Episode Overview
When Jade Wei became pregnant with her son Obi, she didn’t hit pause on her freelance business—she used the time to plan ahead. In this episode, Jade shares how she strategically prepared her fashion freelance business during pregnancy—laying the foundation for a values-aligned, tech-forward business before her son was even born.
Resources
CLO3D
Style3D
Chris Do
The Fabricant AI
Look AI
Nano Banana AI
4 Fashion Designers Battle for $500 – Freelancer Pitching Challenge
265: The Proposal Strategy That Helped This Mom Close High-Ticket Clients (Part 2)
Episode Highlights
- Using Pregnancy as a Pivot: Why Jade chose to rebuild her freelance business while pregnant
- Strategic Foundations: How she joined FastTrack and redefined her niche from day one
- Building a Business with No Portfolio: How she attracted interest before even marketing
- The Role of 3D Design: Integrating new tech into her traditional skillset
- Grieving and Growing: How losing her father mid-pregnancy shaped her business perspective
- Motherhood Meets Business: How she balanced newborn care with client work at 6 weeks postpartum
- LinkedIn Strategy: Why thoughtful comments (not posts) got her booked out
Key Questions & Guest Answers
Q: Why did you start rebuilding your business before Obi was born?
A: I knew I’d lose benefits like maternity leave as a freelancer, so I planned ahead. Pregnancy gave me the urgency and clarity to finally reset everything.
Q: What were the first steps you took to prepare?
A: I joined FastTrack, clarified my niche, and committed to learning everything I never focused on—like sales calls, proposals, and energy alignment.
Q: How did you get clients without a portfolio?
A: I leaned into conversation. People reached out through LinkedIn based on how I showed up, not what I posted. My presence did the heavy lifting.
Q: What mindset shift helped you the most?
A: Learning that showing up imperfectly is better than not showing up at all. I apply that to both parenting and freelancing.
About Jade
Jade is a seasoned 3D sartorial streetwear designer, pattern maker, and product developer who previously contributed her technical expertise at Alexander McQueen. Since 2013, has led design innovation through her creative studio, Atelier WCMF.
With over 20 years of experience in pattern engineering and garment construction, Jade blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital tools (such as Clo3D, AI-enabled workflows, and virtual sampling) to streamline development, reduce waste, and deliver consistent high-quality results across collections.
Connect with Jade
Email her at j.w@atelier-wcmf.com
Check out her website
Follow on Instagram
Connect on LinkedIn