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

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

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.ca
Email at: emilycourt@live.com
Connect 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

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

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.com
Follow in Instagram
Connect on Linkedin

🎟️ Register for the 1-day live event training on May 30th at https://sewheidi.com/live

Success can be temporary. It can dry up if you're not prepared. There one day and *POOF* gone the next.

That's exactly what happened to my guest in today's episode, Louise Ryan, a freelance footwear trend consultant. She had a stable freelance income for a while but eventually, it dried up leaving her looking for answers. She turned to my flagship program FAST and shares how she redesigned her freelance fashion career and essentially tripled her income. Even with all the strategies at her fingertips though, there's still room for disappointment and rejection.

If you've ever felt like your success is drying up or you feel like throwing in the towel because of the rejection you get, you'll want to listen to this episode as Louise and I talk about the high highs and low lows of freelancing in fashion and how not giving up pays off. Learn how having the right strategies in your arsenal can protect you from withering away from an unstable income and a dried-up network.

About Louise:

She is an exceptional creative thinker, designer, and trend forecaster who is passionate about the footwear industry. Her drive to stay up-to-date with the latest innovations and fully comprehend the entire process of footwear design and development is truly inspiring. By collaborating with global trend agencies, brands, and factories, she can provide valuable insights that will shape the future of this dynamic industry. future of this dynamic industry.

Connect with Louise:

Visit their website: www.larcreative.com

Email at: louise@larcreative.com

Follow on Instagram LAR_CREATIVE

Connect on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/louiseryanfashion/

🎟️ Register for the 1-day live event training on May 30th at https://sewheidi.com/live

Is freelancing in fashion actually as good as it sounds? From the promises of freedom to the ideas of total flexibility, it can be easy to get swept up in the "dream".

There's a lot of positives when it comes to freelancing, but that doesn't mean that you don't have to put in hard work to achieve your freelancing dreams. In this episode, Kate Knight opens up to share some amazing wins but also gives a realistic perspective of the ups and downs in freelancing. We also talk about pricing which is always a hot topic that I get tons of questions about.

Tune in to find out what the REAL truth about being a freelance fashion designer is like. You won't want to miss a big win that Kate shares at the end because she started charging for something that she used to give away for free.

About Kate:

Kate Knight is a knitwear designer who specializes in creating recycled and sustainable cashmere and cashmere blends. She has previously lived and worked in New York City, London, and the Swiss Alps, but currently resides just outside of Bordeaux, France. Throughout her career, Kate has designed knitwear for well-known brands such as Nordstrom, The White Company, Lands' End, Barney's, and Whistles. She has also taught knitting to individuals across all age groups, including 7-year-olds, PhD students, and industry professionals. Kate is passionate about building connections with factories, yarn agents, brands, fellow freelancers, and designers.

Connect with Kate:

Visit her website: http://www.thecashmeredesigner.com/

Email at: kate@thecashmeredesigner.com

Follow on Instagram @thecashmeredesigner

Connect on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-knight-7a05174/

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
SFD096 Q&A: How to Become a Fashion freelancer with Heidi & Marissa
197 How to Sell Yourself As A Freelance Fashion Designer (without feeling gross)

🎟️ Register for the 1-day live event training on May 30th at https://sewheidi.com/live

Are you struggling to figure out your fashion design freelance rate? Do you find it challenging to determine how much to charge for your fashion design services?

That's because no one openly wants to talk about rates or money. In this episode, I break that silence in the industry by sharing real-life strategies that I've used in my own career and examples from real successful fashion freelancers for setting rates. If charging hourly, by day, or per project has you scratching your head, push play now to find out how to charge your worth and avoid common pitfalls in pricing.

🎟️ Register for the 1-day live event training on May 30th at https://sewheidi.com/live