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

Latest Episodes:

SFD077 Interview with Project Runway Juniors Winner Chelsea Ma Dec 17, 2018

Show notes

Chelsea 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 pay off, even if you have no background or experience with design.

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

What it was like applying to Project Runway Junior (wow what a marathon)
What kinds of questions PRJ asked in the interview
How she felt as a 14-year-old flying out to New York for Project Runway Juniors
The inside scoop on her first challenge (what a rollercoaster!)
What the competitive environment was like on Project Runway Junior
Chelsea’s favorite challenges
The risks Chelsea took on the show
What it was like being judged by Tim Gunn, Hannah Jeter, Kelly Osbourne, Christian Siriano, and Aya Kanai
How she felt in the last moments before revealing her collection
How she confidently faced the finale of Project Runway Junior
The fact that the dramatically slow passage of time before announcing a winner is actually a real thing ;)
What it was like winning Project Runway Junior!!!
Where her ambition took her after Project Runway Junior and why you should “burn your boats”
What her plans are for when she graduates!
And so much more!

CHELSEA MA THE CHAMP

Chelsea Ma had almost no previous fashion experience when she won Project Runway Junior Season 2--I mean, she was only 14 when she applied! She and her sewing teacher; Miss Trang, had to hustle to put together her application in just two weeks. They had to make a video, a portfolio, and FIVE outfits...two weeks, people! Then auditions, interviews, and off to New York. Sounds surreal, right? And then she won.

But it wasn’t as short of a story as all that...there were tears, sweat, and even a little blood on the road to her success (sewing leather by hand is fierce business)--but this teen is wise beyond her years and tells us all about the hustle and how she kept going through each of the challenges, even when she was sure they would send her home.

Chelsea tells us all about the rollercoaster of the challenges and being judged by Tim Gunn, Hannah Jeter, Kelly Osbourne, Christian Siriano, and Aya Kanai. She talks about the time limits, the preparation, the materials, the drama (or thankfully, lack thereof) between the competitors, and goes into detail about what was going through her head during these high-stress challenges. Like in episode 1, when she thought she made a major mistake with her materials, but of course absolutely slayed it.

SO SHE WON, WHAT NOW?

If it’s not obvious that Chelsea is a hustler that never stops, let me make it clear: this woman does! Not! Stop! Right now she’s in school full time and working on two collections. Check out her line Visual Novel, her collection-based fashion line that launched in September 2018, and keep an eye out for her accessories line (that she’s doing for fun), Dessac. This Project Runway Junior winner has so much drive and ambition that we know her career is going to be an illustrious one. Can’t wait to see what’s to come!

Resources & People Mentioned

Chelsea Ma on Instagram @chelsea_ma
Chelsea Ma’s fashion line on Instagram @chelseamaofficial
Miss Trang’s line Doeskin
Miss Trang’s line on Instagram @doeskin_la
Chelsea’s clothing line Visual Novel | Instagram @visualnovelofficial

Enjoy the show? Help us out by:

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD076 Six Steps to Starting a Fashion Line that Sells Dec 10, 2018

Show notes

Designing 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 line that sells.

We went back through and extracted the golden advice nuggets from their episodes and distilled it down for you here--it’s great advice for everyone that wants to start a fashion line the right way.

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

Finding and owning your niche to create a fashion line that sells
How NOT to design for everybody (seriously!)
Solving your own problems by facing and overcoming the fashion challenges that you have
Doing RESEARCH on other fashion lines
Actually going to where your customer is hanging out to do MORE research
Testing, testing, and testing some more--getting feedback on your samples
Engaging and asking your customer for feedback during the design + development process
Asking open-ended questions to get more information from your customers
And so much more!

Episodes Referenced:

Connect with cohost Robyn:

Learn more about Robyn and her publication, Heddlecraft Magazine.

Enjoy the show? Help us out by:

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD075 How to Be a Lingerie Designer with Laurie Van Jonsson Nov 26, 2018

Show notes

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 designer.

Her 15 years of experience make her an expert in this category, and in this interview, she shares it all. From how she broke into the lingerie industry, how she sold her designs to global retailers, and how she ultimately became a freelance lingerie designer.

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

Designing within constraints and restrictions in the lingerie design industry (that’s how she found her niche!)
The mistakes (many people make) of trying to cater to too many markets
Working with large manufacturers as a lingerie designer
Having the passion and belief in your product to sew it all yourself (by hand!)
How to be the lingerie designer that stands out with major retail buyers (being “pest-like” was described as a positive trait here!)
How Laurie started blogging, grew her business, wrote and published a book, and managed the supply and demand for niche lingerie sizes
How Laurie’s freelance work built off of the momentum of her other projects
The mistakes people make when starting their own fashion brand
Advice on the best way to start strong, save time, and save money
Working with people as a freelancer in the lingerie fashion industry
Setting clear expectations and scope with freelance clients
How Laurie built a foundation of inbound referrals that led to projects
The challenges of working with people across the globe
And so much more!

Freelance Designer with Lingerie Leanings

Laurie van Johnson, a lingerie designer who started out in the industry back in 2003, first worked as a lingerie designer for brands, but quickly built her own brand of full cup, small back bras that she's sold throughout the world, including TopShop. Laurie now works as a freelance fashion designer working with other startup brands to help them launch labels and get patterns, grading, and tech packs all in order so that their bras and lingerie fit perfectly. After fifteen years in the fashion industry, she has great stories and loads of advice for freelancers and budding branders alike.

Laurie has a rich history in the fashion industry. She studied Fashion and Textiles in school, and focused her obsession with detail into lingerie and swimwear as soon as she could. She focused her expertise on a small niche of the lingerie market, and quickly became an expert in the industry. She wrote “How to Become a Lingerie Designer” in 2012, and currently specializes in working with startup designers.

Advice for Every Fashion Designer

Laurie draws up designs, writes spec sheets, produces tech packs, and provides consultation for the startup lingerie designers of the world. She launched Van Jonsson Design again in September 2018, and she writes technical books, design sheets, and design patterns full time. Laurie spoke about finding her niche, what to charge freelance clients, and how she stood out with major retail buyers. Her passion for her craft is contagious and we know you’ll love hearing about her experience in the lingerie design realm!

Resources & People Mentioned

Enjoy the show? Help us out by:

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD074 Mailbag: Fashion Design Career Advice on 3D Prototyping, Kickstarting Your Career, and Productivity Nov 19, 2018

Show notes

Many 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, prototyping, kick-starting your career, and productivity.

(If you want to submit your Q, email it to me anytime at podcast [at] sewheidi [dot]com for consideration.)Here are the fashion design career advice questions I answer in this mailbag episode!

On the future of 3D modeling as an industry standard for product developers and technical developers, from Meggan [2:14]

I was curious if there would be any transition or talk about 3D modeling and how it’s becoming more and more an industry standard for both product developers and technical developers. More importantly design. In my industry 3D modeling is replacing 1st prototype (I work for [brand name redacted] in Apparel Dev). We are also curating libraries for trims in 3D software so it’s a full breath of garment and drape with all embellishment and decoration. Are you seeing this in your career as well? Crazy how shifts happen so quickly.

On prototyping, sampling, and getting to know who you’re working with in production, from Jo [10:30]

I love listening to your podcast and feel like I have learned a lot! I know this is a long-shot, but I am desperate for some advice. I am creating a special denim line for woman and had a sample made by a US manufacturer. The sample took an unbelievably long amount of time and came back not at all reflecting my tech pack (they basically just re-created my rough proto). I decided to hire a company that works with startups to refine our tech pack and pattern file based on the fit testing. If I use this smaller company, I have to either choose pre-washed denim or outsource the wash process. With the larger (but less dependable company), it would all be done in the same facility for less per price cost (but higher minimum). Due to high shrinkage, I have to make a decision on the fabric in order to move forward with changes to the pattern. I have never gone through the manufacturing process before and really want to move forward. Do you have any advice you could share?

On kick-starting your career (hint: it’s never too late), from Cihud [15:19]

Do you think it's too late for me at this age (28) already? From your experience, what's the difference between the designers that start early and the ones who come later like me? And this is a bit personal, if I may know, where were you at 28 y.o? What kind of life situation, job, finance, and what stage of your career at that time. As much as I wanna feel motivated that I believe I'm doing the right thing/ on the right track, it still sometimes hits my self-esteem and questioning my potentials and future.

On opportunities to learn how the fashion industry works, from Cihud [17:19]

You mentioned that you didn't have any fashion background before landing your first fashion assistant job, and now you're very knowledgeable and skillful in apparel manufacturing. How long did it take for you to grasp at least sufficient knowledge to be confident in yourself that you know you've got what it takes?

On productivity: doing it all and then doing more, from Cihud [19:34]

How do you manage to do everything? I see you have a lot of things to take care of. I want to know what your typical day is, what your routine is like from the moment you wake up and sleep.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode 19 with Kathryn Hilderbrand of Good Clothing Company

If you enjoyed this episode and have questions you want answered, email them to podcast [at] sewheidi [dot] com for consideration. I'll pick the best ones and include them in the monthly mailbag show.

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD073 Accounting Advice for Fashion Designers and Businesses Nov 12, 2018

Show notes

Guess 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 taxes
Financial planning for fashion designers and businesses
How to budget appropriately and save for taxes and retirement
What you can write off on taxes (bet some of these are going to be new to you!)
What you can NOT write off on taxes that you may have thought you could!
Advice on how much is safe to put aside for taxes
How to prepare to get a loan and how to use it successfully
Self-employment tax and the differences between being an employee and a business owner
How to financially prepare for crowd-sourcing and the tax implications of “free money”
Penalties and repercussions of tax mistakes
How best to prepare for audits

Peter Lang, an accountant for creative professionals like you in the fashion industry, loves talking about finances, budgeting, and taxes. He promises there are no stupid questions in the tax accounting world, and wishes everyone were comfortable to ask more detailed questions about their finances--there’s so much to know!

Peter’s not a regular CPA--he’s a Designer CPA.

Peter has been a CPA for fifteen years, and his niche is the design industry. He provides tax accounting, CFO, and overall financial advice to business owners in the design industry. When Peter started working as a CPA, he accepted clients as they came, but noticed some of his clients were...more exciting than others. He started working with interior designers, then fashion designers, and the rest is history: he had found his specialization and calling in the CPA world.

Peter’s accounting advice goes into great detail on the podcast--he covers important issues to consider when getting funding, whether it’s from a small business loan, investors, and / or crowdfunding, and the tax implications and best-practice of using that money. He gives advice on entities to consider for your business, whether it’s sole proprietor or corporation, and how to save money on self-employment. He also dives into sales tax and what to do about passing that on to your end customer (spoiler alert: he says it’s one of the most complex topics!) but manages to advise in clear, concise ways that make us want to nerd-out on accounting and finances more often.

Do I need a Designer CPA?

It can only help, right? Peter says fashion designers can benefit from the service of any CPA that they’re compatible with, but as a Designer CPA, he considers himself a little more on the wavelength of the design industry. He found he could provide more value to his design clients all year-round, and could serve as a trusted advisor and help them grow their business. It’s always refreshing to work with people who are passionate about the same things as you are--especially if they have your best financial interests at heart.

Resources & People Mentioned

thedesignercpa.com
The Designer CPA on Instagram
The Designer CPA on Facebook
Traction by Gino Wickman--Peter’s recommendation for processes for business plan, budgeting, and more
Avalara -- Peter’s recommendation for a cloud-based, automated tax software

Enjoy the show? Help us out by:

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD072 This Fashion Designer Applied to Puma 7 Times. How He Finally Got His Dream Job. Nov 05, 2018

Show notes

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 perseverance and drive will pay off.

After being applying for a design job and being rejected a MASSIVE 7 times, he finally got a foot in the door as an intern at Puma. Two years later, he still works there full-time. And he loves every minute of it. He is genuinely living out his fashion design dream.

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

How to turn land your dream fashion design internship, even if you’ve been rejected before
The best way to turn an internship into a full time fashion design job
The simple things you can do at work to get ahead of the competition
How to advance your fashion design career
What you can do to make sure your resume and portfolio stand out

Like you, Kirby started his fashion career from the bottom.

The truth about success? Is that it’s usually preceded by A LOT of failure, and that most people start at the bottom (just like Kirby). After applying to his dream fashion job at Puma 7 times, he finally got the opportunity to prove himself. But as a part-time intern, he had a long way to go to become a full time employee. So how’d he do it? By kicking major butt and going the extra mile in everything he did. In this interview, he shares the exact strategies he used to make sure he was the one to get offered a full time job at the end of the internship.

Resources & People Mentioned

Kirby on LinkedIn

Enjoy the show? Help us out by:

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD071 Part 2: A Fashion Design Dream Come True: From the Honduras to NYFW, With Guillermo Irias Oct 29, 2018

Show notes

When 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 to believe in your dream when no one else will
Working your way through college after leaving home
Funding your dream with side jobs
Showcasing at New York fashion week
Entering contests that can change your career
Moving to New York and attending F.I.T
Internships that lead to working with high profile clients
Trying to find the right job after college

Guillermo has done every and any job to get to where he is at today.

From making garments for friends to styling for NY residents, and entering contests to doing free internships at any brand that would take him, he saw every experience as an opportunity to learn something. He even had the opportunity to design for Madonna's Rebel heart tour in 2015.

All of this work created huge results.

GIA New York is a successful NY brand that has grabbed people's attention all across the U.S. With huge following on social media and a love for his unique take on fashion, he is taking the industry by storm.

To hear part 1, view photos + the video version of this episode, visit http://sfdnetwork.com/71

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD071 Part 1: A Fashion Design Dream Come True: From the Honduras to NYFW, With Guillermo Irias Oct 22, 2018

Show notes

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 to believe in your dream when no one else will
Working your way through college after leaving home
Funding your dream with side jobs
Showcasing at New York fashion week
Entering contests that can change your career
Moving to New York and attending F.I.T
Internships that lead to working with high profile clients
Trying to find the right job after college

Guillermo has done every and any job to get to where he is at today.

All of this work created huge results.

Watch for Guillermo’s Interview Part 2 on Oct 29

To view photos + the video version of this episode, visit http://sfdnetwork.com/71

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

BONUS: What I Wish I Knew About a Career in Fashion (from 10 industry experts) Oct 16, 2018

Show notes

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 you? I’d take their advice VERY seriously.

Get ready for some good stuff (you know, the stuff no one talks about). It’s why I call it FASHION INDUSTRY SECRETS REVEALED.

Note: This was originally released on YouTube as part of the full Fashion Industry Secrets Revealed series (check out all episodes here). This episode lent so well to audio that we decided to release it as a bonus episode - enjoy!

Resources & People Mentioned

Carla Louise Stout: Website / Instagram
Cristina Dorda Soriano Website / Instagram
Eirini Scott: Website / Instagram
Emily Keller: Website / Instagram
Jackie Ayres: Website / Instagram
Kimberly Hamilton-Rice: Website / Instagram
Kimberly Dippel: Website
Leila Jalili: LinkedIn / Instagram
Malie Bingham: Website / Instagram
Marissa Borelli: Website / Instagram

Enjoy the show? Help us out by:

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

SFD070 Build a Fashion Brand with a Cult Following Oct 15, 2018

Show notes

Seeing 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 takes to build this kind of cult following.

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

Starting your fashion career in a different field (finance)
Finding a gap in the fashion market, and figuring out how to fill the gap
Saturating the fashion accessories market with a unique product
Learning how to lead with design, but sell based on function
Launching with only one well researched fashion product
Doing product research directly with your potential customer
Wading through all the financial options for funding
Working with big brands to collaborate
Why one way pitching doesn't often work out
Manufacturing locally until you’re ready to manufacture overseas.

Press the orange play button below to listen here, or listen on Apple Podcasts:

Aaron Luo and his partner Carmen Chen Wu, are innovators in the fashion accessories world. They noticed a gap in the market for a bag that would meet the needs of the multifaceted woman. The working woman, the mom, and yogi who needed the right bag to transition throughout all those roles without switching her bag, or worse carrying three of them at once. They have generated a cult following because of their unique, fashion focused, function driven line of bags.

Like you, Aaron started his fashion career from an unlikely field.

With 20 years in finance for a company that specializes in clothing production he gained an understanding of the fashion market from a unique perspective. When he and his partner Carmen (designer for many years) discovered a major gap in the market they decided to embark on this exciting new adventure together.

Being a designer, it’s not as sexy as TV makes it out to be.

Aaron shares the ins and outs of designing a brand new fashion product. Most people think, “I designed this product, how can I fit it into the current market place?”. But Arron tells us about discovering a gap in the marketplace, then designing a product around what that consumer wants and more importantly what this customer needs.

Resources & People Mentioned

Click here to join the last round of FAST!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

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

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected