need to go back for additional fittings;
- If you feel you have put on weight
- If you have a new idea to present
- If you requested alteration during the first or last fitting
Cheap Alterations Near Me: FAQs
1. What Does a Tailor Do?
A tailors make garments as well as provides alteration services like hemming, slim-fitting, tapering, and other adjustments. They also provide help with making the right choice of textile, and can sometimes provide design ideas.
2. Will a Tailor Take Your Measurements?
Yes, tailors will have to take your measurement to be able to sew a perfect fit for you. Sometimes, you can find a tailor who uses their instinct to guess your size. They do this by observing your body size. This is how most factory clothes are sewn.
3. How Does a Tailor Measure You?
A tailor will measure your body parts using a “measuring tape” or “tape rule”. The parts measured are shoulder, neck, front waist length, bust, back waist length, under bust, waist, elbow, hips, armhole, arm length, and cuff. Some of these measurements may not be necessary depending on the type of clothing and the kind of alteration needed.
4. Can Tailors Alter Any Clothing?
Yes, any clothing can be altered by a tailor! Tailor exist to be able to meet this need, therefore, they acquire the necessary skill to offer these services. But, not all tailors can alter every type of clothing; some are generalists while others specialize. This is why it is good to check the previous work of tailors before entrusting them with your clothes.
5. What Does a Seamstress Do?
Seamstresses work at garment factories. In the factory, they sew garments, and also engage in dry cleaning activities. Other duties of a seamstress include altering and repairing customers’ garments.
6. Do You Tip a Tailor or a Seamstress?
Not necessarily, you are not mandated to give tips to a tailor or a seamstress! Giving tips is a show of appreciation so if you are pleased and feel excited about the outcome, giving a tip to a tailor or a seamstress would not be a bad idea.
7. Are Alterations Worth It?
Yes, it is totally worth it to pay for alterations. It is cheaper than buying new clothing and a great way to keep clothes that you already like. Further, alterations can add a touch of taste or uniqueness to your existing wardrobe.
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