Upwork Proposal Cover Letter for Fashion Designers (with samples)

In the world of freelancing, having top-notch skills is crucial, but knowing how to sell yourself is what ultimately lands you the job.

The truth is – a lot of successful fashion freelancers on Upwork are not only skilled but are also exceptional pitchers (and not the kind you find in baseball).

I’m sure you’ve skimmed through websites with generic guides promising success on Upwork, but let’s be real – most of them don’t cater to freelance fashion designers like you.

So, whether you’re a newbie fashion designer on Upwork or a seasoned pro trying to up your proposal pitching game, you’re in the right place.

In this article, I’ll help you create proposals that land gigs from Upwork clients worldwide.

Let’s start!

The Importance of Writing Good Upwork Proposals

There are over a thousand fashion design opportunities on Upwork – and that’s not even counting other niche job titles such as fashion technical designer, textile designer, patternmaker, etc.!

But don’t get too excited just yet! Remember, there are also hundreds of other fashion design freelancers vying for those jobs, just as you are.

So, how do you stand out from a sea of competitors?

The first step is by creating a killer proposal that grabs your potential client’s attention right off the bat.

There’s so much more to creating a standout proposal apart from just listing your skills and experiences that those generic cookie-cutter cover letters just won’t cut it. Take this as an opportunity for you to show potential clients why YOU are the perfect fit for the job.

Top 8 Tips for Writing an Upwork Proposal for Fashion Designers

tips for writing upwork proposals for fashion designers

Let me share some of my favorite Upwork proposal tips that have helped me snag clients throughout my freelancing career.

Keep it short and sweet: Clients go through DOZENS of proposals even on just a single Upwork job posting. More often than not, you only have a few seconds until your client closes your tab. There’s no rule to this, but in general, around 3-4 paragraphs in length should do the trick.
Add a personal touch: One of my personal Upwork proposal tips – use the client’s name whenever possible. This simple trick shows that you are attentive and makes you sound approachable. If their name isn’t in the job description, check their reviews. Sometimes past freelancers have mentioned it! If you can’t find it there, try and at least use a company name.
Highlight relevant skills and work experiences: Showcase your education, work experience, and past projects relevant to the job description. And don’t be afraid to name-drop any internationally recognized clientele to boost your credibility!
Address the client’s needs: Tailor your proposal to the client’s specific needs and showcase how your skills align perfectly with their project requirements. Most of the time, the answers are already in the client’s job posting. If they mention they need an activewear tech pack designer that can get the job done in 3 weeks. Tell them exactly about your experience in making tech packs and activewear, and show them your commitment to meeting their deadline. (And of course, make sure to follow through!) Pro Tip: Use the exact words from the job listing in your Upwork proposal cover letter. If they say they want someone who can help with “design through bulk production,” and who can “create professional tech packs with specs,” use that exact phrasing. This works because as they read your proposal, they’ll think, “yes, this is exactly what I need!”
Showcase your curated portfolio: Your portfolio should be doing 80% of the talking. Include a curated portfolio with sample projects relevant to the client’s needs. Sure, it’s tempting to dump in every single project you’ve worked on but when you only have 3 seconds to impress, you need to make it count! If you want more tips on crafting your portfolio, head over to my Guide on Creating Your Fashion Portfolio (in a weekend!).
Address the elephant in the room: The reality is, a lot of newbies struggle to snag their first clients on Upwork. One technique that works great for this is mentioning your expertise beyond Upwork. For example, you can say “Although I am new here at Upwork, I have over 3 years of experience as a womenswear pattern maker in the garment manufacturing industry.” and then attach your CV and portfolio as proof. Everyone starts from zero at some point, and I know clients who personally hire Upwork newbies just based on their skills. You can do it!
Express genuine interest: Compliment them, ask a thoughtful question, and invite them to discuss further. This shows your commitment to not only understanding their needs but also fostering a productive and collaborative partnership from the get-go.
Always proofread: Sounds super basic but do not take this for granted! Seemingly small grammatical errors and typos can make your proposal look unprofessional, and you might even miss out on an awesome opportunity just because of these minor mistakes.

True Story: I know some clients who automatically filter out applicants with spelling or grammar mistakes in their proposals. Seems a little harsh yeah, but remember, you always need to put your best foot forward. While not every client follows this approach, it’s smart to maintain professionalism by meeting this minimum requirement. Come on, you don’t want to miss out on opportunities just because of something as simple as “your” vs “you’re.”

Even small tweaks can be super powerful. If you’re anything like Lucia, you may be sending out pitches for six months and still not landing any gigs. That’s a LOT of work for nothing to show for it. Lucia knew something wasn’t right with her pitches, so she enrolled in Freelance Accelerator: from Surviving to Thriving (FAST) and started making small changes to her proposals using the freelancing strategies I teach. Within a couple of weeks, she landed a job for $1,890. And then another one! And another! You can hear Lucia’s full story on the Fashion Designers Get Paid podcast.

How to Write an Upwork Proposal for Fashion Designers: Step-by-Step (with samples)

To help you learn how to write a winning Upwork proposal, I’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of creating a compelling proposal using a job posting and include samples you can follow.

Step 1: Understand the job description carefully

Read through the job description and assess which key aspects stand out to you. You’re not just reading – you’re absorbing and analyzing.

For example, in this job posting, the client is looking for an experienced fashion designer for an affordable luxury petite brand’s first collection. They need someone with a strong background in product development, from trend forecasting up until the production of the clothing line.

It’s important to keep these points in mind while writing the rest of the proposal.

Step 2: Make a personalized and attention-grabbing opening

Add a touch of personalization by using your client’s name and establish a genuine connection right at the intro. A tailored introduction sets the overall tone of your proposal and can demonstrate your attentiveness to their project’s specifics.

Dear [Client’s Name],

I’m thrilled to submit my proposal for the Fashion Designer role for your upcoming affordable luxury petite brand. As a petite girl myself, your vision resonates deeply with my personal design philosophy, and I’m excited about the prospect of collaborating with you to bring this collection to life.

Step 3: Showcase your relevant skills and experience in the fashion industry

Keep in mind what skills and experience your client is looking for and make sure to reflect this in your proposal.

With a solid 3-year background as a luxury womenswear fashion designer, my specialization lies in design and product development. Additionally, my previous role as a technical fashion designer has helped me enhance my skill set, allowing me to navigate the entire design journey – from inception to final execution.

Step 4: Address the client’s specific needs

Show your client that you understand the brief clearly and can deliver by directly answering the needs they stated in the job description.

I have worked closely with local and international brands, making their collections come to life. This includes several luxury start-up brands such as Éclat and Luxelle, where I spearheaded the design team responsible for launching their successful first collections.

Step 5: Include relevant work samples

Find relevant products that hit exactly what they’re looking for. If you’ve worked on any successful projects recently, don’t shy away from adding them.

You can browse through the most recent projects I’ve done with both luxury brands in the portfolio I’ve attached below, including other relevant projects I’ve worked on in the past. If you’re interested in seeing more of my work, feel free to check my online portfolio through this link.

Step 6: Express genuine interest

Finally, end your proposal on a good note, and add a CTA to reach out. Calendly is my favorite free scheduling tool that makes it easy for the client to grab a call with you. Include a link and make it SUPER clear that this is the next step they should take.

I am really looking forward to the opportunity of collaborating with you on this amazing opportunity.

Your brand’s commitment to making luxury accessible to the petite demographic strikes a chord with me and I would love to know more about your vision!

If it sounds like a good fit, go ahead and schedule a call on my calendly here so we can discuss more details.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

The Final Upwork Proposal Cover Letter Sample

Dear [Client’s Name],

I am really looking forward to the opportunity of collaborating with you on this amazing opportunity.

Your brand’s commitment to making luxury accessible to the petite demographic strikes a chord with me and I would love to know more about your vision!

If it sounds like a good fit, go ahead and schedule a call on my calendly here so we can discuss more details.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Thriving on Upwork as a Freelance Fashion Designer

Freelancing as a fashion designer on platforms like Upwork might seem daunting, with misconceptions about limited opportunities or earnings (and just downright the reality of high competition). But the truth is, there’s a thriving world of potential waiting for those who want to take the leap and are up for the challenge.

One common pitfall of newbie freelance fashion designers is trying to cater to a wide range of services. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that offering general services or applying for a variety of roles will increase your chances on Upwork. But the truth is – the secret to truly standing out lies in focusing on your specialized area or what we call “niche.”

Eleni is a tech pack designer from Greece who is a great example of being niche. She started out with no real industry experience but focused on only creating tech packs. In Greece, the average designer works over 40 hours a week and averages a monthly salary of $700-$1300. Eleni works part-time on Upwork and is now making $3-4k a month! By being really good at her niche – tech packs – she’s actually able to live her dream. Read more about Eleni’s story here.

By zeroing in on your particular niche, whether it’s designing luxury petite wear, sustainable fashion, or tech packs for active and loungewear , you immediately set yourself apart from dozens of other applicants. The reality is that it’s easier for clients to pick a candidate who can cater to their specific needs, and by honing your niche, you establish yourself as an authority in that field.

Take a moment to explore your true passion and expertise to set yourself apart and identify your unique selling point. If you’re unsure where to start, here are 24 services you can offer as a freelance fashion designer!

It’s not an overnight process but it’s definitely worth it!

Get the Freedom and Pride That Comes with Taking Charge of Your Own Destiny in Fashion

I’m Heidi, and I believe that you can do things differently in your fashion career.

Because the truth is, most industry jobs will underpay and overwork you. Having your own brand is far from profitable (and let’s be honest, most of them fail).

So if you ACTUALLY want to work as a fashion designer and get paid, the best way to do it is as a freelancer.

Now, maybe you’ve been told that “brands don’t accept remote freelancers”…

Or believe that freelancing means being an exploited temp employee working full time without benefits…

Or to freelance, you have to be a rockstar expert with allll the skills from design through development

I’m going to show that it IS possible to be a REAL freelancer in fashion, work remotely with brands you love, AND make money (even if you’re terrified you don’t have all the answers).