Episode Overview
No degree, no industry connections, no Illustrator skills—and still crushing it as a fashion freelancer! Tabitha Calvin proves you don’t need the “perfect” background to make it happen. Just a year ago, she was a Spanish teacher with a dream—and now she’s designing streetwear collections for clients, including a former NBA player!
In this episode, we get real about what it’s like to build a freelance fashion career from scratch. From teaching herself Illustrator to landing $2,500 streetwear clients through LinkedIn and Upwork, Tabitha’s story is packed with hustle, discipline, and major mindset shifts. We talk about hitting that first $1,000 month, dealing with tough client feedback, and the confidence it takes to own your worth as a freelance fashion designer. If you’ve ever doubted whether you can break into fashion without a degree, connections, or years of experience, this episode will leave you fired up to chase your freelance dreams.
If you’re just getting started or ready to go all in on your freelance fashion career, click play now and see what’s possible when you bet on yourself.
Episode Highlights
Starting from Scratch
- Tabitha shares her journey from having no Adobe Illustrator experience, no fashion degree, and no industry connections to embarking on a freelance fashion design career.
First $1,000 Month
- Tabitha and Heidi discuss how Tabitha achieved her first $1,000 month as a new freelancer without formal fashion training or connections.
Landing Initial Clients
- Tabitha explains how she began finding clients on Upwork, sent out 10-15 pitches, and the importance of reviews for building credibility.
Importance of Reviews and Learning from Setbacks
- Tabitha recounts her experience of receiving a negative review on Upwork, the lesson learned about client selection, and dealing with platform limitations for removing reviews.
Securing a $2,500 Project Despite Challenges
- Despite a low Upwork completion rate due to the bad review, Tabitha lands a significant $2,500 project by being highly specialized in streetwear and standing out to a client searching for that niche.
Niche Selection and the Power of Specialization
- Tabitha discusses her focus on streetwear design, both men’s and women’s, and how having a clear niche helped her attract clients on crowded platforms.
Raising Her Rates and Gaining Confidence
- Tabitha shares her progression from a $17/hour rate to $50/hour, with plans to increase to $60/hour, illustrating growth in skill, confidence, and client rapport.
Learning Fashion Skills Independently
- Tabitha describes how she learned technical design, Adobe Illustrator, and portfolio building through online courses, books, community support, and personal projects.
Building Confidence and Community Support
- The importance of community, feedback, and continual learning in boosting Tabitha’s self-assurance and professional relationships is explored.
Getting Discovered on LinkedIn
- Tabitha details how strategically posting daily on LinkedIn led to being contacted by a former NBA player for a collaboration, highlighting the value of visibility and consistency.
Effective LinkedIn Strategy
- Discussion of Tabitha’s posting strategy on LinkedIn, including educational content and showcasing her work, which helped improve credibility and attract opportunities.
Portfolio Development and Utilizing Resources
- Tabitha talks about developing her portfolio through self-directed projects and improving it with community feedback and examples from professional resources.
Transitioning to Full-Time Freelancing
- Tabitha reveals she is putting in her notice at her teaching job to pursue freelancing full-time, prompted by a large project with the NBA client and the financial stability it brings.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Taking the Leap
- She reflects on the anxiety and self-doubt that come with a career transition but emphasizes the need to take action despite not feeling fully ready.
The Reality of Freelance Fashion Design
- Tabitha wishes more people would ask about the discipline, routine, and challenges involved in freelancing, emphasizing that success requires hard work and persistence beyond the “highlight reel” of social media.
Key Questions and Responses
1. How Did You Get Started in Fashion Freelancing Without Formal Training?
- Tabitha explains she was passionate about fashion from a young age but couldn’t afford to attend her dream fashion school. She became a Spanish teacher but decided to make a shift into fashion by taking online courses, learning through YouTube, and enrolling in the FAST program, building her skills from scratch.
2. How Did You Land Your First Clients and Reach a $1,000 Month?
- She describes starting on Upwork, sending out 10-15 pitches, landing her first client by personalizing her proposals, and following recommended discovery call frameworks. Tabitha credits quality pitches and early reviews for helping her rapidly get work, which enabled her to reach her first $1,000 as a freelancer.
3. What Was Your Experience with Negative Client Feedback and How Did You Overcome It?
- Tabitha recounts taking on a low-paying client who then left a bad review when she declined extra work not in their contract. She learned the importance of clear boundaries, not undervaluing herself, and seeking clients who respect her rates and terms. Despite the negative review impacting her profile, she persevered and continued seeking new clients.
4. How Did Specializing in Streetwear Help Your Freelance Career?
- Tabitha’s decision to niche down in streetwear design made her more discoverable and desirable to clients. A new client found her despite a low Upwork rating because her portfolio was clearly focused, showing the value of presenting a defined specialty rather than generalizing.
5. How Did You Build Your Skills in Fashion Design and Technical Tools?
- Tabitha shares that she relied on online courses, repeated practice, community feedback, books, and self-initiated projects to learn Adobe Illustrator, garment construction, and portfolio creation. She engaged with the FAST community for support, technical knowledge, and professional guidance.
6. How Did LinkedIn Influence Your Client Opportunities?
- Tabitha describes how she started posting on LinkedIn daily about streetwear and her work, which eventually led to being discovered by a former NBA player needing design work. She shares that focusing her profile and content on her niche attracted high-quality leads and real projects.
7. What Challenges Do You Still Face as a Freelance Fashion Designer?
- Tabitha admits that managing self-doubt and comparison is her biggest ongoing hurdle. She talks about the discipline required for freelancing and the need to continually push herself despite anxieties and the non-glamorous aspects of freelance work.
About Tabitha:
Tabitha is a certified Spanish teacher and freelance fashion designer, finally living the dream she’s had since she was 8. After getting into her dream fashion school but unable to afford it, she studied Spanish instead—but fashion never left her heart. She tried the boutique life in college but realized she just wanted to design. Everything changed when she discovered FAST through Heidi’s YouTube channel and went all in. Now, she’s building a steady client base, growing her network of fellow designers, and working toward her ultimate goal: transitioning into full-time freelance fashion design.
Connect with Tabitha:
Email her at tatacalvin@gmail.com
Follow on Instagram
Connect on LinkedIn