I want to hire a tailor for my Depop brand

20-30 pieces a month is a lot for one tailor. Are you sure you don't just need a seamstress for alterations? Tailors usually do custom fits, not batch production.

I've been down this road. Honestly, finding a reliable tailor on Instagram is a nightmare. Half of them ghost you after the first sample. Try local dry cleaners that do alterations first, they're often looking for for side work.

What's your budget per piece? That determines everything. If you're paying $15 per crop top, you're going to get what you pay for.

I was thinking $20-25 per piece for labor, plus materials. Is that realistic?

That's low for custom work. Most tailors I know charge $30+ minimum for a simple hem. You might need to raise your prices or lower your volume.

Also, make sure you have a contract. I learned the hard way when a tailor kept my samples and stopped answering. Small claims court is not fun.

Have you considered Hiring a fashion student? They're hungry for experience and might work cheaper. Check local college bulletin boards.

Fashion students are great but they flake during finals week. Ask for a portfolio and references. And do a paid test run with 2-3 pieces before committing.

Why not just learn to sew? A basic machine is like $150. YouTube tutorials are free. You'd save a fortune and have have full control.

i've tried, but I'm terrible at it. I'd rather pay someone who knows what they're doing.

Then definitely raise your prices. Handmade reworked pieces should be $60+ minimum. Your labor cost is eating your profit.

One more thing: get a wrtten agreement about who owns the patterns and samples. I had a tailor claim my design was hers. Total mess.