This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to alter, repair and maintain costumes under the supervision of senior costume personnel for any production within the cultural industries. It includes fundamental sewing and costume maintenance techniques.

Nil

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Complete simple costume alterations

1.1. Set up and adjust equipment and work station in accordance with workplace procedures or construction requirements, ensuring appropriate and compatible equipment and accessories are used

1.2. Complete simple costume modifications in accordance with requirements for quality, personal safety and speed of work

1.3. Inspect sewn pieces, identify any faults and take action to rectify any faults according to workplace procedures or construction requirements

2. Undertake repairs

2.1. Assess costumes and liaise with relevant personnel to determine requirements for repairs

2.2. Prepare costumes, materials and equipment in an appropriate manner for repairs

2.3. Complete repairs to restore costumes to optimum condition

3. Launder, press or otherwise service costumes

3.1. Inspect costume components and determine appropriate laundering, press or servicing process

3.2. Identify and rectify any faults, spots or marks using appropriate equipment and/or chemicals

3.3. Wash and press any costumes in accordance with the care instructions for the fabric, ensuring that delicate or problem fabrics are serviced with care

3.4. Make necessary arrangements for the special laundering or dry cleaning of costumes and document the dispatch and collection of costumes

3.5. Ensure that costumes are accurately labelled, coded and stored in accordance with workplace or production requirements

3.6. Complete documentation in accordance with workplace or production requirements

Required skills

literacy skills sufficient to interpret production documentation, costume labels and costume care instructions

planning and organising skills sufficient to maintain production documentation and transfer information

problem solving skills sufficient to identify/apply appropriate testing techniques

teamwork skills sufficient to work as part of a production team and seek guidance from appropriate work colleagues

technical skills sufficient to carry out costume maintenance and repairs to required workplace standards

Required knowledge

basic sewing techniques, including hand sewing and the manipulation of fabric through a sewing machine

broad knowledge of cleaning agents and the effect they have on a range of fabrics/materials, including those that are fragile and easily damaged

broad knowledge of costume repair techniques and their applications

different roles/responsibilities of people working within a wardrobe department

OHS requirements for the safe use of sewing machines and other equipment

the use, properties and care of different fabrics and materials regularly used in making costumes and how they react to laundering, dry cleaning or spot cleaning

typical labelling and storage systems for costumes

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

ability to assess costumes for maintenance or repair and to ensure quality of finished costume

ability to use techniques to repair and restore costumes to optimum condition

knowledge of different repair and maintenance techniques for different types of fabrics and costumes.

This unit of competence applies to a range of industry sectors. The focus of assessment will depend on the industry sector. Assessment must be customised to meet the needs of the particular sector in which performance is being assessed. Assessment should only address those variable circumstances, listed in the range of variables statements, which apply to the chosen context.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

access to a range of equipment typically found within a wardrobe department and as listed in the Range Statement of this unit (including industrial sewing machines)

access to an environment where different types of costumes can be modified, repaired and maintained within commercially realistic timeframes

access to costumes requiring modification, repair or maintenance

access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required

the use of culturally appropriate processes, and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are appropriate for this unit:

case studies and problem solving exercises to determine ability to respond appropriately to different repair and modification needs

evaluation of costumes repaired, maintained or modified by the candidate

oral questioning/interviewing to assess knowledge of fabric types and different sewing techniques

review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

CUECOR02C Work with others

CUECOS302A Dress performers.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Appropriate and compatible equipment may include:

dressmaker's dummies

glue guns

industrial/domestic irons and steamers

scissors

tools (e.g. wire cutters, bolt cutters, hammers, pliers)

washing machines and dryers

Costume modifications may include:

hemming

maintaining the standard of the overall costume

repairing closures

repairing fabric tears/seams

replacing buttons and trimmings

replacing parts of costumes (e.g. cuffs, collars, linings)

taking in/letting out

Costumes may include:

accessories

character costumes

contemporary wear

corsetry

costume jewellery

dance wear

female, male, child and animal costumes

hard and soft sculpture costumes

millinery

padding

period costumes

pre-production toiles

tailored costumes

undergarments

Relevant personnel may include:

costume designer

costume production staff

other specialist staff

wardrobe department personnel

wardrobe supervisor/manager

Workplace or production requirements may include:

costume making, e.g.:

basic styles (pants, shorts, skirts, blouses)

hand made or machine sewn

tailoring

production environments such as:

dressing room

on location (interior, exterior)

outside broadcast

stage/theatre/venue

studio

special handling

stocks (e.g. brush, dry-cleaning fluid, dulling spray, glues, safety pins, starch, water sprays)

timing and speed

types of laundering such as:

airing and sanitising

dry cleaning

shoe cleaning

spot cleaning

washing and drying

types of production, e.g.:

commercials

documentaries

feature films

filmed events or performances

live events/entertainment/performance

live or pre-recorded television productions

music video

short films

stage performances

television productions of any type (e.g. music, drama, comedy, variety, sport)

Unit sector

Visual communication - costume

This unit contains employability skills.