Custom Clothier Certification Classes
To be a retailer of custom tailored clothing, special skills and education is required. This type of education is not readily available through traditional sources. The CTDA, created and supported by the custom clothing industry and certified master tailors, is the premier educational organization in America to obtain all the skills necessary to build a successful custom clothing business. The program provides extensive training in all aspects of the custom clothing industry from Measuring to Business Development. All courses are taught by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in the course subject.
The Education Program is offered in January and July at the DFNY shows in Manhattan, New York, and can be completed in a minimum of 1.5 years. The five (5) Courses total approximately twenty-five (25) hours of class time, and are structured to cover each topic from two (2) to four (4) hours in length. The Courses include: Measuring, Fitting & Alterations (newly combined class), Custom Shirts, Fabric Knowledge, Style, and Business & Selling.
To Earn a Custom Certification
The following are required:
Complete five (5) courses of the CTDA Education Programs, and pass all final exams.
Provide documented proof of more than four (4) years experience in the custom clothing industry. CTDA Vendor references count as documented proof.
Upon completion of the requirements, the certification “CERTIFIED CUSTOM DESIGNER” or “CERTIFIED CUSTOM CLOTHIER” will be awarded with a Professional Certificate suitable for framing.
Register Now: Measuring, Fitting & Alterations Class
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 from 12 PM to 3 PM
The Luxury Collection Hotel Manhattan Midtown, 151 West 54th Street, New York, New York 10019 (second floor)
This course covers measuring for all custom garments, including jackets, pants, and shirts. The time will be divided between classroom instruction and hands-on demonstrations. Standard measurement ranges, recognition of posture problems, illustrations of “putting the goods where they belong,” and guidelines on establishing clear understandings of allowances with your CMT house will all be included.
This course will help you recognize and correct problems with finished garments. You will also learn to properly communicate these adjustments to your CTM house to help eliminate problems with finished garments. Marking for alterations should be done succinctly and using standard markings that are universally understood. This course will address the most common fitting problems, the solutions, and proper marking techniques for each.
Upcoming Classes
STYLE
Next Class: January 2027 IN NYC
This course deals with recognizing silhouettes and details and understanding how to apply them appropriately to each body type. From jackets, pants, and overcoats to shirts, the clothier must be an expert at manipulating style for the customer. This is a CTDA Accredited Course.
FABRIC KNOWLEDGE
Next Class: July 2027 IN NYC
This course covers an understanding of the quality of fabrics, fabric care, uses, performance, weights, yarn dyes and production processes. This course is designed to provide a solid foundation in fabric principles, and a better understanding of how to help clients select the right fabric for the right reasons. This course includes extensive printed materials. This is a CTDA Accredited Course.
CUSTOM SHIRTS
This course covers understanding the elements of style as it relates to shirts – including color, fabric, anatomy of a shirt and collars, cuff styles, trims and appliqués, and balance.
Next Class: July 2027 IN NYC
BUSINESS & SELLING
Next Class: January 2027 IN NYC
Whether you are an established seller or a newcomer to the industry, there is always a pursuit of acquiring new customers. For your existing customers, you may wonder how to enhance their purchasing experience by offering superior products or services. This endeavor commences with the identification of your target customer and a comprehensive understanding of their needs. This course provides a structured approach to achieving these objectives.
The curriculum will commence by elucidating the process of identifying your target customers and subsequently devising effective strategies for reaching them. Industry experts will share their proven methods for acquiring new customers, converting them into loyal patrons, and nurturing their long-term engagement.
Furthermore, the course will delve into the realm of wardrobe planning and the development of a comprehensive long-term strategy for managing your customers’ clothing collections.
