Category: Freelancing
SFF163: Why Undercharging Is Killing Your Freelance Career
Setting your rates is one of the hardest aspects of freelancing, and it might be holding you back. Such was the case of Chad Robertson, a freelancer who was severely undercharging for his services in the book editing and formatting industry. After Heidi hired him for a freelance job to edit her first book, Chad […]
SFF162: Fashion Freelancer Q&A: Tips On Getting Started Without Experience
Everyone has to start somewhere in the fashion world. In this episode of the Successful Fashion Freelancer podcast, you’ll get to know Kayla Marshall – a fashion freelancer who didn’t go to fashion school, is totally self taught, and doesn’t have any formal industry experience. This can be suuuper daunting, but together we will talk […]
SFF161: Starting a Brand vs Freelancing: Which Is Better?
Starting your own brand is the dream for many – but it’s not a walk in the park. In this episode of the SFF podcast, Sofia Luzon recalls the late nights of sewing, packing & shipping, talking with suppliers, and more sewing for her lingerie brand. Not only was it overwhelming, but it took 5 […]
SFF160: Fashion Freelancer Q&A: How to Pick a Niche for Surface Pattern Designers (plus more on pitching & pricing)
Surface pattern design is a broad category that includes textile design and print and pattern design for all sorts of applications, from dishware to packaging to office supplies. If you’ve been listening to the SFF podcast for long, you know how important niching down is for finding freelance clients. But in such a diverse specialty, […]
SFF158: How this Freelance Textile Designer Out-earned Her Salary (in Her First Year of Freelancing)
Struggling to find a job (even after attending a respected fashion school)? Stuck at a job that sucks the joy out of life (but feel like it’s your only option)? Laid off (and not sure if fashion is worth the struggle anymore)? If you’re fed up with the fashion industry, but don’t want to give […]
Fashion Design Career Advancement (The Secret Path To A Promotion That No One Knows About)
The fashion industry is competitive AF. And while there are a kajillion generic articles out there on “fashion design career advancement”… All they do is outline roles and salaries from the Bureau of Labor Statistics… And they’re written by “copywriters” who have never actually worked in fashion… And they’re filled with inaccurate industry claims… (Like […]
SFF157: Fashion Freelancer Q&A: What to Do When a Client Ghosts Me (and How to Charge for Meetings + Phone Calls)
Are you charging too much as a fashion freelancer? Money is one of the most awkward subjects for many newer fashion freelancers, and a fair rate can deter some clients. But your time is valuable! If you’re setting or raising your freelance rates and worried that charging what you’re worth will scare potential clients away, […]
Freelancing In Fashion Without Experience: Is It A Good Idea?
For a long time, I didn’t advise people to start freelancing in fashion until they had some work experience. But after the pandemic hit, I changed my opinion. It turned out that full-time jobs, especially for people who didn’t have any industry experience yet, were really hard to get. Shit, they were hard to get […]
Is Fashion A Good Career? The Surprising Truth…
From an outsider’s perspective, fashion can seem like a good career. Project Runway paints a pretty glamorous picture of frolicking in fabric and watching your designs go down the runway. But what’s it really like working in the industry, and is fashion actually a good career? First, we have to talk about what the word […]
SFF156: How to Source Fabrics for Your Freelance Clients
Whether you’re new to the fashion industry or you’ve only worked for bigger brands, sourcing fabrics and trims for smaller brands can be a daunting task for many freelancers. How do you find fabric suppliers with low minimums? How do you know if a fabric supplier is any good? And what are the basic steps […]
How To Get Money For Your Startup Clothing Line (Without Going Into Debt)
Starting a clothing line takes money. Probably more than you realize. So how can you get money for your startup fashion brand without borrowing (and going into debt)? Most articles share obvious advice like: Take out a bank loan (terrible idea) Put it on a credit card (even worse idea) Crowdfund on Kickstarter or GoFundMe […]
4 Reasons Starting a Clothing Brand Isn’t a Good Idea (and what’s actually profitable in fashion)
Most people think that starting a clothing brand is a really good idea. Curated Instagram feeds make it seem like having a clothing line is glamorous and profitable and all the awesome things. Big name celebrities poop clothing lines out on the regular. It looks cool AF. With all that hype, it’s no wonder you […]
The Beginner’s Guide to Becoming a Freelance Fashion Designer
Whether you didn’t go to fashion school, are a recent grad without any experience, or you’re still a student…you’re a beginner in the world of fashion. Which means if you want to become a freelance fashion designer, you need a step-by-step guide. Like, yesterday. I gotchu. We’re going to cover the actual steps you need […]
Best Countries for Fashion Design Jobs: Where Should You Live?
Becoming a fashion designer is a dream for many. But what if you don’t live in the best country for fashion design jobs? Should you migrate abroad? Move your family across the globe? Venture somewhere internationally to start your dream career? There are a ton of articles out there that tell you what countries are […]
SFF155: Fashion Freelancer Q&A: I Have 15 Clients and Am on the Struggle Bus
On the surface, it sounds like Krystal has it all—a thriving freelance biz, FIFTEEN solid clients, and a connection that regularly sends her more work. The problem? Her 15 clients are all in different niches, from hunting & fishing to swimwear to golf. Krystal’s killing it and her clients love her, but switching between so […]
SFF154: How She Became a Freelance Fashion Illustrator + Designer (and sent a $4500 invoice!)
“I can’t freelance—I need a stable job.” One of the biggest misconceptions about freelancing in fashion is that it’s feast or famine. So many people imagine freelancers stuck in an endless job hunt, never knowing where their next project is coming from (or if they’ll get one at all!). But the truth is that, when […]
SFF153: Fashion Freelancer Q&A: What to Do When You’re Stuck and Can’t Find Enough Time
One of the MOST common reasons aspiring fashion freelancers put off building their freelance career is not having enough time. There’s this myth that you need to find a two-hour block of time every day to “hustle” and “work your business.” And the only way most of us mortals can carve out time like that […]
SFF152: How this 20-Year-Old from India Became a Freelance Fashion Designer (With No Experience)
The high cost of fashion school shouldn’t be the thing that keeps you from working in the industry you love. Yes, it is possible to break into the fashion industry without a fashion degree, without industry experience, without connections, AND without living in NYC! Today’s guest, Arya Mishra, is a 20-year-old, self-taught designer in India. […]
SFF151: Fashion Freelancer Q&A: Why Are Brands Ghosting Me?
You’ve landed a new client, and the trial project they requested went great! You’re ready to start the full project with them. But then, they suddenly stop replying to your emails. You try following up, but it’s like they’ve vanished. You’ve been ghosted. And it sucks. Were your rates too high? Did you do something […]
SFF148 How She Built an International Freelance Fashion Design Agency from India
A common myth about freelancing is that it’s unstable, and you have to hustle 24/7 to get enough projects to survive. That was how this episode’s guest, PK, felt. When she had her son and started freelancing, she got burned by a client who refused to pay, and felt like she was constantly searching for […]
