Will a seamstress duplicate clothes?

[SashaTwoShoes]

I have the most amazingly comfortable pair of corduroy trousers that feel like a dream and are really flattering. I'm very pear-shaped and have a surgical scar that limits what trousers I can wear, so these are my go-to pair when I want to look casual but feel really like "me", if that makes sense. They're starting to fall apart with wear and as I bought them overseas years ago, I can't get hold of another pair.

If I take the trousers to a seamstress / tailor and ask her to make another pair just like them, is this something she'd do? I don't care about an exact copy - I'm not trying to get a designer rip-off, and these are definitely not designer! - but I'd just like to get new trousers with the same rise, waist and hip measurements in a smilar lovely soft material.

Some will, especially if the garment is old, but many steer very clear. The place I found which would consider it adds a £20 fee on top of the work and fabric.

I've not done this myself but I know people who have. You might have to shop around and it won't be / shouldn't be cheap, especially if it includes fittings. Picking the right fabric will also make a huge difference.

Definitely true about the fabric, too drapey and trousers won’t hang well, too heavy and they’ll appear very stiff!
do you have a local college or adult training centre where they teach sewing? You can try asking there and also see if they can copy and trace using pattern paper. That way you’ll always have a blue print which can be replicated again and again! Even if you gain/lose weight, a talented seamstress should be able to make the necessary adjustments!
it’s not too difficult copying trousers (check YouTube) but might have to shop around as prices will vary depending on who you ask (fashion designer/professional seamstress/hobby sewist)!
good luck! I’m pear shaped too and it’s impossible finding trousers that don’t gape at the waist, aren’t too loose around the top and sit nicely on my thighs and bum 😂

Yes, if it's an actual seamstress service - which seems really hard to find in this country! I only tend to see alterations services.

But the times I've had things made from scratch like this (abroad), you bought in your own fabric, so you'd have to find that first.

You'll need someone who can draw a pattern. It's not technically difficult, but if you want a well made pair, you'd need someone who is trained.
If you are having the pattern made and it's a success, get several pairs made.
If you want a replica, the seamstress might want to deconstruct your existing trousers.

£20 for pattern draughting seems very cheap. I'd estimate a day's work, or half a day if straightforward.

Yes, take the pair with you, they will more than likely take them apart to use as a pattern, ask them to sew them up again after 😊

There’s a few sewing groups on facebook, uk based, you might ask there if any will do it, if none respond here.

The issue you will face, is that most people don’t value sewing skills, and expect to pay £20-£30 for something that might take 10 hours plus materials. So it does exist but it’s probably way beyond a large chunk of population who can only afford primarni prices etc.

It can definitely be done. I'm the cheeky cow who buys a lovely top/dress from Zara, takes it home, takes a pattern from it & then returns it for a refund unworn. I prefer to make clothes in my own choice of fabric. It's a skilled job though. Asking a sewing student to do it would be a way of keeping the costs low. I wouldn't expect a high street 'alterations' place to be able to do it. I think it's worth paying out for because once you have a genuine pattern, you can make as many copies as you want easily.

I would expect it to take about 4hrs tops based on other stuff I've done.

Yes, definitely can be done. My mum isn't a steamstress but is a very experienced sewer and often dulicates something she especially likes.

Depends how much you want to pay and if you can do yourself. I would unpick the trousers and use them to make the pattern. You can buy a roll of pattern paper on Amazon.

Yes it's possible.

Whether you would find someone to do it is another matter, because ultimately the 'essence' of what makes these trousers so perfect will be difficult to replicate and will be cost prohibitive with a high chance of disappointment for you the customer.

I have replicated items for myself with varying success but I would hate to do it for a paying customer.

This is exactly how/why I got into making my own clothes though. Nearly every item I wear regularly I have custom made myself to fit me exactly in the fabric I want.

You would need a dressmaker. Highly likely they would want to take the trousers apart to make an accurate pattern. Sewing them back up to the same comfortable fit afterwards might be tricky.

Like a PP has wisely pointed out, the specific fit you like will be influenced not only by shape but by fabric. The fibre content, drape, thickness etc might be different to yours so even if the pattern was spot on the fabric might not be.

This is not a job for the amateur or the inexperienced. If you really love them, find an experienced dressmaker and expect to pay more than you'd expect for a decent job (and a paper pattern being created).

There are copy your own clothes classes (I know of one near Notts). If you can make a pattern from them then find a dressmaker that should work.