Apprentice Garment Pattern Making Jobs in Florida

NoraJune Designs is gearing up for a busy summer.  We are building Costumes for a show on Virgin Cruise Lines titled Another Rose.  This show is high fashion in an intimate interactive dinner show.  Positions will be contracted through the summer, and additional employment opportunities will be discussed during the contracted period.  Please reach out with any questions.  Thanks for your interest in working with NoraJune Designs.

Stitcher: $480.00-$600.00 weekly

Stitchers for NoraJune Designs are responsible for the construction and alteration of costumes and soft goods.  Pins alterations, create alterations tags for garments and does garment alterations.  Keeps shop clean and tidy re-stocks supplies as needed, dressing mannequins and creates displays for holidays, and sales.  Helps prepare costume rental packages.  Works at the theatre during load-ins and tech week preparing costumes for shows.

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Requirements:

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• High School Diploma, GED or equivalent work experience required, must be at least 18 years of age.

• Strong sewing skills on industrial and domestic sewing machines of all types.

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays.

• 2+ years working in a costume shop

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull a minimum of 50 pounds required.  Ability to walk, stand, bend, stoop, or kneel for long periods of time, and move around the shop on a continual basis required.

• Basic English and math skills are required.

• Previous experience sewing is a must, experience with industrial machines is preferred.  

• Must be able to follow directions and work unsupervised as well as in a team setting.

Responsibilities:

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 Stitchers are responsible for building and altering costumes under the supervision of the draper or firsthand and may take on additional duties as assigned. 

Assists with fittings and performs alterations as directed by costume shop manager, cutter-Draper or Costume Designer. 

Assisting with pulling costumes and organizing costumes for shows and events.

Cutter/Draper/Costumer: $720.00- $1,000.00 weekly

Cutter /Draper for NoraJune Designs is responsible for making the Costume Designer’s vision come to life.  Draping, pattern making, and overseeing the construction of costumes for each production and individual custom design.  Supervision of costume assistants and stitchers.  

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Minimum Requirements:

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• Bachelor's degree in Costume Design and Technology, Costume Design, Fashion Design, or equivalent work experience in Costuming.

• 3+ years of relevant work experience in costume production.

• Must have excellent knowledge of costume construction, draping, and pattern making.

• Project management and people skills are necessary.

• Proficiency in English both written and oral is key for detailed communication. 

• Excellent organizational skills, creative thinking, detail-oriented, self-management skills, and the ability to multitask, adapt, and work in a fast-paced continuously changing work environment are a must.

• Must be able to work under pressure and maintain a professional appearance and positive attitude at all times.

• Must be self-motivated with the ability to work independently as well as with a team and delegate responsibilities to team members and maintain an efficient work relationship with all employees and management. 

• Costume-fitting experience with a professional attitude and personal skills is a must.

• Must have garment alteration skills for pieces constructed as well as purchased.  

• Advanced knowledge of costume construction history and techniques including technical skills for pleating and multiple sleeve designs as well as tailoring skills.

• Ability to operate multiple types of sewing machines including sergers, walking foot, cover stitch, and other industrial and domestic machines.

• Millinery and craft construction experience. 

• Computer skills on iOS and Windows operating systems, Gsuite and O365 are necessary, and training after hiring is an option.

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull a minimum of 50 pounds required.  Ability to walk, stand, bend, stoop, or kneel for long periods of time, and move around the shop on a continual basis required.

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Responsibilities:

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• Create paper patterns of each costume using costume sketches and renderings, measurements, mock-ups, and discussions with the costume designer.

• Cut and bundle costumes and provide instruction to stitcher for construction for each design.  At times it will be necessary to sew costumes from start to finish including fittings and alterations.

• Provide fitting requests per show on a weekly or daily basis as needed per production or original costume design.

• Conduct fittings to perfect the costume for design and fit for each costume per performer.  All fitting will be done with the costume designer present as well as the director when deemed necessary.

• Correct all label patterns after fittings and alterations.

• Prepare and delegate construction and alteration duties to costume shop employees of all levels. 

• Maintain a working list of all costume alterations, builds, and work to be done breaking down the responsibilities of each employee. 

• Take and update performers' measurement sheets and maintain the measurement catalog.

• Oversee the execution of dress rehearsal notes. 

• Keep note of supplies needed for the workroom.

• Construct and sew garments as needed.  

• Perform alterations as needed.

• Repair Costumes as needed.

• Pull and organize costumes, shoes, and accessories for rentals as needed.

• Supervise pulling, organizing, touch-ups, and preparing and packing costumes for events and rentals.

• Maintain an orderly and safe workspace. 

• Availability to work a demanding schedule including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours.

Costume Shop Paid Internship: $400.00 weekly

An internship in our Costume Shop exposes interns to all aspects of costume production for our varied clients and throughout the season. Interns work with guest artists and designers gaining knowledge and opportunities to work while learning in a collaborative workspace. Primary responsibilities include shop and inventory maintenance, garment construction, alterations, attending and documenting fittings, wardrobe show assignments, and more. Additional responsibilities include prop design, wig styling and maintenance, and costume crafts as deemed necessary. Applicants must possess strong communication and technical skills, be well organized, hard-working, independent, self-motivated, curious, and focused in this fast-paced environment. Computer skills on iOS and Windows operating systems, Gsuite and O365 are necessary, and training after hiring is an option.

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Internship Applicants must have previous costume experience in college, community, and/or professional level. Eligible students enrolled at a college or university studying costume history, design, and/or technology must be at least 18 years of age.

Duties:

Assisting the team and remaining ever-observant in their daily activities at NoraJune Nora June Designs including organizational, managerial, and design assistance responsibilities.

What To Expect:

This introductory position will help you gain a working knowledge of the operation inside a professional costume shop. Interns will assist in the daily operation of the Costume Department under the direct supervision of shop management and designers. Interns will experience the full spectrum of show production planning from concept, design construction, fittings, dress rehearsals, and opening night. Interns may be able to attend a dress rehearsal(s). Flexible scheduling allows students to work time around their curriculum. Your college or institution may give credit for an internship. Applicants should check with their advisors for details