First Hand Tailor - Historic Clothing & Dress

Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 89 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life.

The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes.

Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

The First Hand Tailor reports directly to the Cutter/Draper/Patternmaker. The person in this role assists the Cutter/Draper in fittings, takes detailed notes to facilitate action from the fitting. The Firsthand Tailor acts as a lead to employees in lower level roles with in Historic Clothing and Dress, providing general day-to-day guidance and mentoring.

The First Hand Tailor is responsible for assisting in the preparation and distribution of “work bundles” for which they will notate, explain, and direct other Tailors to sew. This employee may serve as a Tailor based on business need and is responsible for assisting with cutting, preparation of fabric, and pattern making as directed by the Cutter/Draper. The Firsthand Tailor may conduct clothing-related research and study as directed by the manager of the Department of Historical Clothing & Dress.

The person in this role is also responsible for maintaining records of supplies/notions in Operations and confirming orders/approval of orders.