Shows
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms253: Tabitha’s First $1K Month (and Why She’s Quitting Her Day Job to Go All In on Freelancing)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 shif...
2025-04-2836 minFashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms248: The $3K Personalized Pitch: How Heidi Closed a Big Client in 6 WeeksEver wondered how some freelance fashion designers land dream clients with just a simple email? In this episode, Heidi Herrman breaks down her secret sauce for securing a $3,000 project with a personalized pitch. From using ChatGPT to find niche brands to crafting an authentic, heartfelt message, she shares all the ins and outs of her process. You’ll be inspired by Heidi's genuine approach and her knack for turning a one-off gig into an ongoing client relationship.But it doesn't stop there! Heidi dives deeper into setting the right rates, negotiating contracts, and building trust with clients. Sh...
2025-02-1739 minFashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms230: Special Episode: Heidi Gets Interviewed (part 2)Today we're flipping the script and interviewing the host, Heidi - part 2!One of our FAST students approached with the idea of interviewing Heidi and they talk about naysayers, email etiquette, and the hurdles of scaling a business. We tackled the reality of failures and why resilience is key. We also shared candid stories about hiring struggles and overcoming confidence issues, especially when it comes to pricing. Remember, the right support system can push you beyond your limits.Resources:Part 1: 229: Special Episode: Heidi Gets Interviewed (part 1)SFD100 To Reach Your Goals in Fashion (a...
2024-09-0954 minFashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms229: Special Episode: Heidi Gets Interviewed (part 1)Today we're flipping the script and interviewing the host, Heidi!One of our FAST students approached with the idea of interviewing Heidi. We talk about the highs and lows of running an online business, from epic launch events to the emotional rollercoasters that come with it. You'll hear about my transition from freelancing to a successful online business, the impact of therapy, and the crucial support systems that made it all possible. Plus, there's a juicy insider tip on the art of interviewing—think curiosity over scripted questions. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or just lov...
2024-09-0242 minFashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms208: The REAL Truth About Being a Freelance Fashion DesignerIs 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 g...
2024-04-0857 minFashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms194: Q&A - How Should A Freelance Patternmaker Set Up An UpWork Profile?Dreaming of more clients doesn't help grow your freelance fashion career...but these tips will!Hanan specializes in modest women's wear and aims to expand her client base but needs a little help navigating her niche. Heidi and Hanan delve into the importance of having a niche-specific profile on platforms like Upwork, as well as leveraging industry connections to attract new clients. They explore strategies for standing out in a competitive market and rekindling relationships within Hanan's extensive network. This episode will leave you inspired to refine your own niche and make meaningful connections in your professional...
2023-12-1811 minFashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms190 - Q&A: Are You Ready to Quit Your Full-Time Job And Go All In As A Freelance Fashion Designer?Are you at a crossroads in your career as a freelance fashion designer? Wondering if it's the right time to quit your full-time job and go all-in on your freelance gig?You're not alone and in today's episode, we join Rachel Kranick, a freelance fashion designer who shares her journey and the challenges she's facing. Despite her success in the industry and a year's worth of savings, Rachel is torn between her full-time job and the desire to dive headfirst into freelancing. Heidi provides valuable insights on when and how to transition to full-time freelancing, as well...
2023-11-2015 minFashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms182| Q&A: How Do Freelance Technical Designers Review Protos Remotely?Ever wondered how freelance technical designers review garment samples remotely? Look no further! In this episode, we join Heidi and guest Sarah Wattley as they discuss the ins and outs of this fascinating process. From deciding who receives the sample first, to marking up tech packs and coordinating Zoom sessions, Heidi lays out multiple options to navigate the sample review process efficiently. Discover the benefits of having two samples sent to different parties, and explore the role of pattern makers in the grand scheme of things. Whether you're a freelancer or a fashion enthusiast, you won't want...
2023-09-2507 minFashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms175: We’re BACK with some BIG (and exciting!) changes!Welcome back, fashion friends! It's Heidi here, and I am beyond excited to announce that we're back with some BIG changes on the podcast! Our break was far from idle - we've been reflecting, brainstorming, and working on some exciting things behind the scenes. But let's dive right into what you can expect from our revamped show!First off, we are zoning in on our ideal listeners. We want to reach fashion professionals who are feeling burnt out and looking for more opportunities in their careers. Maybe you're considering a couple of options but aren't sure if i...
2023-08-0709 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFF170: From Factory Worker to Successful Freelance PatternmakerOn this episode of the Successful Fashion Freelancer Podcast, we bring on Darci, who took an interest to sewing at a young age and followed her interests to fashion school. But, after moving to Florida, USA she quickly found that the only market for her skillset was in factories as a seamstress. This didn’t stop her from continuing her education, since along the way, she picked up crucial skills in software for patternmaking, started listening to the SFF podcast, and took a few of Heidi’s courses. Then? She took the leap and QUIT her job to p...
2022-11-0754 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFF163: Why Undercharging Is Killing Your Freelance CareerSetting your rates is one of the hardest aspects of freelancing, and it might be holding you back. Such was the case of Chad Robertson, a freelancer who was severely undercharging for his services in the book editing and formatting industry. After Heidi hired him for a freelance job to edit her first book, Chad followed her advice to raise his rates and turned his annual earnings from $20,000 a year to a whopping $100,000! In this episode, we discuss how Heidi found Chad through his niche, the conversation they held about his rates, and how that turned his...
2022-08-0158 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFF144: Fashion Freelancer Q&A: Why your emails aren't getting replies (+ more on pricing, starting without experience, and finding clients)Starting a new career is scary, and it can be easy to underestimate what you bring to the table when you do. In this interview, Heidi helps new freelance pattern-maker Vanessa dissect Vanessa’s current outreach approach and strategize how to receive more email responses, starting without experience, what her pay rate should be, how Upwork can help grow her business, and create a plan of action. See more about the episode here!
Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price
2021-11-081h 25
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD128 Saying Goodbye to the Successful Fashion Designer PodcastThis is a very special episode--and the last episode of the Successful Fashion Designer Podcast. But don’t worry. Better things are coming, and we hope you’ll be along for the ride! In this episode, Heidi & Tara chat about the future of Successful Fashion Designer, and what this huge change means to you. For the complete show notes, including links to the resources mentioned, head over to Successful Fashion Designer!
Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price
2021-04-2626 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsEpisodes you love: How to Become a Fashion Freelancer with Heidi & MarissaTo celebrate the new year, I'm sharing one of our most popular episodes EVER. Whether you caught this one the first time or it's new to you, listen for tons of practical advice from two 6+ figure fashion freelancers!
Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price
2021-01-041h 20
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD113 How to fund your fashion brand with a freelancing careerMat Booth started his fashion career with a product design degree, some knowledge of sports, and a lot of passion. More than 15 years later, he’s a successful freelancer and has his own brand of men’s luggage and accessories. And he does it without living in a fashion hub. Hear Mat’s story of how he got into the industry, his shift into freelancing, and how he funded launching his fashion brand with his freelancing work. For the complete show notes, including links to the resources mentioned, head over to Successful Fashion Designer!
Downloa...
2020-08-171h 21
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD112 How to launch a shoe brand without any fashion experienceNot all successful fashion designers go to fashion school. Lila Stewart used to do marketing in the music industry, and her husband Jeremy was a political consultant. But when they decided they wanted to start a business with philanthropy at its heart, they found themselves entering the fashion industry with zero experience. In this episode of the SFD podcast, Lila tells the story of how they built HariMari shoes from the ground up. From completely unknown to being carried in every Nordstrom’s in the US, Lila and Jeremy have learned so much about what it takes to launch a...
2020-08-0354 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD111 How to get a fashion design internship right after high schoolLike many people working in the industry, Emilee Goff always knew she wanted to go into fashion. But when she managed to score an internship with Scott Sports right after she finished high school, Emilee’s career trajectory changed in ways she never imagined. In this episode of the SFD podcast, she shares what she’s learned along the way. For the complete show notes, including links to the resources mentioned, head over to Successful Fashion Designer!
Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price
2020-07-2055 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD110 How to break into fashion design without going to fashion schoolSelena Leong has worked her way up from production associate, to product development, to technical design, to apparel design. Along the way she’s worked with brands on both coasts including Aeropostale, Forever 21, and even Ralph Lauren. And she did it all without ever going to fashion school. For the complete show notes, including links to the resources mentioned, head over to Successful Fashion Designer!
Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price
2020-07-061h 10
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD109 How to Get Your Designs into Production with The Chicago PatternmakerIf you want to see your garments and accessories in the hands of more than just a few customers, you need to understand how to get your fashion designs into production. On this episode of the Successful Fashion Designer podcast, patternmaker and designer Xochil Herrera Scheer of The Chicago Patternmaker draws on over a decade of experience to share what she’s learned about factories, production, and bringing your designs to life! For the complete show notes, including links to the resources mentioned, head over to Successful Fashion Designer!
Download my Freelance Price List ju...
2020-06-221h 06
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD108 How to Become a Senior Fashion Designer by Age 27Note: This episode was recorded several months ago, before the influx of major current events took over our collective awareness. While we know how seriously these issues are affecting the fashion industry and our individual listeners, we hope that you enjoy this break for a bit of normalcy. From internship to senior designer by the time she was 27? Outdoor and motorcyle apparel designer Kelsey Runge did it, and in this episode of the SFD podcast, she shares exactly what she’s done to design her perfect career. She says she’s had a lot of luck, but it t...
2020-06-081h 04
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD107 What to include in a freelance fashion designer contractDo you really need a contract as a freelance fashion designer? What should your contract include? On this episode of the SFD Podcast, you’ll hear from small business attorney Andrea Sager on contracts, design ownership, payment disputes, and the best ways to protect yourself and your assets as a freelance fashion designer. For the complete show notes, head to Successful Fashion Designer!
Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price
2020-05-251h 07
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD106 How This Designer Launched a Bespoke Dress Brand (while in college)Noemie Jouas is a self-taught designer who runs a bespoke dress brand that keeps her steadily busy with several clients a month. She describes her business as “a dream come true!” The incredible part? She’s still in college! Learn how she got started, where she finds her clients, and the one thing she says has made everything she’s accomplished possible. For the complete show notes, including links to the resources mentioned, head over to Successful Fashion Designer!
Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price
2020-05-1150 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD105 How to Predict Fashion Trends (and work as a trend forecaster)Note: This episode was recorded a few months ago, before the world got turned upside down. While we don't discuss how Covid-19 is affecting the industry, we hope you enjoy taking a break from the constant coverage for some fashion and normalcy. Understanding trends is so important when you work in fashion. If you want your designs to stand out and capture your market, you can’t just know what’s big now; you have to know what’s going to be big next. That’s where trend forecasters like Wendy Bendoni come in. From her...
2020-04-271h 23
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD104 What Is a Fashion Tech Pack (and do you really need one)?Note: This episode was recorded several months ago, before the Covid-19 pandemic took over all of our lives. While we know your world may be turned upside down right now, we hope you’ll enjoy a break from the 24/7 coverage of current events for a little bit of fashion talk and simple normalcy! In this episode of the Successful Fashion Designer Podcast, you’ll hear from Belinda Jacobs of Tech Packs Co on what a tech pack REALLY needs, why they are SO important, and how you can be sure yours gets the job done RIGHT...
2020-04-1353 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD103 How to Make More Money as a Fashion Freelancer (than in a full-time job)Freelance pattern maker and product development specialist Alison Hoenes left her full-time job after just 3½ years in the industry to pursue a freelance career. Since then, she has perfected her niche, gone from zero customers to a steady clientele, and she now makes more than her full-time job working just 40 mostly-remote hours per week! Want to know how she got from fashion school to a freelancing dream life in just 5 years? Listen to this episode of the Successful Fashion Designer podcast! For the complete show notes, including links to the resources mentioned, head over to Su...
2020-03-301h 10
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD102 How to Copyright Your Fashion Designs and Protect Your BrandHow do you prevent your fashion designs from being stolen and safeguard your brand? And as a business owner, how do you legally protect yourself and your assets? On this episode of the SFD Podcast, you’ll hear from fashion industry attorney Andrea Sager on copyrights, trademarks, and other ways to be smart and protect your fashion designs, business name, and more. For the complete show notes, including links to the resources mentioned, head over to Successful Fashion Designer!
Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price
2020-03-161h 03
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD101 How to Build a Sustainable Direct to Consumer Fashion BrandWhen you’re launching a label, there are so many options and details that it can overwhelm even the most savvy designer. One of the questions you may be asking is, “Should I sell my fashion brand wholesale or direct-to-consumer?” On this episode of the Successful Fashion Designer podcast, you’ll hear from Ellie Mae Waters, founder and creative director of slow fashion brand Ellie Mae Studios. Through trial and error, Ellie Mae found that direct-to-consumer, small-batch, slow fashion was the best model to get her designs into the hands of both celebrities like Mila Kunis and...
2020-03-021h 00
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD100 To Reach Your Goals in Fashion (and Life), Just Do ANYTHINGIn this special episode, Heidi chats with her husband Marc about her journey in fashion. Heidi talks about the one thing that has contributed to her success more than anything else, and how you can do the same for yourself! In this episode, Heidi and Marc talk about: How the history of the SFD podcast mirror’s Heidi’s overall journey in fashion; How Heidi broke into fashion with NO experience; Her journey from that first step to the pinnacles of her career (so far!); The most important factor Heidi credits with achieving her biggest goals; Some of the “wr...
2020-02-1736 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD099 Why this Startup Fashion Brand Makes Clothes for Short Men OnlySteve Villanueva is an entrepreneur with a history of success in multiple industries. And, like at least 40% of men, he’s also less than 5 foot 9 inches tall. Frustrated with clothes that just weren’t made to fit short men, Steve set out to find a better way to design clothing for this underserved market. The things he discovered in his research and the unique approach he’s taken with his brand, Otero Menswear, may surprise you. In the interview (which you’ll love), we will cover: Why not studying fashion in school may have given Steve an advantage; One reaso...
2020-02-031h 10
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD098 How to Get a Better Job in FashionMichele Mavi is a recruiter and Strengths Coach who’s worked with fashion job seekers for over 15 years. On this episode of the SFD podcast, she shares what she’s learned about landing the best fashion job for YOUR unique set of skills and strengths. In the interview (which you’ll love), you’ll learn: Why understanding your strengths is so important Ideas you can use today to start identifying your strengths How to search for the RIGHT job (not just A job) The common résumé mistake that’s holding you back--and how to fix it What employers wan...
2020-01-201h 06
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD097 How to Become a Remote Fashion FreelancerGuests on the SFD podcast tend to fall into one of three categories: They’re employed by a company in the industry, they work as a fashion freelancer, or they’ve launched their own brand. In this episode, you’ll hear from someone who has done all three! If you’re wondering how to become a remote fashion freelancer, this episode is for you. In the interview (which you’ll love), we will cover: How Lily’s super specific degree helped her strong start in the industry What it was like designing collections for factories in Sri Lanka Her experienc...
2020-01-061h 14
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsBonus: Freelancing Advice for the Fashion IndustryIn this special episode, check out Heidi’s interview on the Spirit of 608 podcast. The interview, which originally aired in March 2018, focuses on her work as a freelance fashion designer, and Heidi doles out tons of valuable freelancing advice for the fashion industry. She talks candidly about her fashion journey, sharing the highs, the lows, and the lessons she learned the hard way on her way to creating work and a lifestyle she loves. It was a direction she never expected to go, but now that she knows how freelancing can change a designer’s life, Heidi want...
2019-12-2352 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD096 Q&A: How to Become a Fashion freelancer with Heidi & MarissaHave you been dreaming of beginning a freelance career, but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’ve been freelancing for a while, but you still have a ton of questions! Between pricing, juggling projects, finding clients and resources, and more, it can be overwhelming to navigate the fashion freelancing world alone. In this special AMA episode, two 6-figure+ freelance fashion designers, answer YOUR freelancing questions. For the full show notes, including links, resources, and more, head to Successful Fashion Designer!
Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free...
2019-12-091h 16
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsBonus Episode: My Infertility Journey(On this special episode, I get personal. If that's not your thing, no worries--it's back to fashion insider interviews on the very next episode!) I got bad news spring 2017 when I was 35. My husband and I were in line at the airport heading to Costa Rica when my phone rang. It was my doctor with test results, so I answered with "I’m heading on vacation, don’t tell me anything, I’ll call you in 10 days." Instead, she blurted out, "you’re in menopause, and you’ll probably never get pregnant." In the middle of the airpo...
2019-11-2554 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD095 How to Get Your First Fashion Design Job After CollegeWhen you first decide to work in the fashion industry, going to fashion school can seem like the one thing you need to score your dream job. But as many fashion graduates discover, completing that degree is only one step in the complicated and sometimes frustrating process of breaking into the industry. In this interview, designer Kate Norkeliunas shares all the details of how she landed her first design job with a well-known company right out of college--without having to work retail, take unpaid work, or move back home! In the interview (which you’ll l...
2019-11-1141 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD094 This Dirndl Designer Grew a BIG Fashion Brand with a TINY NicheIs it possible to start a successful fashion brand when your niche is super small? Meet Erika Neumayer Ehrat of Rare Dirndl. Her full time job is designing and selling dirndls. Never found yourself desperately scouring the web for the perfect dirndl? We’re not surprised! It’s such a tiny niche market, it may not seem like a sustainable business model. But by knowing her customer so well that she’s even given her a name, Erika makes a living creating something extremely special for a small but dedicated customer base. In the interview...
2019-10-281h 11
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD093 How to Land Your Dream Job in the Outdoor Apparel IndustryFashion is a tough scene. Even when you manage to break into the fashion industry, how do you get into your dream category? With so much competition for design jobs, it seems like luck can play the biggest factor in many designer’s careers. But what if you could make luck work for you? In this episode, we spoke to Allion Juhasz. Allison has spent ten years in the industry, designing for big outdoor apparel names like Scott, UnderArmor, Obermeyer, and Ultimate Direction. These opportunities were open to Allison because she made...
2019-10-1453 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD092 Should You Sell Your Fashion Brand on Consignment?Sometimes it seems like there are as many ways to sell your fashion brand as there are types of fabric! But when you’re starting a fashion brand, should you sell your pieces on consignment? On this show, you’ll hear from Sam Murkoff. Sam’s brand, Manhattan Knights, was born when he started refashioning vintage tee shirts for himself and his friends in middle school. Sam got his brand where it is today by starting small, leveraging the ability to sell his work on consignment, and knocking on a LOT of doors...
2019-09-3056 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD091 100 Ways NOT to Start A Fashion Brand: These Guys Learned Firsthand What Works and What Doesn'tStarting a fashion brand from scratch is a massive challenge. And when you don’t have big investors and influential connections, it can seem impossible. But these three young entrepreneurs found a way to beat the odds and make their brand a reality. Meet Salvatore Graci, Angelo Acquista, and Luca Graci, founders of luxury streetwear brand CSNV (Casanova). Their passion and seemingly endless determination helped them take CSNV from just an idea to the runway at LA Fashion Week and beyond. It sounds like a fairytale, but it wasn’t an easy jo...
2019-09-161h 06
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD090 How to Stand Out in Your Fashion Career (and Always Get the Job Offer)Whether you’re still in fashion school, or you’re looking toward your next opportunity, you’re probably wondering how to stand out in your fashion career. In such a competitive industry, it can feel like an uphill battle to even get noticed by fashion hiring managers among stiff competition. On this episode, we talk to London designer Barbara Houghton. With over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry, Barbara has been on both ends of the hiring process, and she wants to share what she’s learned about standing out in fashion and always getting th...
2019-09-021h 02
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsEpisodes You Love: SFD006 Job Hunting & Resume Advice for Fashion Industry ProfessionalsIt's a summer of your favorite episodes! This episode, which originally aired June 12, 2017, was nominated as one listeners loved! In this episode I’m chatting with Chris Kidd, founder of Style Careers, the largest fashion only job listing site. With inside access to fashion industry employers and exposure to job seekers at their career fairs, Chris has learned what works - and what doesn't - in the job hunting process. We discussed the importance of presenting yourself as a modern candidate, what sectors of the industry are booming, and the most important information to include on your resume.
2019-08-1947 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsEpisodes You Love: SFD075 How to Be a Lingerie DesignerIt's a summer of your favorite episodes! This episode, which originally aired November 26, 2018, was nominated as one listeners loved! Being a lingerie designer is its own unique and interesting niche of working in the fashion industry. There are tons of different things you have to think about compared to designing, let’s say, shirts or jackets. But it’s a pretty cool job! Laurie Van Jonsson knows this firsthand. From launching her own lingerie brand that was sold in TopShop to working for other companies, she knows the ins and outs of being a lingerie desi...
2019-08-051h 05
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsEpisodes You Love: SFD078 Working with Factories as a Freelance Fashion DesignerIt's a summer of your favorite episodes! This episode, which originally aired January 7, 2019, was nominated as one listeners loved. There are a lot of different paths to becoming a freelance fashion designer. And Heather Royer took one I’d never heard of before. Instead of working directly with brands, she got her first freelance opportunity designing for a factory in China. The best part? There are ways you can create the same freelance opportunities for yourself, and she shares step by step her best advice to do this. In her 20+ years in the industry, Heather ha...
2019-07-2255 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsEpisodes You Love: SFD053 4 Best Practices for Fashion Job Search SuccessIt's a summer of your favorite episodes! This episode, which originally aired May 28, 2018, was nominated as one listeners loved. The fashion job search process is not one to be taken lightly. Thankfully, my guest for this episode of The Successful Fashion Designer is Shellie Simpson, the Fashion Division Talent Director at Atrium Staffing. Shellie and her team at Atrium are creating a more personable relationship between top talent candidates and recruiters. She shares her 4 best practices for aspiring fashion professionals, and her insights will surely make your job search process easier and more en...
2019-07-0859 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsEpisodes You Love: SFD008 Freelance Textile Designer: How to have a Successful CareerIt's a summer of your favorite episodes! This episode, which originally aired June 26, 2017, was nominated as one listeners loved. Being a freelance textile designer can feel like a daunting process to tackle. It’s hard to figure out how to price your work and whether or not you should work with an agency or print house. Which is why I’m so excited to share the latest episode of the Successful Fashion Designer podcast with Michelle Fifis, founder of Pattern Observer and creator of the Textile Design Lab, a blog and community that helps creatives grow th...
2019-06-2451 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsEpisodes You Love: SFD025 Make the Most of a Fashion Sourcing TradeshowIt's a summer of your favorite episodes! This episode, which originally aired October 30, 2017, was nominated as one listeners loved. Attending a trade show is expensive, so before you go, make sure you’re fully prepared. Get industry expert advice from Trish of DG Expo to make the most of your textile trade show visits. Learn what mistakes you should avoid, and how to walk away with the right fabrics, trims and contacts for your fashion brand. Trish has worked with companies that support startup and indie designers since 2009. Her breadth of knowledge isn’t just aroun...
2019-06-1056 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD089 How This Fashion Designer Balances Career and Being a Mom to 4 Kids!Working in the fashion industry can be brutal. The long days, late nights, and cutthroat competition can make balancing a fashion career and motherhood seem impossible. But the reality is that women everywhere are finding ways to make it work. While there’s no magic answer for every situation, there are many ways to balance a career in fashion with being a mom. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Karrie Foley. Karrie has a successful career as a freelance fashion designer, and has done it all while raising four young ch...
2019-05-271h 01
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD088 How to Build Your Fashion Business with Festival VendingKimberly Ponniah didn’t take the typical route into the fashion world. Yet through grit and perseverance, she went from knowing almost nothing about the industry to running a successful fashion design business. She now works full-time designing her own line of accessories, Wild June. Through years of experience, Kimberly learned how to use festival vending and more to grow a fashion brand from the ground up. From the euphoria of a successful launch to hating her business, she has been through highs and lows. Now, she’s sharing what she learned with you. In th...
2019-05-131h 10
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD087 How to Become a Fashion Merchandiser and Product Manager 👗In this interview with Shelby Collins, we go a little off the beaten path of the Successful Fashion Designer podcast. Shelby is a merchandiser and works in product development--she knew right from the beginning that design wasn’t quite the right path for her, so she did a lot of self-exploration throughout school and found the right path for her through trial and error. Besides Shelby taking a “non-traditional path” through the design world, and going into something other than design, I want you guys to pay attention to the exact thing that Shelby did to progress her ca...
2019-04-291h 01
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD086 This 76 Year Old Worked in the NYC Fashion Industry since the 60's. Here's her story.Judy worked in the industry way back in the 60’s and 70’s in New York and she has so many fun and inspiring stories about what her journey was like through fashion back then. Whether you’re listening for a fun flashback or for some insight into what the New York fashion world was like back then before you were born, you’re going to love this episode! P.S. This interview was done here in my living room in Denver, and my terrier Lana was home and very excited that the ladies were talking. She doesn’t bark, bu...
2019-04-1558 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD085 How this Mom Got a Tech Design Job After a 12 Year Career BreakNicola Osborne is a technical designer who got her break back into the fashion industry after taking 12 years off to raise her family. Getting back to any career after 12 years is a daunting task, but getting back into the fashion industry is an even more intimidating one. As Nicola says in her own words, she felt as though she was “clawing her way up a mountain.” Nicola talks us through everything she did mentally, emotionally, and skill / learning-wise to get prepared and ultimately land her first opportunity back after her 12-year break. She talks through how she figu...
2019-04-011h 02
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD084 How to Become an Event Planner for New York Fashion WeekEmily Burton lives in Georgia, is barely 5” tall and has a thick southern accent. She’s pretty far from what you would coin as a stereotypical “fashionista”. But she’s a spitfire of a woman and through pure perseverance and hard work, built an event planning company that now works with brands at New York Fashion Week. Her journey is long an inspiring, from the days she lived paycheck to paycheck and knocked on boutique doors to offer pro bono styling, she tells it all in this interview. Emily has faced a lot of no’s and has had many...
2019-03-181h 09
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD083 How This Designer Built a Vegan Luxury Shoe BrandBebe Mehr’s fashion entrepreneur journey began in 2001 while she was in college and started selling stuff on Ebay. Little did she know, that 13 years later, after a lot of different fashion careers, it would turn into her own line of vegan luxury shoes, Cult of Coquette. Coming from an entrepreneurial family, Bebe’s journey isn’t that surprising. But it doesn’t mean parts of it weren’t insanely hard and that she hasn’t faced her fair share of failure while she built her company. Bebe walks us through, step by step, how she funded h...
2019-03-0554 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD082 Fashion Startup Trade Shows: Are You Ready (and what's the cost)?When it comes to trade shows, there are SO many questions. How much is this going to cost? How does this all work? How do I make sure it’ll be a success? Am I ready? In my interview with Danielle Licata and Kelly Helfman, we talk about these exact questions and more. Danielle and Kelly are brand directors for the Magic Trade Show in Vegas, the Coterie Trade Show in New York, and so many other specialty shows for specific categories. Magic and Coterie are some of the largest fashion trade show events in North America, an...
2019-02-181h 02
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD081 When Your Parents Don't Support Your Fashion Design DreamKayla’s fashion career journey has been an uphill battle. First, her parents didn’t support a “artsy” degree. Not that uncommon. But then? During her senior year of highschool, her dad became incarcerated. There was no money to pay for her college education. She explored alternate, more “practical”, career paths like accounting and biology, but they bored her. So she took a chance on a creative career and enrolled in a liberal arts state school because FIT was too expensive. Her journey is long and trying. It involves many failures and countless rejection. Pretty much NOTHING...
2019-02-041h 27
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD080 Production & Manufacturing Processes for Small Batch FashionJessica Osborn is the CEO and founder of Privy Label, a company that teaches fashion entrepreneurs how to launch their custom Men's or Women's apparel lines through design, development, and small batch manufacturing in the US. They work with designers who have an idea but aren’t really sure where to go from there, or who get stuck somewhere in the process. She talks traditional vs. on-demand manufacturing, production process and timelines, the #1 mistake she sees brands make, and more. For the complete show notes, including links to any resources mentioned, head to Successful Fashion Designer!
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2019-01-2152 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD079 Three Years as a Freelance Fashion Designer: Advice on PricingKimberly Dippel was on the Successful Fashion Design podcast in August 2017, and we talked about her success finding freelance projects on Upwork. Since then, she’s come such a long way! In this episode of the podcast, we’re doing our first (!) follow-up with a past guest. Kimberly has slayed the freelance game this last year and a half, and you’re going to love this recap of how she’s made it happen for herself. Kimberly Dippel is a fashion designer with 13 years of experience working for surf brands like Oneil and Quiksilver. After having a baby and...
2019-01-1423 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD078 Working with Factories as a Freelance Fashion DesignerThere are a lot of different paths to becoming a freelance fashion designer. And Heather Royer took one I’d never heard of before. Instead of working directly with brands, she got her first freelance opportunity designing for a factory in China. The best part? There are ways you can create the same freelance opportunities for yourself, and she shares step by step her best advice to do this. In her 20+ years in the industry, Heather has worked for brands like Target, LL Bean, REI and Talbots. She now runs a team of 9 full time fa...
2019-01-0753 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD077 Interview with Project Runway Juniors Winner Chelsea MaChelsea Ma won Project Runway Juniors when she was just 15 years old...and with no previous fashion experience. Like a lot of designers, she had an interest in fashion, but had no idea where to start. After convincing her parents to let her trade figure-skating lessons for sewing lessons, she began one step at a time by learning how to use a machine and creating her first designs. In this interview, she shares exactly how she went from a few sewing lessons to winning Project Runway Juniors. Chelsea is proof that hard work and determination...
2018-12-1754 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD076 Six Steps to Starting a Fashion Line that SellsDesigning and starting a fashion line is exhilarating and inspiring and something most of us want to jump right into. Starting a fashion line that sells is something completely different--but it’s something you can do. Robyn and I are BACK with a podlet that sums up six easy steps to starting a fashion line that sells. The Successful Fashion Designer podcast has been going for 75(!) episodes, and after interviewing as many talented, business-savvy fashion designers as I have, Robyn and I noticed that many of them had similar advice when it came to designing a fashion li...
2018-12-1026 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD075 How to Be a Lingerie Designer with Laurie Van JonssonBeing a lingerie designer is its own unique and interesting niche of working in the fashion industry. There are tons of different things you have to think about compared to designing - let’s say - shirts or jackets. But it’s a pretty cool job! Laurie Van Jonsson knows this firsthand. From launching her own lingerie brand that was sold in TopShop to working for other companies, she knows the ins and outs of being a lingerie designer. Her 15 years of experience make her an expert in this category, and in this interview, she shar...
2018-11-261h 04
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD074 Mailbag: Fashion Design Career Advice on 3D Prototyping, Kickstarting Your Career, and ProductivityMany of you have loads of Q’s about working in fashion…and I know it can be hard to find answers. Maybe you don’t know any industry experts to ask. Maybe your coworkers are tight lipped and not willing to share their secrets. Maybe you just don’t even know where to go. Which is why I’m excited to be back with another mailbag episode to give you fashion design career advice.Once a month, I answer your Q’s on the Successful Fashion Designer Podcast. This month, I’ll be giving my best advice on 3D modeling, pr...
2018-11-1922 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD073 Accounting Advice for Fashion Designers and BusinessesGuess what? If you want to have a fashion brand, you’re going to have to deal with accounting. And while it’s not the sexiest topic around, it’s a fact of doing business. But the good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. And in this interview with accountant Peter Lang, who specializes in working with creatives and fashion designers, he shares how to simplify the process and be strategic with your money. In the interview (which you’ll love) we cover: Setting up your fashion design business strategically to save money on t...
2018-11-121h 02
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD072 This Fashion Designer Applied to Puma 7 Times. How He Finally Got His Dream Job.It’s easy to see someone who’s living their fashion design dream and think, “they got lucky, but that could never happen to me.” But the truth couldn’t be further from that. The reality? You have NO idea what their back story is. You have NO idea how hard they worked to get there. And you have NO idea how many times they failed on the way to achieving their fashion design dream. Kirby Nunez is an unbelievably hard working man. His story is humbling, inspiring, and is one of the best examples of how per...
2018-11-0553 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD071 Part 2: A Fashion Design Dream Come True: From the Honduras to NYFW, With Guillermo IriasWhen it came to success in fashion, Guillermo Irias had nothing going for him. Raised in the Honduras by a single mom who didn’t think a fashion career was a good idea, he didn’t have the financial or emotional support he needed. But he is hardworking, driven, and passionate. And he wasn’t willing to let anything come between him and his dream to design. Now, at the young age of 30, he lives in NYC and runs his brand, Gia New York, full-time. In the interview (which you’ll love) we cover: Learning...
2018-10-2947 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD071 Part 1: A Fashion Design Dream Come True: From the Honduras to NYFW, With Guillermo IriasWhen it came to success in fashion, Guillermo Irias had nothing going for him. Raised in the Honduras by a single mom who didn’t think a fashion career was a good idea, he didn’t have the financial or emotional support he needed. But he is hardworking, driven, and passionate. And he wasn’t willing to let anything come between him and his dream to design. Now, at the young age of 30, he lives in NYC and runs his brand, Gia New York, full-time. In the interview (which you’ll love) we cover: Learning...
2018-10-2254 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsBONUS: What I Wish I Knew About a Career in Fashion (from 10 industry experts)Becoming a fashion designer in real life is not what most people think it is. Because what you see on Project Runway and what you learn in school is not how the industry actually works. So if you want a career in fashion, get the inside scoop from 10 industry experts. Most of them have between 10-20 years experience, and they’ve worked at Brands like Lululemon, Under Armour, TopShop, Mavi Jeans, and Roxy. Their designs have been Featured in magazines like InStyle, Vogue and Sports Illustrated. If I were yo...
2018-10-1620 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD070 Build a Fashion Brand with a Cult FollowingSeeing other fashion brands on social media with these crazy cult followings can be pretty intimidating. You see these fashion brands and think, “I can't possibly generate that much interest in my designs.” But it’s possible.! You can design products that people want to buy because they are obsessed! With the right consumer research and branding, you can fill a gap in the market. Create the right product for the right person? Can lead to a cult following. This is exactly what Aaron and Carmen of Caraa did. But not without the leg work it take...
2018-10-151h 00
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD069 Launching a Sustainable Fashion Brand and Manufacturing in BaliDo you want to create a sustainable fashion brand ...but feel like you’re on the outside edge of what is going on in the fashion world? It can feel as though no one will ever give you the answers to your questions or share their inside information or tips. Well... good news, this isn't permanent. There are many ways to get the information and help you need to create your sustainable fashion brand. But it's probably not from the people or places you have been looking. Hearing Eva’s story will give you a bran...
2018-10-011h 04
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD068: Fashion Design Career Advice on College, Why You're Not Getting the Job, Freelancing and FactoriesMany of you have loads of Q’s about working in fashion…and I know it can be hard to find answers. Maybe you don’t know any industry experts to ask. Maybe your coworkers are tight lipped and not willing to share their secrets. Maybe you just don’t even know where to go. Which is why I’m excited to be back with another mailbag episode to give you fashion design career advice.Once a month, I answer your Q’s on the Successful Fashion Designer Podcast. This month, I’ll be giving my best advice on college, Why Y...
2018-09-2430 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD067 Working with a Fashion ShowroomYou finally have your design process down and your merchandise production down to a science and you feel like you’re ready to take on one of those big time retailers, but you have no idea how to reach them. You have no idea how to get your foot in the door of a fashion showroom, you're a little scared to hand over your fashion designs and trust them to a stranger. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it seems. You can find the right showroom sales partner to help you take your fashion line to...
2018-09-1753 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD066 10 Easy Networking Tips (you can use today) to Get Ahead in FashionOne of the best ways to get ahead in fashion - whether it's to get your first (or next) job or to launch your own fashion brand - is networking. Now, I know, no one really wants to "network". But here's the thing: You don't have to do that "networking" thing. Instead, you can just focus on making friends and having conversations. Once you build some of these simple habits into your daily life, opportunities will literally start falling in your lap. I guarantee it. Because - in case you didn't realiz...
2018-09-1043 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD065 How This Surface Pattern Designer Creates From MusicAre you an artist or designer who finds inspiration is everywhere, often in the most unexpected places? And do you ever feel stuck not knowing how to turn it into anything? This is exactly what happened to Nadia Ricketts of Beatwoven, a textile and surface pattern designer who turned music into fabric. In this episode of the Successful Fashion Designer podcast, she walks us through how she created a surface pattern design brand using her one-of-a-kind vision and inspiration. In the interview (which I know you’ll love) we cover: Seeing sound within your su...
2018-09-0351 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD064 Fashion Startup Advice on Creating, Manufacturing and Selling Your DesignsYou’re someone who spends hours getting lost in a fashion idea, drawing and redesigning a garment over and over again until it’s just right. But once those ideas are perfected you’re not sure how to go from hand drawing on a napkin to holding that garment in your hands. But you can wade through the uncertainty of becoming a startup fashion designer, your dream can come true! Which is exactly what Anouchka Santella of Wear Gold clothing line did. And in this episode of the Successful Fashion Designer podcast...
2018-08-201h 11
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsBonus Episode: Aliexpress knocked off this fashion brand. Here's what they did.Fashion designers worry all the time about how to protect their ideas. Unfortunately? Our industry doesn’t get much protection or have much control when it comes to knockoffs. Grassroots brand Solstice Intimates has had their lingerie and loungewear ripped off before, both by independent designers and large trendy stores. But the most recent incident with AliExpress took things to a whole new level. Not only did AliExpress knockoff their ruffle short design. The seller stole images from the Solstice website to use for the AliExpress listing. The o...
2018-08-1515 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD063 Mailbag: Fashion Design Career Advice on Samples vs Prototypes, Made to Order fashion and Textile DesignMany of you have loads of Q's about working in fashion...and I know it can be hard to find answers. Maybe you don't know any industry experts to ask. Maybe your coworkers are tight lipped and not willing to share their secrets. Maybe you just don't even know where to go. Which is why I'm excited to be back with another mailbag episode to give you fashion design career advice. Once a month, I answer your Q's on the Successful Fashion Designer Podcast. This month, I'll be giving my best advice on industry terminology (samples vs proto...
2018-08-1325 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD062 Building a Profitable Baby Bag Fashion Brand with No ExperienceDo you have ideas, big ideas that can change the way consumers use a specific fashion product? Do you spend all your time drawing up designs, getting feedback from friends and family and thinking of new ways to create ease of use for your consumer? Do you spend time wondering how you can build a profitable brand with no experience? Fashion retail is a tough industry to get noticed in, but you know you have the perfect product that is missing from the fashion market and your just not sure how to get it there. You can...
2018-08-061h 00
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD061 Are You Ready to Quit Your Job for Your Fashion Startup Business?You have had this full time corporate fashion job for several years. You’re comfortable where you're at, with benefits, income and stability. But you also have this “passion project” that you started as a creative outlet and it has turned into a fashion startup business. You spend all your free time designing, making, creating and problem solving in your craft. But now you’re stuck. This fashion startup business has begun to flourish, your process has streamlined and your passion has grown and yet you’re still working your 9-5 fashion job. Figuring out where to go from he...
2018-07-231h 12
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD060 Shanghai, Hong Kong and Istanbul: A Day in the Life of an International Fashion DesignerThe thought of being a jet setting international fashion designer working around the world from London to Shanghai and Hong Kong to Istanbul sounds like a fantasy life. But for Carla Louise Stout, it's been her reality for the last 15 years. Carla got her start the way most designers do with formal training at fashion school. But it wasn't easy for her to break into the industry. After 20 interviews and some unattractive offers to "work for free to gain experience!", she finally landed her first entry level fashion design job. Carla takes us through a day in t...
2018-07-181h 17
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD059 Mailbag: Fashion Design Career Advice on Freelancing, Gaining Industry Experience and Quitting Your JobMany of you have loads of Q's about working in fashion...and I know it can be hard to find answers. Maybe you don't know any industry experts to ask. Maybe your coworkers are tight lipped and not willing to share their secrets. Maybe you just don't even know where to go. Which is why I'm excited to be back with another mailbag episode to give you fashion design career advice. Once a month, I answer your Q's on the Successful Fashion Designer Podcast. This month, I'll be giving my best advice on freelancing, how to gain ind...
2018-07-1633 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD058: Navigating the “4 P’s” of Fashion Marketing and Overcoming Networking Intimidation, with Robyn SpadyOne area of the fashion industry that unites us all together is marketing - getting the right message about our products to the right people. On this episode of The Successful Fashion Designer podcast, I interview Robyn Spady, a lifelong handweaver and fashion industry professional with over 17 years of experience. Throughout our engaging conversation, we discuss the 4 main pillars of fashion marketing: product, price, position, and promotion. Robyn shares her secrets to successfully networking with industry pros and how to handle hearing “no” in challenging conversations. Her advice will surely help you approach fashion marketing the...
2018-07-091h 13
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD057: Don’t Miss This Insider Coverage of Denver’s Massif Fashion WeekFew events are as exciting as the Massif Fashion Week held in Denver, Colorado every May. I attended the events this year and interviewed 9 different guests to capture their insights, anecdotes, and advice from the 2018 event. This episode is full of stories from executive planners, fashion designers, event photographers, and aspiring young fashion professionals. It’s an unfiltered glimpse into the heart of Massif, and I promise you won’t be disappointed. Be sure to listen! Outline of This Episode [0:43] Behind the scenes at Denver’s Massif Fashion Week [3:29] Kevin Alexander, co-producer and director of Massif Fashio...
2018-06-2548 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD056: Mailbag! Your Fashion Industry Q's AnsweredMany of you have loads of Q's about working in fashion...and I know it can be hard to find answers. Maybe you don't know any industry experts to ask. Maybe your coworkers are tight lipped and not willing to share their secrets. Maybe you just don't even know where to go. Which is why I started the monthly mailbag episode to the SFD podcast! Once a month, I take the best questions from listeners and answer them on the show. (If you want to submit your Q, email it to me anytime at podcast [at] se...
2018-06-1842 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD055: Follow These 4 Tips for Enhanced Fashion Media CoverageFashion media coverage is a challenging area for any fashion business, but Lorraine Sanders has perfected the process after years of working as a journalist. On this episode of The Successful Fashion Designer, she discusses how to tackle fashion media and press on your own, without the use of a PR firm. She explains 4 key areas that are essential for effective media coverage that positively impacts your bottom line. It’s an episode that will surely get you thinking, and it’s one not to be missed! Outline of This Episode [0:45] Lorraine Sanders is my guest for...
2018-06-111h 03
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD054: Podlet Episode, The Priceless Advice of “Know Thy Customer”You’ve probably heard about the value of getting to know your customer. It helps you understand what they need and learn how you can solve their problems. And whether you’re an up and coming brand, a freelance fashion designer, or looking for a job in the fashion industry, you have a customer. It’s whoever is paying you for a product, services performed or work done. It is a buyer (shopper), your client, or your boss. It is the brand you work for, or the one you’re dying to work for. No matter what...
2018-06-0427 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD053: 4 Best Practices for Fashion Job Search Success, with Recruiter Shellie SimpsonThe fashion job search process is not one to be taken lightly. Thankfully, my guest for this episode of The Successful Fashion Designer is Shellie Simpson, the Fashion Division Talent Director at Atrium Staffing. Shellie and her team at Atrium are creating a more personable relationship between top talent candidates and recruiters. She shares her 4 best practices for aspiring fashion professionals, and her insights will surely make your job search process easier and more enjoyable. She also explains the common freelance/employee dilemma, how to get started with a talent recruiter, and the one area...
2018-05-2859 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD052: Mailbag! Your fashion industry Q's answeredMany of you have loads of Q's about working in fashion...and I know it can be hard to find answers. Maybe you don't know any industry experts to ask. Maybe your coworkers are tight lipped and not willing to share their secrets. Maybe you just don't even know where to go. Which is why I'm adding a monthly mailbag episode to the SFD podcast! Once a month, I'll take the best questions from listeners and answer them on the show. (If you want to submit your Q, email it to me anytime at podcast@sewh...
2018-05-2141 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD051: Discover How One Fashion Design Entrepreneur Created a Flexible Direct-to-Consumer BusinessCreating a direct-to-consumer (DTC) business in the fashion industry isn’t easy. Learn from serial entrepreneur and new fashion designer Allison Floam on this episode of The Successful Fashion Designer - I promise it’s an episode you don’t want to miss. Allison shares the story behind her latest business venture, Bello Belts. The company specializes in unique, handcrafted belts for women and men. Allison is using her diverse background in business and finance to craft a unique company that is breaking molds in the fashion industry and innovating in their own way. Hear about...
2018-05-1454 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD050: Special 50th Episode, Heidi Gets InterviewedSuccessful Fashion Designer podcast celebrates ONE YEAR 🎉🎉🎉! It seems like just yesterday that having a podcast was something we just "talked" about...but here we are, 49 episodes and a year later, and we have a podcast. The feedback has been through the roof, and starting this show has been one of the best things I've ever done. Not only do I get to meet and chat with amazing industry experts, I get to share all of these conversations, insights and gold nuggets of advice with YOU. Thank you for listening each week. Thank you for the con...
2018-05-071h 08
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD049: Learn How to Create a Stellar Fashion Portfolio From a Former Under Armour Designer, featuring Leila JaliliContact Heidi: podcast (at) SuccessfulFashionDesigner.com Few fashion professionals are as passionate and knowledgeable as Leila Jalili, my guest for this episode of The Successful Fashion Designer. She left her positions with global brands such as Under Armour and 686 Technical Apparel to focus on her career as a freelance creative consultant specializing in the design, direction, and development of performance apparel and technical outerwear for women, men, and youth. Throughout this inspiring conversation Leila shares key insights into how new designers can ensure their fashion portfolios stand out from the masses. She explains how to...
2018-04-301h 00
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD048: How An Amazing Eco Friendly Clothing Brand Was Built On The Passion Of One WomanIf you need a shot of inspiration, you’ve got to hear this conversation with my guest Elle - the creator and designer behind Ellerali, an eco friendly clothing brand built solely on the passion of its founder. Elle wasn’t educated as a designer, she was trained as a marine biologist. But that hasn’t stopped her from following her passion for design, upcycling, and the creation of sustainable fashion. Elle began sewing in 2012 and almost immediately began designing and handcrafting clothes. She loves to create out of repurposed fabrics in a way that does not add to...
2018-04-161h 10
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsImportant Show Updates (and what they mean for you)As we near the one year anniversary for the show (WOW! Thank you for all your support to help us get this far!), I have some important updates about the podcast that affect you. In this short episode, learn about: the new bi-weekly publishing schedule how you can get your fashion industry questions answered in the new mailbag episodes where to discover behind the scenes bonus content how you can help us make the show better for you References mentioned in this episode: podcast (at) successfulfashiondesigner.com SFD on Patreon
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2018-04-0910 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD047: Why Choose a Career as a Pattern Maker (instead of a fashion designer)When most people think about working in fashion, all they think about is being a designer. But did you know there are a lot of other really cool jobs out there in fashion? Like a pattern maker career? A lot of the time, these jobs are less competitive than being a designer (but still as fun and creative). Aileen Coyle is a perfect example of someone who decided to explore opportunities outside of "designer". She now works as a pattern maker in LA. At first, she was set on being a designer to use her creativity. But after g...
2018-04-0256 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD046: How to Authentically Engage with Your Audience for Fashion EntrepreneursAs fashion creatives, we think if we come up with the world's most brilliant design...it will just sell itself. If we just put up an ecommerce site, people will flock to it and buy our beautiful designs. Unfortunately...it doesn't work that way. You can create the best product in the world, but if you don't strategically attract and engage with your audience, no one's going to buy it. Virginia learned this the hard way when she launched her activewear brand years ago. So, she bought business courses, learned from others who had be...
2018-03-261h 17
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD045: How to Plan a Fashion Photoshoot (step by step)There are a lot of variables to consider to plan a fashion photoshoot. And in this interview, fashion photographer Kristen Walther and I cover all of them. From casting models to getting the right hair and makeup, and finding a perfect location to planning for a smooth day, we go through the entire photoshoot process, step by step. You'll love her light hearted nature and will get a good laugh from her photoshoot horror stories (think braces!). In our interview, we discuss: The importance of casting models in real life The one and only place you...
2018-03-191h 05
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD036: How to Make it in the Fashion Industry (and in Manhattan) with Caroline VazzanaYour dream has been to make it in the fashion industry since you were a little girl (or boy). I get it! It was my dream too. But this industry is tough. Man is it brutal! You get rejected. You hear no a lot. And the competition is fierce. But your fashion dream can come true. You can push through the noise and rise to the top. Which is exactly what Caroline Vazzana of Making it in Manhattan did. And in this episode of the Successful Fashion Designer podcast, I am over the moon excited t...
2018-01-151h 00
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD034: Happy New Year 2018!Happy New Year everyone! Today, it's just Heidi here wishing you a happy and safe holiday! We'll be back next week with a brand new episode - talk to you then.
Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price
2018-01-0101 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD033: 2017 Review + 2018 PreviewJust Heidi on the show today, and I'm going through a review of 2017. This was a big year of change and growth for me and the business, so I figured what better time to share it with you than on the last episode of the year (which happens to be Christmas day - Merry Christmas!). I'll highlight some of the big events, some small but meaningful changes I've had, and some failures too. Because hey, we all have them. I also wanted to give you a sneak preview of what we're planning for 2018. Nothing's concrete (which is weird since...
2017-12-2524 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsSFD028: Thanksgiving Thanks! A Special Holiday Message Just for YouIt's Thanksgiving week in the US, so we're taking a holiday on the podcast. But I did create a short holiday message just for you to say thanks for all your support and give you a heads up on a few things we're planning for 2018. If you want to give your feedback on the idea I shared about recording your questions for the show, you can send your input to podcast at successfulfashiondesigner dot com. Look forward to hearing your thoughts, thanks again for all the support, and hope you have a great week, holiday or n...
2017-11-2005 min
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own TermsHow to Get Funding and Launch A Successful Fashion BrandTrying to make it as a new fashion brand is insanely cutthroat. The competition is fierce and there are hundreds of thousands of designers fighting to be the next big thing. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do to make sure you're miles ahead of the competition. This is part 2 of a two-part interview with Rochelle Behrens who owns The-Shirt.com, a succesful startup fashion label. She shares her best advice and some of the strategies she used to get her brand off the ground...and fast. You will learn: * Why you may not want to get VC...
2016-05-0543 min