Wearing apparel presser

Wearing apparel pressers use steam irons, vacuum pressers, or hand pressers to shape wearing apparel.

A wearing apparel presser typically does the following:

• Operate pressing machines, which can include both hydraulic and steam devices, to remove wrinkles from pants, shirts, coats, gowns and a variety of other articles to shape them appropriately
• Remove a finished article of clothing from the pressing machine and hang properly to allow article to cool and retain its shape
• Package finished coats and dresses, and tag according to company guidelines so that they are ready for customer pick up
• Use hand iron to finish off certain pieces that need a final touch to remove any discrepancies in the fabric
• Position finished materials on the overhead system and retrieve items when a customer comes to pick up something
• Clean pressing machines at the end of every shift, using company-provided lubricants and cleaning solutions to ensure they are ready for the next day
• Apply finishing touches to certain pieces of clothing depending on the material, such as placing velvet items under the hot head press
• Smooth out clothes by moistening them with a light application of water before pressing

Wearing apparel pressers always work indoors. They are regularly exposed to very hot temperatures from machines, loud sounds, and hazardous situations that may cause minor burns. They are also sometimes exposed to contaminants such as cleaning fluids.

Wearing apparel pressers have a low level of social contact. They work alone most of the time, or with other pressers.

Pressers usually work full time. They may work evenings and weekends, if employed by laundry and dry cleaning services.

The following job titles also refer to wearing apparel presser:

• garment presser
• ironing person
• presser for garment and related materials
• hand presser for garment and related materials
• apparel presser
• ironer
• topper-press operator
• steam flattener
• pressing machine operator for garment and related materials
• hand pressing operator
• ironing lady
• clothes ironer
• clothes presser

A high school diploma is the minimum required to work as a wearing apparel presser.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Wearing apparel presser is a Skill level 1 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to wearing apparel presser.

clothing finisher
domestic cleaner
drapery and carpet cleaner
laundromat attendant
advertising installer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of wearing apparel presser. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of wearing apparel presser with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

embroidery machine operator
sewing machinist
sewing machine operator
clothing quality inspector
milliner

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of wearing apparel presser.

• Manufacturing of wearing apparel: The  processes used to fabricate wearing apparel and the different technologies and machinery involved in the manufacturing processes.
• Manufacturing of made-up textile articles: Manufacturing processes in wearing apparel and made-up textiles. Different technologies and machinery involved in the manufacturing processes.

These skills are necessary for the role of wearing apparel presser.

• Manufacture wearing apparel products: Manufacture either mass-product or bespoke wearing apparels of various types, assembling and joining together wearing apparel components using processes such as sewing, gluing, bonding. Assemble wearing apparel components using stitches, seams such as collars, sleeves, top fronts, top backs, pockets.
• Coordinate manufacturing production activities: Coordinate manufacturing activities based on production strategies, policies and plans. Study details of the planning such as expected quality of the products, quantities, cost, and labour required to foresee any action needed. Adjust processes and resources to minimise costs.
• Distinguish accessories: Distinguish accessories in order to determine differences among them. Evaluate accessories based on their characteristics and their application in wearing apparel manufacturing.
• Iron textiles: Pressing and ironing in order to shape or flatten textiles giving them their final finishing appearance. Iron by hand or with steam pressers.
• Perform process control in the wearing apparel industry: Performs process control to wearing apparel products in order to assure mass production in an uninterrupted production manner. Control processes to ensure that processes are predictable, stable and consistent.
• Distinguish fabrics: Distinguish fabrics in order to determine differences among them. Evaluate fabrics based on their characteristics and their application in wearing apparel manufacturing.
• Alter wearing apparel: Alter wearing apparel repairing or adjusting it to the clients/manufacturing specifications. Perform altering by hand or using equipment.
• Prepare production prototypes: Prepare early models or prototypes in order to test concepts and replicability possibilities. Create prototypes to assess for pre-production tests.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wearing apparel presser. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Apparel manufacturing technology: Traditional and advanced apparel manufacturing technologies. Technologies including processes, machinery, etc. in order to compile and design pattern requirements, contribute to product costing and finalise assembly sequence and quality assurance criteria.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wearing apparel presser. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Sew pieces of fabric: Operate basic or specialised sewing machines whether domestic or industrial ones, sewing pieces of fabric, vinyl or leather in order to manufacture or repair wearing apparels, making sure the threads are selected according to specifications.

9121 – Hand launderers and pressers

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References

1. ESCO
2. 51-6011.00 – Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers – O*NET OnLine
3. Clothes Ironers – Working Conditions – IllinoisWorkNet
4. Professional Presser Job Description Template | MightyRecruiter
5. Featured image: Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash