Patternmaster Boutique

[Mirtha Shikles]

Sometimesindependent boutiques hire patternmakers. They will produce small runs of a few styles on a non-seasonal, ad hoc basis. The feedback loop is very small. Often they have no idea how things are done (they should get your book, Kathleen) and are kind of just dabbling. Other ones are more serious and strategic about it. Essentially they are retailers who are dipping into the manufacturer category.

Many retailers (the big box kind) hire technical designers. This may be a track to pursue if you want to work with retailers. The pay is good, with benefits. Most patternmakers have the same qualifications as a junior or assitant technical designer. IMO, a better technical designer is one that has worked as a patternmaker. In fact, most of the retailers I have worked with have only technical designers and no patternmakers.

At first I was a little confused why everyone thought I wanted to work for a retailer/manufacturer, and then I re-read my question and realized: Garbage In, Garbage Out! It was really badly worded. Let me start over:

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