Highly qualified seamstress / highly qualified tailor for a premium atelier in the center of Zürich

GAVEL Nähatelier is looking for a highly qualified seamstress / a highly qualified tailor to work in our atelier at Claridenstrasse, in the center of Zürich.
We work according to the philosophy of Slow Fashion. Our specialization is precise fit, individual custom-made tailoring, and very fine work on ladies' and gentlemen's clothing from leading international brands.

We are not just looking for someone who can sew. We are looking for a specialist who understands the difference between “made” and “done right”: a clean inside, straight seams, neat lining, symmetry, respect for the fabric, and attention to fit. If quality is your own standard and not just a requirement of the employer, we look forward to meeting you.
This position is not a training or internship position. Sewing experience at home, hobby sewing, or a general interest in clothing is not sufficient for this position. We are looking for a specialist who can already perform professional tasks independently and at a high level today.
For us, it is not the number of years of professional experience alone that counts, but the real level of work. 10, 20, or 30 years of experience are only important if they can be seen in the quality of the seams, in the clean inside, in the accuracy of complex details, and in independence.

Possible tasks

• complex adjustments of clothing to the figure;
• alterations to jackets, trousers, dresses, coats, and other garments;
• work with lining, sleeves, armholes, waist, and shoulder areas;
• precise handwork;
• clean finishing;
• work with sensitive and high-quality fabrics;
• repair, restoration, and careful conservation of garments;
• collaboration on custom-made pieces and complex projects, if this fits your experience.

We know that every strong specialist has their own specialization. We do not necessarily need someone who does everything equally well. It is important that you deliver a stable, clean, and professional quality in your area of work.

Our expectations

• professional sewing, not hobby level;
• independence in work and the ability to complete a task cleanly without constant supervision;
• ability to understand the construction of a garment, read the logic of the pattern, and estimate in advance how an alteration affects the fit;
• ability to execute complex details such that symmetry, fabric pattern, the line of the garment, and clean workmanship are preserved;
• straight seams, clean workmanship, neat lining, and attention to detail;
• ability to deliver consistently high quality at a calm working pace, without loss of quality and according to the standards of the atelier;
• willingness to work with sensitive materials and high-quality garments;
• work permit for Switzerland.

Experience with men's jackets, custom tailoring, complex alterations, handmade buttonholes, cutting, or garments from leading international brands is an advantage.

We offer

• a bright workplace with large windows and a view into an inner park;
• professional equipment and the willingness to discuss the setup of the workplace according to the real tasks of the specialist;
• a culture of respect for craftsmanship: quality, precision, and the right technique are more important to us than haste;
• work in a growing premium atelier in the center of Zürich;
• a stable workflow and the possibility of a full-time position;
• the possibility to start part-time if that fits better at the beginning;
• for a highly qualified and independently working specialist, we offer CHF 30 per hour to start. The specific conditions depend on qualification, independence, and quality of work.

The main work takes place in the atelier. Regular communication with customers is not required. Sometimes the specialist may participate in fittings to better understand the task. If you can communicate professionally with customers and wish to take on such tasks, this can be discussed separately.
It is important that we can understand each other well in the work process. German, English, Russian, Ukrainian, or Polish are possible. A perfect language level is not required, but tasks, details, and the quality of work must be able to be discussed.
Application

Please send to e-mail:

• your CV or a short description of your experience;
• 3-5 photos of your work;
• ideally photos of the inside, seams, lining, set-in sleeve, or other complex details;
• a short answer to the question: “With which tasks do you work particularly confidently?”
• a short answer to the question: “With which tasks do you not like to work?”

After the first selection, we normally offer a small test task or ask to see real work samples.