Category: Fashion Designers Get Paid Podcast
SFF171: Fashion Freelancer Q&A: WTF Do I Put In A Tech Pack Portfolio?
We’ve all been there – struggling to figure out what in the world to include in your tech pack portfolio, what NOT to include, what’s relevant and irrelevant… That’s why Christina and I work through exactly what her goals are and how to create the optimal portfolio to attract the right brands while doing the […]
SFF170: From Factory Worker to Successful Fashion Freelancer
On this episode of the Successful Fashion Freelancer Podcast, we bring on Darci, who took an interest to sewing at a young age and followed her interests to fashion school. But, after moving to Florida, USA she quickly found that the only market for her skillset was in factories as a seamstress. This didn’t stop […]
SFF169: Fashion Freelancer Q&A: When Brands Keep Saying “Not Now, Maybe Later”
Have you ever wondered how much is too much when reaching out to brands? You want to be a proactive freelancer and let it be known that you’re available for projects, but the clients keep giving you the old “not now, maybe later” and you don’t want to be overbearing…What do you do? This episode […]
SFF168: How This Freelancer Quadrupled Her Income (and took 2 months off)
Can you imagine having the flexibility and resources to just simply… take 2 months off from work? Well, in this episode of the Successful Fashion Freelancer podcast, I bring back a former FAST: Freelance Accelerator student and we discuss how she did just that. And get this: she funded it by quadrupling her income as […]
SFF 167: Fashion Freelancer Q&A: Project Pricing Hacks (So You Don’t Undercharge)
One of the most common topics students ask on freelancing in fashion is pricing. Do you charge hourly or by project? How do you know you’re getting paid enough? What do you tell clients when you end up working more than expected? If you can relate to any of these questions, this episode is for […]
SFF166: This Fashion Freelancer Changed ONE Thing On LinkedIn and Got More Clients
You’ve tried everything to get clients – Upwork, cold pitching, you name it. In this interview with Aashika, she shares the same sentiment and advice on how she handles this hardship. She also shares literally ONE thing that she changed on LinkedIn that not only got her more clients, but made them approach her! Plus, […]
SFF165: Fashion Freelancer Q&A: Balancing Motherhood, Work and Freelancing
We can all agree that no matter what you have going on – life can get really busy sometimes. Between your job(s), freelancing, social life, family life – the list goes on – it can get so difficult to keep track of everything while building a freelance fashion career. Productivity and time management skills are […]
SFF164: Breaking Back Into Fashion After Burnout
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 […]
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, […]
SFF159: What Does a Freelance Fashion Designer Do? (It may surprise you!)
If you’re interested in freelancing in the fashion industry, but you don’t know where to start, this one’s for you! Learn what services freelancers can offer (spoiler alert: It’s way more than just “design”!), how to decide what YOUR services should be, and the secret that makes getting started as a freelancer 10X easier! Plus, […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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. […]
