Episode Overview
There are millions of reasons we might leave the fashion industry – burn out, starting a family, a big move, or just life in general… And I often find people asking if it’s possible to break back into the industry, whether they’re too outdated and not up with the trends, or that they don’t know the latest software. In this episode of the Success Fashion Freelancer podcast, I’m here to tell you that it’s TOTALLY possible, and how one of my former students did it.
In this episode I interview Kate Knight, a cashmere sweater designer who took a whopping 10 year long break from fashion after pursuing a different career and having a daughter. Now, she’s killing the game – and we walk through the challenges she faced and the strategies she’s used to break back into fashion.
Episode Highlights
Kate’s Comeback to Fashion
- After a 10-year break to pursue another career and raise her daughter, Kate has successfully returned to the fashion industry as a freelancer.
Building a Niche Market
- Kate specializes in cashmere sweater design and has attracted attention through a niche website and Instagram—even with a small follower count.
The Challenge of Underpricing
- She shares early struggles with undercharging, including a project where she was paid too little for designing tech packs for dog sweaters.
Freelancer Community Support
- Kate stresses the value of connecting with other freelancers, exchanging resources, and building a supportive “online coworker” network.
Shifting Career and Routine
- Transitioning from structured teaching jobs to freelance work brought excitement but also challenges, like managing taxes and tracking down payments.
Education and Knowledge Sharing
- She’s exploring ways to share her expertise in knitwear design, including downloadable resources or online courses.
Long-Term Freelance Goals
- Kate hopes to land a cold-pitched client and aims to work with more established brands as she grows her freelance business.
Key Questions and Responses
1. Can you introduce yourself and tell us what you do in the fashion industry?
- Kate Knight introduces herself as a knitwear designer specializing in cashmere. She mentions her dual background in education and fashion. Her career began as a lecturer at the University of Leeds, followed by working as a sweater designer in New York and London. She took a 10-year break to teach and start a family before returning to the industry as a freelance designer specializing in cashmere sweaters.
2. What prompted you to think that you could actually do freelance as a full-time job?
- Kate mentions attending a webinar by Heidi on April 16, 2021, which changed her perspective on freelancing. She had done freelancing intermittently but never considered it as a full-time income source until Heidi’s content made her realize its potential. This inspired her to go out and pitch for freelance projects actively.
3. How did the early days of pitching go for you, and what happened after you started hearing back from clients?
- Initially, Kate didn’t hear back from clients and had scheduled a strategy session with Heidi for this reason. She noticed an improvement in communication and had several conversations due to her niche focus. Most clients who contacted her were looking specifically for cashmere work. Her pitches began generating responses, forming potential future projects.
4. What strategies have you used to market your niche as a cashmere designer?
- Kate primarily uses Instagram, posting 2-3 times a week with strategic hashtags related to cashmere. Despite having only 360 followers, her niche focus attracts the right clients. Her website, thecashmeredesigner.com, has also been a significant source of inquiries.
5. Can you tell us about your pricing structure and any lessons you’ve learned along the way?
- Kate initially undercharged for her work. For example, she quoted $225 for a tech pack, which she later realized was too low given the effort required. She has since adjusted her rates to around $500-600 per tech pack and is learning to navigate project-based pricing vs. hourly rates, especially for ongoing tasks like factory sourcing.
6. How do you handle different parts of the production process that you might not be familiar with as a freelancer?
- Kate is learning as she goes, particularly with areas like sourcing factories, which were responsibilities she didn’t handle in her previous roles. She finds this part challenging but navigates it through research and outreach within her community. She charges hourly for these tasks and continues to build her network of resources.
7. What has been your overall experience with the freelance lifestyle versus a traditional job?
- Kate enjoys the freedom and possibilities that freelancing offers, despite the occasional challenges like dealing with bureaucracy and inconsistent client communication. She appreciates not dreading work and feels empowered by the control and potential of her freelance career. She is involved in various projects and is passionate about textile technology innovations.
About Kate
Kate Knight is a knitwear designer who specialises in recycled and sustainable cashmere and cashmere blends. Currently she lives just outside of Bordeaux, France after living and working in New York City, London and the Swiss Alps. Kate has designed knitwear for brands such as Nordstrom, The White Company, Lands’ End, Barney’s and Whistles. She has taught every age group from 7 year olds to PhD students and industry professionals and loves to build connections with factories, yarn agents, brands, fellow freelancers and designers. Today, Kate is passionate about design and building communities and helping to educate people on knitwear design.
Loved this episode? Don’t miss these other episodes:
- SFF137 Fashion Freelancer Q&A: I feel like I’m losing my skills and confidence…
- SFF130 Jaylene Fashion Freelancer Q&A: What if brands think I’m an idiot?
Resources & People Mentioned
- Free resources for SFF Podcast listeners!
- Check out Kate’s website
- Connect with Kate on LinkedIn
- Follow Kate on Instagram
- Want to work with Kate? Email kate [at] thecashmeredesigner [dot] com