Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. fast fashion
    • ex. Fast fashion is popular because it offers inexpensive clothes that follow the latest styles.
  2. customize
    • ex. She wants to customize her white shoes by painting them with her favorite colors.
  3. a tailor
    • ex. The tailor adjusted the jacket so it would fit the customer better.
  4. a dressmaker
    • ex. I asked the dressmaker to fix the length of my favorite dress.
  5. handiwork
    • ex. Machines cannot easily copy the careful handiwork of an artist.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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A growing shortage of skilled clothing workers in the U.S. is raising concerns. This is because more shoppers want clothing repairs. Experts say demand is rising because people want their clothes to last longer and fit better. They do not want to buy fast fashion all the time. More customers also want workers to customize their clothes.

A tailor in Manhattan said more people are asking for changes, like shorter sleeves or other types of fixing the size of clothes. But fewer young people are starting this job. Government data showed that fewer than 17,000 tailors, sewing workers, and dressmakers were working across the country two years ago. That was about 30% lower than ten years ago.

Experts say low pay and hard work make the job less popular. Still, they say skilled handiwork is important. This is because machines cannot easily change clothes to fit different body shapes. To help, Nordstrom and the Fashion Institute of Technology started a sewing program in New York City. The first group had 15 students. They are trying to find more workers to fill this gap.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Tailors and Dressmakers

  • There is a growing shortage of skilled clothing workers in the U.S. Why do you think fewer people are doing this job today? Discuss.
  • Would you be interested in learning how to be a tailor or a dressmaker? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • How do you think the government can encourage more young people to start a career in sewing? Discuss.

Fast Fashion

  • Fast fashion is inexpensive clothing made very quickly, but more people are losing interest in it. Why do you think this is happening? Discuss.
  • What do you think of fast fashion? Discuss.
  • What do you think of the popularity of fast fashion brands in your country? Discuss.