There’s a lot of dreamy advice out there about launching a fashion line. There are a lot of courses and experts and coaches telling you how you can make your fashion dreams come true and: Magically launch and fund your fashion collection with Kickstarter Gain a loyal following on Insta by posting daily and using the […]
You wanted to work in fashion for as long as you can remember. And maybe you even landed your dream job as a fashion designer. But after a while, you realize this fantasy life isn’t so dreamy after all. I understand. I went through the same thing you are for years. My story is long. Yesterday, we started […]
You’ve been thinking forever, “I want to have my own fashion brand.” It’s your childhood dream and you feel like, “I could really do this!” But there’s a lot of stuff no one ever talks about – like logistics and money and profits (or lack thereof). I’ve shared snippets of my fashion journey before. But I’ve […]
A job description for “freelance fashion designer” doesn’t really exists. Which is why it can be really hard to figure out what work you can do or what services you can offer clients. But here’s the best part… This is actually a really good thing! Why? Because you get to create your own job description. Which […]
What does a freelance fashion designer do? In reality, you can do any kind of work you want. But it’s not so much about what you do, it’s about how you do it. More specifically, where and under what terms. Turns out, there’s a common misconception about what it means to be a “freelancer” in […]
Do NOT overthink your portfolio! Brands are going to glance at it quickly and make a decision. If they see a few designs that match what they’re looking for, they’ll reply. They’re not going to spend 10 or even 5 minutes browsing. So keep it simple and include just a few examples of your best work for the market you’ve chosen. Here are some examples and why they work well.
You don’t want to bid a project too low, but you also don’t want your clients to think you’re ridiculously expensive… “I’m not sure how much to charge…what should my freelance rate be?” This is by far the #1 question designers ask, and this article will show you 3 step by step ways to calculate your rate.
You know what people ask me all the time? “How do I find freelance fashion design work?” And I have to admit, it can feel intimidating. Because to be honest? Most brands don’t put up a “freelance fashion designer wanted” sign or directly advertise “need to hire a freelance fashion designer”. And if they do? Chances are […]
This is an excerpt from my Ultimate Guide to Illustrator for Fashion.If you like what you see, get the entire guide delivered to your inbox. Anyone can learn Illustrator – including you. And it’s more achievable than it seems. Most of your frustration comes from 2 things: misconceptions you believe about AI unqualified teachers who […]
What is the best way to create tech packs? What is the industry standard? How do I know if my tech pack is complete? There are no exact answers to these questions. But questions like what is a tech pack is? What does a tech pack include? Those questions have specific answers – and I’ve addressed them […]
We all just wanted to get a fair rate for our work without selling ourselves short. Years ago, I figured out a pricing strategy that allowed me to triple my hourly rate – without having to charge my clients more. This video will show you exactly how.
Last year I interviewed successful fashion entrepreneur Rochelle Behrens. When the two of us sat down to talk…things got real. Rochelle is one of the most genuine and candid people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and knowing. Before the interview started, I humbly asked her to share it all, to teach and tell […]
The fashion industry is intimidating. And if you don’t know the right technical terms, you can embarrass yourself. Maybe you’ve found yourself in acronym and terminology overload…tech pack, BOM, graded spec, block, CF, HPS, DNTS. What do all these words mean…and do you need to know all of them? It can feel overwhelming. Which is […]
Fashion school’s not for everyone. I didn’t go, and you don’t have to either. Tuition is expensive. Four years is a long time. Or maybe you feel like it’s just too late to go back to school. I’ll show you the exact steps you can follow (and what skills you don’t need to learn) to make it as a fashion designer without going to school.
Learn strategic industry insights about the secrets of making it big as a startup fashion designer. (Hint: all of this stuff can easily be implemented in your own business to get success and grow!)
Do you ever get that feeling that you’re just missing something? And you keep thinking that if you just put your mind to it, you’ll figure it out? Sometimes it’s something so small – you’re missing just one little thing. One step of the process, one setting that needs to be changed, one Teeny. Tiny. Thing. It’s a pretty frustrating […]
Last week I sat down with American Fashion Podcast…and I threw fashion schools under the bus. Joining me were Bemis and Manufacture NY to discuss the the challenges designers face when they’re not sufficiently trained in the classroom. Listen now…
Graduating from a 4-year private school and landing a job as a receptionist is not something you dream about when you’re a kid. No, you dream about things like being a fashion designer. This is the story about how I made that dream come true.
I’d argue that there are more fashion designers out there who work exclusively or mostly on the computer than there are those or sketch by hand and create nicely illustrated fully colored designs with pen and paper. Do you agree?
I typically coordinate and manage 4-6 photo shoots a year and have learned a thing or two over the years on how to be best prepared! I’ve got a 3 day shoot this week outside of Boston; Scroll down for a quick list and overview of what I do/bring for a professional photo shoot! SHOT […]