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Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms — Arts
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms

This is a show for burnt-out fashion designers (and TDs, PDs, patternmakers, textile designer and beyond) who want more flexibility in their career while still doing work they love.

You’ll learn how to build a freelance fashion business, so you can do the work you love 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.)

Copyright: © All rights reserved

Latest Episodes:

SFD099 Why this Startup Fashion Brand Makes Clothes for Short Men Only Feb 03, 2020

Show notes

Steve 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 reason even the most talented designers can fail when they launch their brand;
One of the most important steps Steve took FIRST;
The cultural issue that drove their design concept;
Why it’s not just about making things shorter;
What Steve discovered about over 90% of men that helped his brand take shape--Literally!
Why Otero’s business model is difficult for retail… And why they forged ahead with it anyway;
The marketing challenges Steve wasn’t expecting;
What he credits for Otero’s miniscule number of returns;
Steve’s new strategy to change the retail game;
And more!

For the full show notes, including links to the people and resources mentioned, head to the Successful Fashion Designer website!

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD098 How to Get a Better Job in Fashion Jan 20, 2020

Show notes

Michele 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 want to hear from a candidate for any kind of role
Tips for how to make the most of your strengths even with your least favorite tasks
A super important way to stand out when you apply for a fashion job
Tips for working in a team with different personality types
And more!

For the full show notes, including links to all the resources mentioned in the episode, head over to Successful Fashion Designer!

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD097 How to Become a Remote Fashion Freelancer Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

Guests 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 experience with the value of really knowing your niche and your customer
The unique way she moved from working for a company to starting her brand
How Lily managed to get her designs featured in major publications like Vogue--without hiring a PR company
Why she decided to shut down a successful brand and become a remote fashion freelancer
How she got started freelancing--and what she would do differently now
What Lily says was a major factor in her freelance success
How she stays busy despite not living in a major city
What she’s learned about pricing, getting clients, and the tricky waters of navigating freelance projects
And more!

For the full show notes, including links to everything mentioned, head over to the Successful Fashion Designer website!

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

Bonus: Freelancing Advice for the Fashion Industry Dec 23, 2019

Show notes

In 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 wants to share what she’s learned with YOU.

In the interview (which you’ll love), we will cover:

Heidi’s journey from graphic design school to Successful Fashion Designer
Why having your own label may not be as glamorous as it seems
The “dream” jobs that Heidi walked away from
How she found her perfect fit as a designer
Tips for fashion freelancers looking for their first clients
How doing less as a freelancer actually helps you earn more
What you should do differently when you’re pitching for freelance work (or ANY type of job!)
Where to start when setting your rates
And more!

For the full show notes, including links to resources and people mentioned, head to the Successful Fashion Designer website!

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD096 Q&A: How to Become a Fashion freelancer with Heidi & Marissa Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

Have 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!

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

Bonus Episode: My Infertility Journey Nov 25, 2019

Show notes

(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 airport, I burst into tears.

It’s been a long 2.5 years since we got that phone call, and my husband Marc and I have dealt with a lot. During this time, we have also learned that what we’re going through is actually REALLY COMMON. Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples, and female factor is more common than male. Since I know that the majority of my followers are women between 25-45, something like this will affect A LOT of you. And so I feel some sort of obligation to talk openly about it for a few reasons: ✅ Education and awareness (I had no idea this was an issue until it hit me) ✅ To help you feel less alone (this stuff can be taboo, but it shouldn’t) ✅ To give you a chance to share your story (and tell you mine). This week is Thanksgiving here in the US, and I’m happy to tell you that Marc and I have a lot to be thankful for. If you’re going through any type of infertility, my deepest thoughts are with you. I’m 100% transparent about what we’ve experienced and want to see this topic become more approachable for everyone. If you have questions, want a shoulder to lean on, or care to share your story, I’m here for you. Email me anytime.

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD095 How to Get Your First Fashion Design Job After College Nov 11, 2019

Show notes

When 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 love), we will cover:

How she decided to change her major to fashion after pursuing a different field for 2 years
What she did to boost her chances of getting an interview
What she did for interviews that helped her stand out
The dream job that didn’t happen
How she scored her first design job right out of college
What it was like starting her first job for a big company in NYC
What she does as an assistant designer and the part she plays in the design and production process
The biggest part of her job--that she DIDN’T learn in fashion school
The biggest lesson from her first year working in fashion
And more!

For the full show notes, including links to the resources mentioned, head over to our website, Successful Fashion Designer!

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD094 This Dirndl Designer Grew a BIG Fashion Brand with a TINY Niche Oct 28, 2019

Show notes

Is 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 (which you’ll love), we will cover:

What even is a dirndl, anyway?
The smart moves Erika made early on in her business
What she learned from her years doing festivals and pop-up shops
Why Erika narrowed her already small niche down further…
...and even further, and how she got super clear on her ideal customer
The second ideal customer avatar that surprised her
What she’s learned about creating a website to sell your designs
How blogging on other topics helps her find her customers
How she handles returns and custom designs
The marketing strategy that works for her today
And more!

For the full show notes, head to the SFD website!

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD093 How to Land Your Dream Job in the Outdoor Apparel Industry Oct 14, 2019

Show notes

Fashion 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 the right moves at the right times. She readily admits that she’s been lucky--but she shares tons of ways that you can become lucky too! Follow her lead, and boost your chances of getting to design for the category YOU want most.

In the interview (which you’ll love), we will cover:

How she got into fashion--with a bachelor’s in marine biology
How she got “lucky” with jobs--again and again!
Why she left her first dream job (and what she would have done differently)
Why she quit another job many designers would kill for--without a job lined up!
Her tips for networking when it doesn’t come naturally to you
How she has scored more great opportunities over the years
Why working for a big brand isn’t always the best option
How she spends her days in a smaller company with diverse aspects to her role
Details about the product design and development process
And more!

Resources & People Mentioned

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SFD092 Should You Sell Your Fashion Brand on Consignment? Sep 30, 2019

Show notes

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. In the interview he shares details on everything he did in the first few years of launching a fashion brand.

In the interview (which you’ll love), we will cover:

How Sam transitioned from making shirts for his friends to selling to the public
Why his brand was a little too niche, and what he did about it
How he self-funded the early days of his brand
The hugely valuable job that most people underestimate
How he chose the first factory that produced his designs
The little ways he made his pieces feel more upscale
How working with a showroom helped evolve his brand
Why he let go of one of the core tenets of his original brand
The pros and cons of selling on consignment as a new designer
The CRAZY way he got the word out about his brand
And more!

It started with tee shirts

Despite a lifelong interest in fashion, Sam Murkoff didn’t intend to become a fashion designer. In his early teens, he cut up and reassembled garments, infusing his own unique style into clothes for himself and his friends. When he got to college, he majored in theater and began working in luxury retail. Aside from a little screenprinting, design wasn’t really on his mind. But when he realized he needed a creative outlet, he started making shirts again. That’s when Manhattan Knights really began.

NYC Streetwear

Sam quickly discovered that there was more interest in the clothes he was creating than just his inner circle. When the screen printer he’d been using encouraged him to get his work out there, he started offering his designs on consignment at small boutiques.

This first line of streetwear, which played on his private school experience and satirized some major brands, came to be known as Cease & Desist. It appealed to a niche New York audience that grew his confidence and convinced him to make a real go at launching a brand.

Bold Moves

Since that first success, Sam has faced a steep learning curve. He’s continued to sell his work on consignment, worked with a showroom, and changed his production methods repeatedly. He’s now designing clothing that takes the sardonic humor of his early designs to a cut-and-sew line that transcends season and defies description. He’s had to pivot over and over in the process of creating a fashion brand that can actually sell. He also made one of the boldest moves we’ve heard of to publicize his fledgeling label!

Through it all, Sam has kept his eye on the goal of taking his bold inspiration and irreverent sartorial attitude to a wider market, without losing the essence of where Manhattan Knights began.

Resources & People Mentioned

Enjoy the show? Help us out by:

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

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