---
name: wearing-apparel-presser
description: "Occupational skill for the role 'wearing apparel presser' (also: ironing lady, pressing machine operator for garment and related materials, garment presser, topper-press operator, ironing person, apparel presser). Use when the user asks for typical wearing apparel presser work such as: Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles.; Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed.; Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing."
---

# Wearing Apparel Presser

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

## Core workflow

1. Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles.
2. Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed.
3. Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing.
4. Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers.
5. Slide material back and forth over heated, metal, ball-shaped forms to smooth and press portions of garments that cannot be satisfactorily pressed with flat pressers or hand irons.
6. Select appropriate pressing machines, based on garment properties such as heat tolerance.
7. Push and pull irons over surfaces of articles to smooth or shape them.
8. Finish pleated garments, determining sizes of pleats from evidence of old pleats or from work orders, using machine presses or hand irons.

## How to use this skill

- Read [references/profile.md](references/profile.md) for the occupation profile and scope.
- Consult [references/tasks.md](references/tasks.md) for the full task and activity inventory.
- Check [references/skills.md](references/skills.md) for essential vs. optional competences.
- Check [references/tools.md](references/tools.md) for the software commonly used in this role.

## Key competences (essential)

- alter wearing apparel
- coordinate manufacturing production activities
- distinguish accessories
- distinguish fabrics
- iron textiles
- manufacture wearing apparel products
- manufacturing of made-up textile articles
- manufacturing of wearing apparel
- perform process control in the wearing apparel industry
- prepare production prototypes

## Hot technologies

- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word

---
*Sources: ESCO v1.2.1 (http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/2edd910a-e53e-44ee-b8c2-09e9f9d0395b), O*NET 30.3 (51-6021.00). See manifest.json for licensing/attribution.*