Clothing, Home Textiles and General Goods Cutter
OFO Code: 683201
Last checked 3 October 2026
1. Occupation identity
- OFO code
- 683201
- Occupation
- Clothing, Home Textiles and General Goods Cutter
- Classification
- OFO 2021
- Major group
- SKILLED AGRICULTURAL, FORESTRY, FISHERY, CRAFT AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
- Unit group
- 6832 · Garment and Related Patternmakers and Cutters
Official description
Garment and related patternmakers and cutters create precision master patterns for production of garments, other textile, and leather or fur products. They mark, cut, shape and trim textile, light leather and other materials according to blueprints or specifications in the manufacture of garments, hats and caps, gloves and miscellaneous products.
More official OFO detail
Specialisations: Clothing / Garment Cutter, Fabric Cutter, Computer Aided Garment, Footwear and General Goods Cutter, Textile Products Marker and Cutter, Garment Pattern Cutter, Leather Cutter
- Positioning templates or measuring materials to locate specified points of cuts or to obtain maximum yields and mark fabric accordingly
- Calculating dimensions of patterns according to sizes, considering stretching of material
- Creating the “blueprint” or pattern pieces for a particular apparel design with the aid of a computer
- Performing pattern-making, marking and cutting tasks in the manufacture of other products such as soft furnishings and canvas goods
- Drawing details on outlined parts to indicate where parts are to be joined, as well as the positions of pleats, pockets, buttonholes on garments, decorative stitching on shoe parts or eyelets on canvas products , using computers or drafting instruments
- Trimming excess material or cutting threads off finished products, such as cutting loose ends of a finished product
- Positioning leather on cutting bed of machine, maximizing usage according to skin grain, skin flaws and skin stretch
- Testing patterns by making and fitting sample garments
- Laying out master pattern on fabric and cutting sample pattern
- Cutting fabric or fur pelts to make parts for garments and other fur articles
- Placing patterns on top of layers of fabric and cutting fabric following patterns, using electric or manual knives, cutters or computer numerically controlled cutting devices
- Creating a master pattern for each size within a range of garment sizes, using charts, drafting instruments, computers, and/or grading devices
2. Demand status
Demand evidence not yet linked
This is an official OFO 2021 occupation. Demand status is separate evidence and is not inferred from inclusion in the OFO.
A national demand signal is not a promise of a vacancy in your town.
3. Salary evidence
No sourced salary record has been ingested for this OFO code yet.
Open remuneration history & calculator →4. Quick EE check
How much might Employment Equity matter in this job context?
Answer three quick questions for a rough read. This is workforce context, not a hiring decision.
Select the employer size and your profile to get a quick read.
5. Qualification
Qualification evidence pending.
Understand NQF levels, institutions & recognition → Build my qualification pathway →6. Study funding
Check all funding options, eligibility & obligations →A funding match will only be shown once a recognised qualification or study route has been identified.
7. Industry, sector and provincial context
National occupation classification. Industry and provincial context are shown only where a separate official source supports the link.
No source-backed modern OFO↔SIC 7 industry link has been ingested for this occupation yet. PathLens does not infer one from the job title.
Browse the official South African industry classification →8. Next steps — official links
9. Decision tools
10. Sources for this page
- DHET Organising Framework for Occupations (OFO 2021) · Planned
- DHET Occupations in High Demand · Planned
- Critical Skills List · Planned
- QCTO qualifications and occupational certificates · Planned
- Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey · Planned
- SETA Sector Skills Plans / hard-to-fill vacancy tables · Planned