Having a dress copied

[gardenmusic]

The dress is about 20 years old, fits perfectly, and I love it. A plain classic style made in jersey that I could see myself wearing forever.
It's not designer, it's from one of the now defunct companies - like Alexon, Planet, etc
Has anyone sucessfully had a dress copied in the UK (without destroying the original) and been pleased with the results?

I recently took a higher priced Hobbs dress to our 'best' alterations shop, to get it taken in a little. They actually make dresses, and I am very unhappy with the fit now, wasted my money on the expensive alteration and the dress. (not going back)
I'm in Kent, but would travel a reasonable distance.

Am
following as I have exactly the same - not an expensive dress but one I love sooooo much would have it made in 5 colours !

I was hoping to do the same!

Could you keep a look out on Vinted for another so that could be taken apart? I sew a little though I’m not great but I’d have to take an item apart to get the pattern right personally.

It's quite easy to make a dress from an existing one without taking it apart, if you know how to sew.

Could you keep a look out on Vinted for another so that could be taken apart? I sew a little though I’m not great but I’d have to take an item apart to get the pattern right personally.

I think the chances would be vanishingly slim, but I will look out.

Sitdownrosa · Today 12:42
It's quite easy to make a dress from an existing one without taking it apart, if you know how to sew.

This is what I need, an expert I want to say sew-er, but it says sewer!
Tailor, tailoress?

Its easy if you know how to pattern draft. Sewing and pattern drafting are two separate skills. Just because someone can sew doesn’t mean they can pattern draft.

Alterations is also an impressive skill that deserves more respect. Sometimes to just do that one small thing requires the whole garment taken apart to get to it. And very importantly how can you make a hole smaller? I know you didn’t ask that but believe me if an armsyce (proper name for an arm hole) is too big that’s a difficult fix and not always possible.

If you have a local haberdashery near you ask if they have a list of dressmakers in your area. Ask the dressmaker can they draft or do they work from patterns. There may be a pattern that exists that is close to your dress and can be adapted to match.

Dressmaker or seamstress.
They must still exist, surely? We all have that fave dress we wish we'd bought five of at the time but we didn't know how much we were going to looooove them over all others. Don't we? Isn't it a thing? 👗💖

My friend does this sometimes, as part of her tailoring business. It takes hours to do properly and ive just checked - her fees start at £400 just for the pattern to be reproduced. Reverse engineering a garment (properly) isn't a quick job. If you'd want multiple garments made from it, it's worth doing right, I'd say.

Dressmaker! That's the word I was groping for.
I had never heard of pattern drafting - but then I know nothing about sewing, it seems that this is what I need.
It's a very simple V neck jersey midi dress pretending to be a wrap dress.
I appreciate the amount of work that is required, but I don't think I would pay £400+ for a day dress. I have paid that for coats and once a jacket, but I think maybe looking for a similar pattern and getting it made to measure would be my best bet.

I had this done. Can recommend my tailor if you like? She does all sorts, from copying patterns to making handmade suits. It’s not cheap tho. But for an item you love and will wear for years and years, I think it’s worth it.

ClementineChurchill, Thank you, is she anywhere down south?
If so, I would be grateful for the recommendation, please.

Take a look at the sewing patterns online.

Try The Foldline for a good selection of independent designers and the "Big 4" to see if you don't find a similar pattern to your dress.

A dressmaker could then make you multiples easily enough, and you're not paying for the drafting.

Most patterns will be under £20.

There’s a shop in Rochester that makes clothes to order in their London factory. I’ve been considering doing the same for a jersey dress that’s very bobbled. If I do it I’ll let you know

£400! To have a dress copied. My gosh. I'm sure it would be cheaper for you to have a little holiday in Asia somewhere and have a tailor make multiple copies of the dress for you!

Can you sew? There's a book I have my eye on (birthday soon) called Clone Your Clothes which shows you how to make copies of clothes without taking them apart. If you can't sew then maybe someone you know does and would be willing to have a go using the techniques in the book?

A great excuse to have a trip to Thailand - it used to be very easy and cheap to get clothing copied.

@gardenmusic you really should monitor Vinted, I had a blouse that I loved and wore to death from Tesco F&F of all places. I had mine for over 20 years and it coming apart and I searched Vinted over several months until I found one!

Never give up.

Yes - will DM you.

£400 pounds is insane! I recently had a dress copied for £80.

I also draft my own patterns from existing clothing. You can look up youtube videos on it.

I did this for a friend last year - except she had 2 identical dresses so I could take one apart.

It was a complete nightmare - the fabric had stretched and distorted so much through years of wearing (it was a good quality jersey dress) that it took hours to get everything aligned and make new pattern pieces for it.

Join The Foldline FB group, post a picture of your dress (with you wearing it), and ask people to suggest patterns that are similar. Then find someone to make it for you. It won't be cheap though... Pattern may be £15-20, fabric could be £15 per metre for decent jersey, and depending on the style of dress (and your size) might need 3m maybe. And then there's the seamstress's time. I've made a dress this week that's probably taken me about 8 hours in total. Let's say they charge £20 p/h, that would come to over £220. Do you love the dress that much?!

£80 is also insane! (as in insanely cheap) Did that include the fabric AND the person's time to copy it and make it? Was it a very straightforward shape dress? OP's is a wrap style jersey dress, where there will be all sorts to get your head round (and which is likely to have stretched and warped over time.

is likely to have stretched and warped over time.

Rather like me!

TheTripThatWasnt

Thank you. If I could find someone to do it, I could stomach £250, because I'd have it for years - don't often wear dresses. I will Google Foldline

I'm totally guessing at hours and hourly rates, BTW... So don't quote me on that! But The Foldline is definitely the place to look for patterns (and the people on the FB group are super-knowledgeable).