Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Glove Maker

🎯 Role Definition

The Glove Maker is a skilled production specialist responsible for manufacturing gloves to specification across materials (leather, knit, woven, synthetic). This role combines fine handwork, machine operation, pattern interpretation and quality assurance to deliver consistent, finished gloves that meet design, safety and durability standards. The ideal candidate demonstrates expert hand dexterity, strong knowledge of glove construction processes (cutting, skiving, stitching, lining, finishing), the ability to read technical patterns and work within production schedules, and a commitment to safety and quality.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Sewing Machinist / Industrial Sewing Operator
Leather Cutter / Pattern Cutter
Apprenticeship in Leathercraft or Textile Manufacturing

Advancement To:

Senior Glove Maker / Lead Glove Technician
Production Supervisor / Line Manager
Pattern Maker / Sample Maker
Quality Control Manager or Product Development Specialist

Lateral Moves:

Leatherworker or Leather Garment Maker
Footwear or Accessory Production Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Accurately cut glove components from leather, fabric, or composite materials using hand tools and powered cutting equipment, following technical patterns and nesting layouts to minimize waste.
Skive, trim and bevel leather edges to precise thickness and tolerances to ensure clean seams and comfortable fit according to product specifications.
Operate industrial and specialty sewing machines (flat-bed, cylinder-bed, post-bed, overlock, and hand-sewing equipment) to assemble glove parts with consistent stitch quality and tension control.
Perform precise hand-stitching for couture or repair work, including welt stitching, pick stitching, and finishing stitches on delicate seams and decorative elements.
Fit and insert linings, interlinings and padding, ensuring smooth placement, even distribution, and secure attachment without puckering or misalignment.
Attach closures, zippers, snaps, elastic, Velcro and other hardware accurately and securely, following the product bill of materials and assembly instructions.
Conduct in-line and final quality inspections to verify dimensional tolerances, stitch integrity, seam strength, aesthetic finish, sizing, and material defects; document nonconformances and corrective actions.
Maintain production pace to meet daily and weekly quotas while upholding strict quality standards and minimizing rework.
Read and interpret technical drawings, graded patterns, size charts and spec sheets; adapt to pattern updates and communicate fit or construction issues to design and production teams.
Produce prototype samples and participate in sample fitting and wear-testing sessions, providing detailed feedback on construction, materials and fit.
Perform finishing operations including trimming threads, edge painting, buffing, pressing, glazing, waxing and polishing to achieve the required look and tactile finish.
Repair or rework defective gloves using hand tools and sewing machines, determining the most efficient and quality-preserving repair method.
Operate and set up specialized equipment such as clicking presses, skiving machines, edge rollers and heat presses, including adjustment of dies, blades and pressure settings.
Maintain and sharpen hand tools (knives, scissors, awls) and perform routine preventive maintenance on sewing machines and production equipment; coordinate repairs with maintenance staff.
Track material usage and assist with inventory control by counting parts, labeling finished goods, and reporting shortages or quality issues with incoming materials.
Follow and enforce safety protocols related to cutting, sewing and chemical finishing processes; use required personal protective equipment (PPE) and maintain a clean, organized workspace.
Document production output, scrap rates and time per operation in logs or manufacturing execution systems to support continuous improvement and accurate costing.
Train and mentor junior operators or apprentices on glove construction techniques, machine setup, best practices and quality expectations.
Collaborate with product development, pattern makers and buyers to recommend construction changes for manufacturability, cost reduction or design improvement.
Apply knowledge of different materials (goatskin, cowhide, kidskin, sheepskin, knits, synthetics) to adjust machine settings, stitches per inch and handling techniques for optimal results.
Ensure compliance with regulatory and customer-specific requirements (safety standards, flammability treatments, chemical restrictions, labeling) throughout production.
Manage multiple work orders simultaneously and prioritize tasks to meet rush orders and scheduled shipments without compromising quality.
Use precision measuring tools (calipers, rulers, gauges) to check component dimensions and ensure consistent fit across sizes and assemblies.
Participate in continuous improvement activities, suggest process improvements, and help implement lean manufacturing practices to increase throughput and reduce waste.

Secondary Functions

Support product testing by preparing samples for tensile, seam strength, and wear testing and recording test outcomes.
Assist purchasing and warehouse teams with material identification and quality checks for incoming hides, fabrics, adhesives and trims.
Contribute to workplace 5S, visual management boards and standard work documentation updates.
Help prepare packaging and labeling for finished gloves and coordinate with shipping to ensure on-time dispatch.
Participate in cross-functional meetings to align production capacity with seasonal demand and new product launches.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Expert hand-stitching techniques for gloves (wedge, whip, backstitch) and fine needle control.
Proficient with industrial sewing machines used in glove making (flat-bed, cylinder-bed, post-bed, overlock).
Pattern cutting and interpretation skills for glove components, including nesting and material optimization.
Leatherworking skills including skiving, splitting, edge finishing, and knowledge of hide characteristics.
Experience operating clicking presses, skiving machines, heat presses and edge-finishing equipment.
Ability to perform precision finishing: trimming, buffing, edge painting, and surface treatments.
Quality inspection proficiency: dimensional checks, stitch tests, seam strength evaluation and defect identification.
Competence with measuring tools: calipers, rulers, gauges and templates.
Familiarity with lining insertion, padding placement and glove shaping/pressing techniques.
Basic maintenance and troubleshooting of sewing machines and production equipment.
Knowledge of material-specific handling for goatskin, cowhide, kidskin, knits, and technical textiles.
Understanding of production documentation: bills of materials, work orders, standard operating procedures and batch records.
Experience with small-batch sample making and prototype iteration processes.

Soft Skills

Exceptional manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality finishes.
Time management and ability to meet production targets under pressure.
Good communication skills to collaborate with pattern makers, designers and quality teams.
Problem-solving mindset with capacity to diagnose construction issues and suggest fixes.
Patience and focus for repetitive tasks with consistent accuracy.
Willingness to teach and mentor junior team members.
Adaptability to changing designs, materials and production priorities.
Dependability and strong work ethic; punctual and reliable.
Safety-conscious attitude and adherence to workplace protocols.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent; vocational training in sewing, textiles, or leathercraft preferred.

Preferred Education:

Certificate or diploma in leathercraft, textile manufacturing, fashion technology or a related trade school program.
Apprenticeship or structured on-the-job training in glove making, couture sewing or leather goods production.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Leather Technology or Leathercraft
Textile Technology / Garment Construction
Fashion Design with focus on accessories
Industrial Sewing / Machinist Training

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–7 years in glove manufacturing, leather goods or related sewn accessory production.

Preferred: 3+ years of direct glove making experience or equivalent craft experience in leather garments or high-precision sewn goods; prior experience with sample making, pattern interpretation and small-batch production preferred.