How to Work in Fashion Remotely (7 jobs that will surprise you)

Fashion is so collaborative, a lot of big fashion brands don’t let you work remotely. But what a lot of fashion professionals don’t know is that there are a kajillion small to medium size brands that do allow remote work.

If you want to know how to work in fashion remotely, this article outlines 7 different jobs that can all be done from home. We’ll go through these remote fashion job opportunities, and tips on how to get started.

What Jobs Can You Do Remotely in Fashion?
Steps on How to Start Working in Fashion Remotely
Advantages and Challenges of Working a Remote Fashion Job
How to Work in Fashion Remotely: Get Started Today

What Jobs Can You Do Remotely in Fashion?

I bet “fashion blogger” or “social media manager” are the first remote jobs in fashion that you think of. And yes, these are jobs you can do remotely!

But those are obvious options.

The surprising truth is, almost any job in fashion can be done remotely – whether you’re working as a full-time remote employee or freelancing. The opportunity for remote work depends less on the job and more on if the brand allows you to work from home.

Pro Tip: Small to medium brands are more likely to offer remote jobs in fashion. Brands that aren’t located in big fashion hubs are even more open to it as they don’t have access to huge talent pools.

Here are 7 of the best remote fashion jobs you can slay while lounging in your fave PJ’s.

(Some of these will surprise you!)

Remote Fashion Designer (or Technical Designer, Patternmaker, etc.)
Remote Graphic Designer
Remote Textile Designer
Remote Fashion Illustrator
Remote Production Assistant (or Sourcing Agent)
Remote Fashion Virtual Assistant
Remote Fashion Consultant

Remote Fashion Designer (or Technical Designer, Patternmaker, etc.)

Fashion Designers conceptualize clothing and accessory collections. The fashion designing process involves creating moodboards and developing products for fashion brands.

Technical Designers and Patternmakers focus on translating the fashion designer’s vision into technical drawings, tech packs, specifications, and patterns for production.

Skills Required: Creativity, knowledge of garment construction and digital design tools (Adobe Illustrator, CAD software, etc) to execute designs remotely.

Remote Graphic Designer

In fashion companies, a graphic designer shapes a brand’s visual identity. They work with marketing to create visuals for social media channels, websites, email campaigns, print materials, and more.

They may also design trims like labels, zipper pulls, and hangtags. Some graphic designers in fashion even create prints for things like tees and sweatshirts.

Graphic design is one of the most popular remote fashion jobs, as you can work remotely with just internet and design software.

Skills Required: Proficiency in design tools like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), CorelDraw, or Sketch; knowledge of color theory, typography, and layout principles.

Remote Textile Designer

Textile designers create print designs for fabrics. They design repeating patterns, allover prints (AOP), and sometimes placed prints. It’s a great blend of creativity and technical design.

Skills Required: Strong drawing skills, color sense; familiarity with production processes and knowledge on different types of fabrics and print techniques; proficiency in various design software such as the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).

Remote Fashion Illustrator

You may be surprised that many brands don’t use fashion illustrations! Instead, they use technical sketches and flats during the design and development process. But, there are still opportunities for fashion illustrators.

Fashion illustrators can work remotely with brands to sketch illustrations for presentations, social media, and other marketing materials. There is also opportunity to do fashion illustration for weddings, anniversaries, and other special occasions.

Skills Required: Ability to render the human body in natural or 9-head proportion; knowledge of how fabric drapes; proficiency in programs like Procreate, Sketchbook or Adobe is likely required to be a fashion illustrator and work from home.

Remote Production Assistant

A Production Assistant manages parts of the manufacturing process in the fashion industry. They collaborate with fashion designers, suppliers, and manufacturers. They may coordinate timelines, monitor inventory, facilitate communication, and oversee quality control.

Another related role is a Sourcing Agent, who finds materials (sourcing) for garment production such as fabrics, hardware, and trims.

Skills Required: Project management software, or industry specific tools like tech pack software to stay connected remotely.

Remote Fashion Virtual Assistant

If you want to break into the fashion industry but have limited experience, a Virtual Assistant (VA) is a great option. As a Fashion VA, you’ll support fashion brands, assisting with scheduling, email management, research, and data entry.

Fashion VA’s can also act as the fashion company’s social media manager.

This remote role allows you to gain exposure to the fashion world, learn the inner workings of the industry, and build a network.

Skills Required: Strong organizational and communication skills, ability to handle various administrative tasks, and familiarity with online communication tools like Slack, Zoom, and project management software.

Remote Fashion Consultant

Fashion Consultants offer advice on trend forecasting, brand development, strategic planning, and assisting fashion brands in the design through the development process.

The main difference between a fashion consultant and the other roles is that consultants tend to offer advice and guidance, and not execution. So while a fashion consultant may advise, “hot pink is on trend,” a fashion designer would execute and design a hot pink collection.

Skills Required: Trend forecasting, brand development, and strategic planning, along with excellent collaboration and communication skills. Familiarity with online communication tools like Slack and Zoom is also essential.

Steps on How to Start Working Remotely in Fashion

When I started as a remote freelance fashion designer back in 2009, there weren’t great resources online. Through some verrrrry painful trial and error, I learned the 4 key steps to kick-start your remote fashion career. These steps apply whether you want to work as a full-time remote employee or a freelancer.

Develop your skill set
Create a (niche) portfolio
Find remote fashion jobs & projects
Set your rates and charge fair prices

Develop your skill set

Learning how to work remotely in fashion requires specific skills for each role (as outlined above).

But beyond that, what do you need *at minimum* to jump-start your remote fashion career?

Digital Literacy: Fashion brands that allow you to work from home are dependent on digital tools. Having worked as a freelancer, I know the overwhelm with trying to keep up with every new app!

Good news. You don’t have to know allll of them. You just need to be quick to adapt! My go to’s are Slack (online communication), Asana (project management), Dropbox (file storage), and Gsuite (Sheets, Docs, and Slides).

The truth is, being skilled in fashion is one thing, but being tech-savvy is another. And in the remote fashion world, you need both to survive.

True Story: I once hired a fashion VA and assumed she was digitally literate. Turns out, she could barely navigate Dropbox. If you struggle to grasp new technology, working remotely in fashion may not be right for you!

Communication Skills: Since you’re working from home in fashion, there’s no boss or manager to check in on you. Err on the side of over-communication and relay your thoughts effectively and regularly.

When I was just starting out, I learned that sounding too stiff and formal didn’t always resonate well with my clients. Find your own authentic voice to establish a genuine connection.

Time Management Skills: Exceptional time management is essential as you’re in charge of getting things done. Unlike in traditional office settings, you don’t get direct supervision in remote fashion jobs.

It’s awesome not to have your manager breathing down your neck, but you need a whole lot of self-discipline to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks. I found that planning my schedule ahead and blocking time for specific tasks helped me make sure things got done on time.

It’s different for everyone, so figure out your workflow and stick to a routine!

Adaptability: Each brand will have unique systems and processes, so keep an open mind and be proactive to learn new skills.

Always be the one saying, “I don’t know how to use that tool, but I’ll dig into some tutorials and figure it out.”

Create a (niche) portfolio

You don’t need an elaborate website or a massive social media following to make an impact. A niche and professional PDF portfolio can do the trick!

Choose work that best showcases your abilities as a fashion designer, illustrator, patternmaker, or whichever role you’re aiming for. And avoid dumping alllll your work in your portfolio (what I call “portfolio vomit”).

You only have a few seconds to impress a brand before they close that tab, so make those seconds count! If you’re stuck, check out my free Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Fashion Portfolio (in a weekend).

Pro Tip: If you’re new to the fashion industry or don’t have any professional experience, it’s ok to include personal fashion designing projects in your portfolio.

Find remote fashion jobs & projects

One of the biggest hurdles to remote fashion jobs is finding clients (or brands that are offering remote opportunities). Not exaggerating, it took me A FULL YEAR to land my first client.

(That’s because I started back in 2009 and the internet didn’t have resources like it does today. I made a lot of mistakes! Just reading this article puts you 10x ahead of soooo many people trying to work remotely in fashion!)

The best way to get started is by figuring out who needs your services.

Sending proposals: Don’t be scared of sending proposals or pitches to prospective clients and fashion brands, even if you’re a newbie. Remember, every remote fashion worker started somewhere.

There’s an art to pitching, but the 80/20 of it is to make your proposal more about them than you. I cover this more (with templates) in my Ultimate Guide to Being a Freelance Fashion Designer.

Find remote fashion jobs online: Check out freelance websites like Upwork to expand your opportunities and find clients worldwide. While there are some junky clients there, you can find some great gigs. It’s how Lucia, a textile designer, is charging $60/hour and is fully booked.

Being present on LinkedIn can help you connect with various fashion companies and clients who are offering remote opportunities. Don’t overthink it, just create a niche profile and make thoughtful posts/comments on relevant topics. It’s exactly how Aashika, a freelance fashion designer, is getting clients to come to her.

Set your rates and charge fair prices

Undercharging is the #1 mistake most freelance fashion designers, illustrators, etc, make! Know your value and don’t be afraid to charge accordingly.

I know, I know, “don’t undercharge” is the most generic advice ever.

If you want specific pricing strategies, (especially if you’re pursuing a freelance fashion design opportunity), here’s my guide on pricing hacks to make sure you don’t undercharge and 3 strategies to figure out your freelance rates in fashion.

Advantages and Challenges of Working a Remote Fashion Job

Here are some things to look forward to and be wary of when transitioning to remote fashion work.

Advantages of remote work in fashion

Flexibility: Say goodbye to rigid 9-to-5 schedules and hello to a more flexible lifestyle. Work when you want, where you want (even while traveling). Grocery shop mid-day, hit your favorite yoga class each morning, and never ask permission for time off again.
Productivity: Work in the comfort of your own space to get creativity flowing on a schedule that works for you. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, get your work done during times you’re most productive and inspired.
Global Opportunities: Gas is expensive! And many corporate fashion roles are inaccessible. With remote fashion jobs, you can offer your services to clients and fashion brands all over the world. Like Darci, who went from factory worker to freelancing with brands globally.
Reduced Stress: No more mind-numbing face-to-face meetings, noisy coworkers, or smelling Lisa’s stinky leftover fish again (I mean, come on Lisa!). You control your workspace and environment.

Challenges of remote work in fashion

Time management: Working from home means boundaries between work and personal life get hazy. Establish a routine and stick to it, so you don’t end up binging on Netflix when you should be working or working all hours into the night. Set boundaries!
Decreased collaboration and social interaction: While remote jobs offer freedom, it can feel like missing out on office bonding. If you didn’t like online meetings, now you do! Embrace video calls and online meetings to connect with your fashion colleagues. Show off your virtual style (with PJs on the bottom!) and keep the creativity flowing together.
Self-motivation and discipline: Being your own boss means you need to be your own cheerleader too. It’s easy to switch around your schedule, thinking “I can do that later” and end up picking up the kids, doing laundry, and suddenly it’s time to cook dinner. Don’t procrastinate and do your work at the last minute.

How to Work in Fashion Remotely: Get Started Today

If you want a change of pace in your fashion career, take advantage of opportunities to work remotely in the fashion industry. Whether you’re an experienced fashion professional or new to the industry, remote fashion work allows you to build a fashion career on your own terms.

Remember, how to work in fashion remotely comes down to these 4 steps:

Develop your skill set: Refine your fashion expertise and get up to speed with digital tools.
Create a (niche) portfolio: Showcase your skills with a professionally curated portfolio.
Find clients & projects: Pitch brands directly, find gigs on UpWork, and engage on LinkedIn.
Set your rates and charge fair prices: Don’t undervalue your skills. Establish fair pricing and confidently negotiate your rates.

With the right skills and attitude, working in the fashion industry remotely is possible for anyone. It provides you the freedom to balance work and life while doing what you love – from anywhere in the world.