Departments› Fashion Design› Module I› Basic Gents' Garments Construction› Ch 5: Finish constructed garment
Fashion Design  ·  Level 5
Basic Gents' Garments Construction
Chapter 5: Finish constructed garment
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⚑ What you will be able to do

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Identify the tools and equipment used for finishing gents' garments.
- Find and gather the right materials and supplies needed to finish a garment.
- Finish a garment correctly by following the required quality standards.

Mastering these skills will help you create professional-looking garments that meet customer expectations and boost your confidence in garment construction.

5.1 Garment finishing tools, equipment, materials and supplies

Garment finishing is the last stage of production, after assembly, when the garment is cleaned up, pressed, fastened, labelled and checked so that it is ready to wear or sell. Finishing needs its own set of tools and equipment, mainly for trimming, pressing and inspection, and its own supplies such as buttons, labels and tags. Good finishing is what makes a well sewn shirt or pair of trousers look professional. Example: a menswear tailor in Tala keeps a separate finishing table with a steam iron, sleeve board, thread clippers and a lint roller, so that every finished trouser leaves the shop pressed and free of loose threads.

Finishing tools

Name Specification Use
Thread clippers (snips) Spring-action, sharp points Trimming loose thread ends inside and outside the garment
Seam ripper Fine point Removing tacking stitches and correcting small faults
Hand sewing needles and thimble Sharps sizes 7 to 9 Slip stitching hems, sewing buttons, hooks and bars
Tailor's ham Firm stuffed cushion Pressing curved areas such as shoulders, collars and seats
Sleeve board Small padded board Pressing sleeves and trouser legs without creasing the other side
Pressing cloth Cotton or muslin Protecting fabric from shine and scorching
Clapper (point presser) Hardwood block Flattening seams and edges for crisp creases
Lint roller or clothes brush Adhesive roller or soft bristles Removing fluff, chalk and threads
Tape measure 150 cm Final check of measurements

Finishing equipment

  • Steam iron and ironing board: the basic pressing equipment; a heavy steam iron gives sharp trouser creases.
  • Steam press or vacuum table: used in larger workshops for fast, even pressing of batches.
  • Buttonhole machine: makes buttonholes after the garment is assembled.
  • Button sewing machine: sews buttons quickly and evenly in batch production.
  • Bar tack machine: reinforces pocket ends, fly ends and belt loops.
  • Tag gun: attaches price and size tags through a seam or label without damaging the fabric.

Finishing materials and supplies

  • Buttons: shirt buttons (about 10 to 11 mm), trouser buttons (about 15 to 18 mm), with a spare button sewn inside the shirt.
  • Hooks and bars: for trouser waistband closures.
  • Labels: brand label, size label and care label (washing, ironing and fibre content).
  • Hang tags and tag pins: show price, size and style.
  • Thread: matching thread for hand finishing.
  • Packaging items: hangers, collar supports, shirt boards, pins and clips, and polythene bags, ready for display and packaging.
  • Cleaning supplies: stain removal agents suitable for the fabric, used carefully on chalk or oil marks.

Care and safety with finishing equipment

  1. Check the iron temperature: set it for the fibre (low for polyester, medium for wool, high for cotton and linen).
  2. Test first: press a scrap or an inside seam allowance before pressing the visible surface.
  3. Use clean water: fill steam irons with clean or distilled water to avoid stains.
  4. Switch off and stand irons upright: never leave a hot iron face down or unattended.
  5. Keep cords clear: route iron cords so they cannot be tripped over.
  6. Store sharp tools safely: close snips and keep seam rippers capped.
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🔒5.2 Garment finishing methods and techniques

Finishing methods are the operations done after assembly to complete the garment, improve its appearance and make it ready for use. They include trimming threads, removing tacking and marks, making buttonholes and attaching fastenings, finishing hems by hand o…

Am I competent?

At the start of this chapter we promised you would be able to:

  • Identify the tools and equipment used for finishing gents' garments.
  • Find and gather the right materials and supplies needed to finish a garment.
  • Finish a garment correctly by following the required quality standards.

Tick each one you can genuinely do.

So, are you there yet?

You're competent when you can confidently do 50% or more of what this chapter promised.

Sign in to record how you're doing.

← Ch 4: Construct selected garment Ch 6: Display and package garment →