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 love a good success story, this episode is packed with insights that will leave you inspired and ready to tackle your own dreams. 💪

Resources:
SFD100 To Reach Your Goals in Fashion (and Life), Just Do ANYTHING

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If you want to scale your freelance fashion design business, there are three strategies you need to know.

Everyone's path can look different but Connie Bourgeois turned her side-gig freelance biz into a million-dollar agency in four short years.  With the right strategies and hard work, you can grow your fashion design business, too.  And if it all seems too good to be true, don't worry, because we are also diving into some of the cold hard truths that are the realities of growing a business.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, this episode is packed with client-finding strategies you can put to use today!  Hit play and kick-start your freelance growth.

Resources:
SFF147: "I turned my side hustle into my full-time hustle."

About Connie:
Connie Bourgeois founded Conjetta Designs to support designers and entrepreneurs by making their apparel dreams a reality! By sharing her extensive knowledge of design, development, sourcing, logistics, merchandising, and brand building, with both her team and her clients, Connie fosters an environment of collaboration, innovation and growth, allowing her clients to focus on growing their business instead.

Connect with Connie:
Visit her website: www.conjettadesigns.com
Email at: connie@conjettadesigns.com
Follow on Instagram
Connect on Linkedin

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Taxes aren't fun but paying more taxes than you need is even worse!

Choosing the right structure can have a significant impact on your taxes and personal liability.  This episode breaks down the essentials of choosing between a sole proprietorship, LLC, and S Corp so you can be confident in setting up your freelance business. Discover how the right business entity can save you money on taxes and protect your personal assets, all while making the setup process as painless as possible.

If the legal stuff sounds scary and is holding you back from diving in, hit play now (and throw that excuse out the window)!

Resources:
Do I Need an LLC to Freelance Blog Post 

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Launching a fashion brand is expensive. And many designers who dream of having their own brand find themselves stuck in this dilemma: You need to work to support yourself while you’re starting your brand. But a full time job hardly leaves any time to work on your line! In this interview, Atlanta-based sustainable designer Christina Yother shares how she launched and funded her fashion brand while working full time, freelancing, and navigating the effects of the pandemic on the fashion industry!

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

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This 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!

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This is my second interview with Noémie Jouas, a young designer who started creating bespoke dresses from her college housing in small-town Scotland. Since I spoke to her last, she’s had her first runway show, adapted to the pandemic, and gotten her work featured by both Teen Vogue and Vogue. 

For links to Noemie and her original interview, head over to Successful Fashion Designer!

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Learn new strategies for finding freelance fashion design clients, and charging a retainer for consistent income! Sophia is a full-time fashion freelancer who moved from NYC to Texas and grew her freelance business--during Covid! If you’ve been struggling to find clients for your freelance fashion business, this episode is a must listen.

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

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Canadian designer Alexandra Suhner Isenberg studied fashion in Toronto, London, and Paris. She’s worked for brands including Burberry, freelanced, and taught fashion. But when an antique men’s chemise became her favorite thing to sleep in, Alexandra was inspired to start her brand, The Sleep Shirt. Listen for her fascinating story and how she built a successful luxury brand based around a single garment designed to perfection. 

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

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Karen LePage is a freelance patternmaker and grader who specializes in size inclusivity and sustainability. She’s also a fit consultant, a sewing and fit teacher, an author, and a mom. Karen broke into the industry without going to fashion school, and she has built a thriving freelance business doing meaningful projects for clients she loves. In this episode of the Successful Fashion Designer Podcast, Karen shares how she did it, and how she’s found happiness in an industry where she never felt she belonged.  

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

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Atlas Menswear founder Aaron Woolf has been athletic his whole life. Although this father of 4 has been an entrepreneur in other industries since 2014, he never thought he’d get into fashion. But he was fed up with dress shirts that didn’t fit his muscular build. And when he started talking to other men at the gym about the issue, Aaron discovered that he wasn’t the only one who wanted a muscular men’s clothing line. In this episode of the Successful Fashion Designer Podcast, Aaron and designer Jessica Dixon share the steps they took to get from that first idea to a product they’re proud to produce for other athletic and muscular men. 

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

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Shilo Byrd has been in the industry for a decade and a half, and she knows her stuff. She’s a freelance luxury pattern maker, product developer, supply chain & production consultant, and a contributor at Vogue Business. In this episode of the SFD Podcast, Shilo chats about everything from understanding fit and the best way to learn new skills, to networking in fashion and her advice for starting your own brand. Whether you’re a freelancer, starting your own brand, or even just curious about the fashion industry, this episode has something for you!

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

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Alex is a self-taught freelance technical designer living in Ottawa, Ontario. He didn’t go to fashion school, and he never held a job in the industry. Yet he’s working with small fashion brands, helping them get their ideas into production alongside his full-time job. In this episode, he shares how he managed to carve a spot for himself as a fashion freelancer, and what he’s learned in the process. 

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

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To 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!

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How can you tell if a factory is legit?

There are easy strategies you can use to vet factories in the fashion industry.   In this strategy session clip, Deb Barraza and I share personal experiences and brainstorm ideas to make the process feel less daunting and more manageable. Learn how to use targeted, open-ended questions that reveal the true nature of a factory's operations beyond the sales pitch. Because let's be honest, a good salesman can give you smoke and mirrors all day long.

Hit play now to avoid factory nightmares for you and your freelance fashion clients!

About Deb Barraza:
Deb is a product Development Consultant helping small and growing jewelry brands bring in their collections as envisioned and on time.

Resources:
SFF156: Jay Arbetman  How to Source Fabrics for Your Freelance Clients

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Since it's a holiday week here in the US, I'm sharing one of my favorite podcast episodes! Judy Karp worked in the NYC Fashion Industry since the 60's. This is her story.

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Have you ever found yourself sitting at your day job, feeling like something is missing? Have you always been full of ideas, daydreaming about a more creative life? My guest on this episode, Tara, pursued an accounting career for stability. But she could never shake the creative ideas that came to her, tempting her to explore something new. When one of those ideas led her to sew a purse, the result inspired an entire line of handbags and a successful brand Tara is proud to call her own. 

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

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Since it's Thanksgiving week here in the US, I'm sharing one of my favorite episodes from this past year. It's my interview with Erika Neumayer of Rare Dirndl. She's build a successful brand with a tiny niche, and she shares tons of actionable tips on how she did it. For the full show notes and links, head over to Successful Fashion Designer. 

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Oni Auer is a design director and fashion career mentor in NYC. She got started in fashion by scoring a position with BCBG when she was a mere 18 years old. She had an associates degree, but no industry connections or advantages to help her get ahead. Since then she has worked with a huge variety of companies including Bebe and UnderArmour. In the interview, she shares the skills and strategies she used to launch her career, keep working through the recession, and advance herself to design director, in the category she wanted most, at a company she loves to work for. 

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

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Juan Pablo Martínez is a Colombian designer who has worked in sustainability for more than ten years, and in the fashion industry for more than two decades. One of the first sustainable designers in Latin America, he has also designed for Christian Lacroix, owned a successful boutique, shown his designs at a New York fashion show, and now he works to help educate brands on sustainable fashion. He has consistently found ways to succeed in all of his endeavors, and in this interview he shares all of the valuable lessons he’s learned over his prolific career. 

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

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*Note: This episode has a slight tic on the guest’s audio that we were unable to repair. But the interview is way too good not to share, so thank you for understanding!* 

Freelancing is a hot topic in the fashion industry right now. With almost everyone working from home, more and more companies have realized that remote work and flexible schedules can actually work for their business. And more employees are starting to realize that there are possibilities beyond that 9 to 5 grind! In this episode of the Successful Fashion Designer Podcast, I talk to Kristen Anderson. She’s a successful full-time freelancer, and she shares all the details of how she got here, what she’s learned, and what you can do to launch your freelancing career, and ditch your day job for good!

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

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Anna Triantafellou designs fantasy couture dresses for girls, and her business is now so successful that she supports her family of 3 on only her income. If you’re thinking this kind of success is only possible for lucky people with trust funds, you’ll definitely want to hear Anna’s story. Coming from a traumatic childhood in her native Russia, Anna has worked hard for everything she’s created. You may not think you can start a clothing line on Etsy, but from dog clothes to tutus to high-end couture, she made it happen. Anna creatively adapted to every change and weathered every setback. Listen to the story of how she found her passion, fought for it, and forged her own path to success. 

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

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When you think about starting your own clothing line, you probably imagine garments you designed completely from scratch gracing a magazine page or floating down a runway. But starting a fashion brand takes years and a major investment of cash. If what you really want is to get something of your own design out into the world, there are ways to get a taste of having your own line without the huge risk. In this episode of the SFD podcast, you’ll hear from Etsy success guru Jenni Waldrop of Fuzzy & Birch on how you can use the marketplace to start a clothing line with (almost) no money. 

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

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Understanding trends and the direction the market is going to go is vital for anyone working in fashion. Print and textile designers need to understand what consumers are going to be looking for next. Thea Perez founded Polychrome.Design to provide prints as true digital working tools for fashion designers. Along the way, she has honed a process for print and color trend research that gives Polychrome an edge in the fashion industry. In this episode of the Successful Fashion Designer Podcast, Thea shares how she started her business, how they bring beautiful new prints to the market, and the market research process they use to deliver beautiful, on-trend prints to their clients. 

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

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Mat 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!

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Get the eviction notice ready for the imposter syndrome that's moved in! 

Imposter syndrome is something so many freelance fashion designers struggle with in their careers.  Amanda Thome was one of them but figured out how to kick it to the curb and double her rates...with an existing client!  We talk about the importance of a supportive community, her struggle with imposter syndrome, and her motivation after sending her biggest invoice yet!

If you wanna increase your rates or you just need a big old confidence boost that you can do this freelancing thing, you're gonna love this episode.

Resources:
Toggl Time Tracker
143: From $100 to $3k/month...And Then I Realized I Was Permalancing...
201: You DON'T Need Another Time Management Tool: The REAL Reason You're Procrastinating
NewArc.ai - Click here for 50% off your first month (aff)

About Amanda:

Amanda Thomé is a knitwear designer based in Brooklyn, NY. She studied fashion design at FIT and specialized in knitwear during her master's in the UK. She began freelancing with small brands in Paris and is now based in NYC, working with brands like Goldie LeWinter, Fang NYC, and Ellis Littles. Her designs are influenced by her multicultural upbringing, resulting in a style that's youthful, experimental, and emotionally driven.

Connect with Amanda:

Visit her website

Email at: contact@thomestudio.com

Follow on Instagram @thome_studio

Connect on Linkedin 

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Not 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 fashion brand when you have no experience in the industry. 

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

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Like 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!

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Selena 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!

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If 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!

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Note: 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 took a ton of work and smart moves to get her where she is today.

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

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Do 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!

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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!

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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 two+ decades of experience in trend analysis and fashion marketing, including working at WGSN, Wendy shares why trends are the lifeblood of fashion, how trend forecasting has evolved over the past 20+ years, what to do if trend analysis sounds like work you want to pursue, and how as a designer you can sharpen your eye to spot what’s next in YOUR niche.

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

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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!

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

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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 Successful Fashion Designer!

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Ever wondered why some fashion brands are slow to adopt 3D software?

My guest, Sylwia breaks it down, sharing real-world challenges and successes, like delivering the perfect collection to an Australian client in real-time. She also stresses the need for optimization and understanding polygons to make 3D design cost-effective and efficient. Whether you're a freelancer or part of a small team, learning these skills can set you apart in the competitive fashion landscape. Tune in and get inspired to take your fashion design game to the next level!

About Sylwia Szymczyk:

A dynamic and passionate 3D Fashion technology expert and keynote speaker from Timberland, a VF company, who simplifies and teaches complex technological concepts in fashion innovation. Her presentations share a deep understanding of stakeholder needs and build desire to create change in fashion.

Sylwia started her career in the traditional fashion value chain (pattern making and garment development) and has been working on seamlessly integrating technology into the fashion industry. She is quickly becoming a go-to source for fashion innovation.

She has 15+ years of experience working with major fashion powerhouses like Armani, Max Mara Fashion Group and VF corporation.

Sylwia is passionate about driving innovation in fashion through harnessing the power of people, collaborations and partnerships.

Connect with Sylwia:

Email at: silvia.szymczyk@gmail.com

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

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How 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!

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When 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 everyday women who want modern staples made to last a lifetime.

• How Ellie Mae got started in fashion (even after she decided university wasn’t for her!);
• The ways the fashion industry has broken her heart, and why she stuck it out;
• The ups and downs of the first year of her brand;
• How one person almost destroyed Ellie Mae Studios from within!;
• The winding path she took to perfect her business model;
• The creative and practical reasons she decided to shift away from wholesale;
• Who’s on her team and how they share the workload;
• Why Ellie Mae Studios uses unusual pricing for their pieces;
• And more!

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

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In 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!  

• 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 “wrong” steps she took, and how they still played a role in her success;
• How you can apply what she’s learned to your own career;
• And more!

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

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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. 

• 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!

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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. 

• 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!

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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. 

• 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!

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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. 

• 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!

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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! 

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(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.

Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

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!

• 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!

Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

What exactly is a fashion consultant?  How is it different from a freelance fashion designer?

Find out in this episode as I break down the differences, similarities, and offer some insight into being a freelance fashion consultant.  From networking tips to the importance of industry connections, this episode is a goldmine for anyone looking to carve out a niche in the fashion consultancy realm. 

If you've been considering a shift towards consulting or want to enhance your freelance services with strategic guidance, this episode is a must-listen.

Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

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. 

• 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!

Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

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.

• 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!

• Allison on Instagram
• Allison on LinkedIn
• Ultimate Direction
• Successful Fashion Designer: Free Resources for Fashion Designers!

• Rating us on iTunes – it really helps!
• Subscribing on iTunes
• Subscribing on YouTube
• Subscribing on Stitcher
• Subscribing on Google Play
• Subscribing on Spotify

Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

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. 

• 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!

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.

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.

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.

• Manhattan Knights on Instagram
• Sam Murkoff on Instagram
• Shop Manhattan Knights

• Rating us on iTunes – it really helps!
• Subscribing on iTunes
• Subscribing on YouTube
• Subscribing on Stitcher
• Subscribing on Google Play
• Subscribing on Spotify

Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price