233 episodes
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms Sew Heidi
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- Arts
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4.9 • 296 Ratings
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This is a show for burnt-out fashion designers (and TDs, PDs, patternmakers and beyond) who want more flexibility while still doing work they love. As a freelance fashion designer, you can build your fashion career on your own terms. Freelancing in fashion is the only way to get freedom in your day (instead of being tied to a desk). Whether you want to earn extra money on the side, fund your fashion brand, or replace your salary, the FDGP podcast will help you get there. Listen in for actionable tips and strategies to kickstart or grow your career as a freelance fashion designer, build your confidence, and create the life you want. Hosted by $100k+ fashion freelancer Sew Heidi, the show features interviews and strategy sessions with successful freelance fashion designers from around the world who've ditched toxic fashion jobs and taken control of their own destinies. This is the only place to get REAL insights from REAL freelancers who have built REAL careers on their own terms. (Formerly the Successful Fashion Freelancer podcast.)
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215: What Is A Freelance Fashion Consultant?
What exactly is a fashion consultant? How is it different from a freelance fashion designer?
Find out in this episode as I break down the differences, similarities, and offer some insight into being a freelance fashion consultant. From networking tips to the importance of industry connections, this episode is a goldmine for anyone looking to carve out a niche in the fashion consultancy realm.
If you've been considering a shift towards consulting or want to enhance your freelance services with strategic guidance, this episode is a must-listen.
🎟️ Register for the 1-day live event training on May 30th at https://sewheidi.com/live -
214: How CLO3D "Saved" This Fashion Designer
Are unsustainable practices in the fashion industry leaving you fed up and ready to jump ship? You're not alone but leaving the industry isn't the only option!
A talented fashion designer, Jade Wei, felt the same way in her fashion career. Feeling stuck in traditional, wasteful practices, Jade embraced new technology, starting with Adobe Illustrator and eventually mastering CLO 3D. This journey reignited her passion, showing how stepping out of your comfort zone and adopting innovative tools can lead to more sustainable and exciting opportunities in the industry.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck or resistant to the evolving technologies in fashion design. Jade’s story offers hope, practical advice, and a renewed sense of purpose that can energize your own fashion design journey.
About Jade Wei:Jade is a freelance designer based in London, specializing in 3D pattern-making, garment and product development for brands with similar creative ethos. Born in Taiwan, she moved to the UK at 18 to pursue a career in fashion. With 17+ years of experience in the industry, she has worked for luxury brands including Alexander McQueen, Theory, and ClothSurgeon.
She also designs for independent designers and launched her own brand, ATELIER WCMF. Recently, she has been merging the digital and physical fashion worlds using emerging technology to create advanced technical services for fashion brands.
Connect with Jade:
Visit their website
Email at: j.w@atelier-wcmf.com
Follow on Instagram
Connect on Linkedin
🎟️ Register for the 1-day live event training on May 30th at https://sewheidi.com/live -
213: How This Freelancer Built a Fashion Merchandising Agency
When life gives you lemons you make lemonade...but what about when life gives you a job loss? Or even a pandemic?
Is it even possible to turn a job loss (especially during the pandemic) into a thriving startup in the fashion industry? Yep! My guest, Krystal Lewis, shares exactly how she turned her personal and professional challenges into launching her own fashion business. It's a raw look at the ups and downs of becoming your own boss in a tough industry.
As a fashion designer, there's always going to be curveballs thrown your way. Listen to this episode to learn key lessons for taking what life throws at you and creating a successful and thriving fashion business!
About Krystal:
Black Unicorn Merchandising is a boutique apparel design company specializing in custom design, ethical sourcing and low minimum manufacturing. We are a highly dynamic team of fashion connoisseurs, steadfastly committed to delivering top-tier garments that epitomize your brand's visionary essence. Our comprehensive approach spans the entire design process, from conceptualization and artistic sketching to intricate pattern making, meticulous prototyping, and seamless production.
Whether you represent a startup brand in need of a lot of guidance or an esteemed label seeking to ease the workload, rest assured that our unwavering dedication and unrivaled passion will bring your apparel ideas to life.
Connect with Krystal:
Visit their website
Email at: contactus@blackunicornmerch.com
Follow on Instagram
Connect on Linkedin
Subscribe on Youtube
🎟️ Register for the 1-day live event training on May 30th at https://sewheidi.com/live -
212: How She 3x'd Her Freelance Income with LinkedIn
Need More Clients? Learn how to use LinkedIn to create endless opportunities and grow your freelance fashion design business!
We're not just talking theory; my guest, Emily Court, is living proof that the right strategies on LinkedIn can lead to tangible success. Learn how she transformed her online interactions into a thriving career, tripling her income in less than a year.
Plus, get a peek into how regular yet thoughtful engagements and high-quality content can draw the right crowd to your profile. It can be a magnet for fashion design clients!
If you've ever wondered how to turn LinkedIn connections into lucrative opportunities, or how to use your online presence to reflect your professional brand, this episode’s got you covered!
About Emily:Emily is a senior copywriter based in Vancouver, BC. When she's not working with mammoth brands to refine their digital content, she spends her time helping freelancers flourish, and empowering coaches and thought leaders to rock LinkedIn.
Connect with Emily:Visit their website: www.emilycourt.caEmail at: emilycourt@live.comConnect on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-court-422b2ba4/
🎟️ Register for the 1-day live event training on May 30th at https://sewheidi.com/live -
211: The Best Freelance Sites for Fashion Designers
Don't waste your time on freelancing platforms that are known for cheap pay and demanding clients. But how do you know which freelancing platforms to look out for?
After surveying over 500 fashion designers who are students in my Freelance Accelerator program, I've compiled real data so you can feel confident. Even though many of these students have found success, you still have to be wary of bad job postings.
I break down why this platform stands out despite any pitfalls, what to watch out for with cheap and demanding clients, and how to tailor your profile to attract serious fashion brands. Whether you're brand new to freelancing or looking to improve your current game, hit play so you know how to navigate the freelance job postings, create a standout profile, and write proposals that get you hired.
Resources:https://successfulfashiondesigner.com/upwork-proposal-for-fashion-designers/https://successfulfashiondesigner.com/sff172-how-this-freelance-fashion-designer-landed-a-10k-project-on-upwork/https://successfulfashiondesigner.com/fashion-freelancer-first-project-upwork/https://successfulfashiondesigner.com/freelance-fashion-textile-designer-upwork/https://successfulfashiondesigner.com/how-to-get-freelance-fashion-design-jobs-on-upwork/https://successfulfashiondesigner.com/freelance-patternmaker-upwork-profile/ https://successfulfashiondesigner.com/fashion-portfolio/
🎟️ Register for the 1-day live event training on May 30th at https://sewheidi.com/live -
210: Q&A What to Do When a Client Asks for More Revisions
Saying 'Yes' to be a more desirable fashion freelancer is the quickest path to getting caught in a scope creep nightmare.
There's an important balance of being available but also having boundaries. Andressa, my guest in this episode, and I talk about constructing firm proposals and how to handle the awkward dance of revising costs mid-project. By the end of this strategy-packed session, you'll be armed with actionable advice on how to avoid scope creep and feeling obligated to take on too many revisions.
Stop leaving money on the table and listen to these valuable strategies.
About Andressa:Andressa is a fashion and textile designer with over a decade of experience in kidswear! She's an expert in developing seasonal collections, from initial concepts to final products. Whether you're a startup or a mid-sized brand, she can assist you with various aspects of product development, including creating mood concepts, sourcing materials, creating flat drawings, and preparing accurate tech packs suitable for manufacturing. Let her take care of the nitty-gritty, so you can focus on what you do best!
Connect with Andressa:Email her at dressaiop@gmail.comFollow in Instagram Connect on Linkedin
🎟️ Register for the 1-day live event training on May 30th at https://sewheidi.com/live
Customer Reviews
Grateful for Heidi and Her Guests
If you’re in the freelancing in fashion space, this place is for you! So much valuable information to gain here. Even though I’ve skipped around and haven’t listened to all of the episodes, it’s helped immensely in navigating how to start and what to do next. I loved episodes 107, 177, and 192 in particular as they talk about how to set up your freelance contracts, expanding your network and niching down. I highly recommend giving this a listen.
Host Overtalks...let the guest speak without interruption
Very valuable information and great guest, however the hosts frequently talks over and seems to rush the guest through by taling over them and incessant "uh, huhs and mmm's". Just wish she would let them speak and come in when they've finished the thought. It's diistracting to the listener and I'm sure distracting to the guest.
Changed my life
This show literally changed my life because it showed me not just that I COULD work for myself but gave me steps on HOW to do it with **real, live, bonified proven techniques from fashion freelance rockstars.**
I had been working in the industry for over a decade at the time I found the show. I found the show by pure happenstance (looking for a fashion related podcast as a way of getting through another grueling day-in-the-life of a corporate designer LOLOL). I binged every episode and for the first time realized that the dissatisfaction I had in the industry was a shared burden.
My freelance journey has not been 100% easy 100% of the time but it has been rewarding and full of more wins than losses. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to take the plunge if it weren’t for Successful Fashion Freelancer. I 👏🏽 JUST 👏🏽 LOVE 👏🏽 THIS 👏🏽 SHOW!!!