A corset maker is a person who crafts corsets or a business that makes corsets. Many corset makers offer a ready-to-wear line that can be purchased in stores, as well as custom work upon request. Individual craftspeople and small businesses that pride themselves on their craftsmanship are more likely to offer custom work, and it can be quite expensive.
Corsets are primarily worn by women as supportive undergarments. They come in a variety of styles and designs, but they all have one thing in common: they’re made of durable materials and have boning. A corset, when worn and tightened, aids in maintaining a desired shape and smoothing the figure. Corsets were traditionally used to achieve the desired hourglass figure, with women engaging in a practice known as waist training or tightlacing, in which they molded their bodies with their corsets over time to achieve extremely small waist sizes.
Generic ready-to-wear corsets are occasionally worn as part of lingerie ensembles or under wedding gowns and other formal attire. Most modern women do not wear corsets or engage in waist training on a regular basis. Women who want to smooth, control, and shape their figures instead wear control garments made of highly elastic fabrics. Because the profile of a true corset does not fit well under modern clothing, these undergarments are most commonly seen in lingerie or in stylized forms worn as tops.
Women who want a corset that fits perfectly and works well with a specific garment or set of garments can order custom corsets and liners from a corset maker. Custom corsets can be ordered for gowns, wedding lingerie, and other occasions by some women. Tightlacing is still practiced in some subsets of the fetish community, so custom pieces are essential for women who tightlace. Tightlacers require custom corsets because a proper fit is essential for safe and comfortable waist training, and tightlacers’ unique sizes are rarely available in ready-to-wear form.
A corset maker may also specialize in creating corsets for historical dramas on stage, screen, or television. In this case, the corset maker may be an independent craftsperson hired by a costuming department on a regular basis, or the corset maker may work within a costuming department making corsets on demand. When designing corsets for historical dramas, proper fit and the availability of custom materials are critical, both for comfort and historical accuracy.