The Successful Fashion Designer

Billie Whitehouse has been called the Elon Musk of Fashion. In just 4 1/2 years, she's launched multiple successful wearable tech products. Her most recent, Nadi X, is a line of activated yoga apparel that listens & responds to your body. In the interview, Billie shares her valuable lessons learned about getting funding, advice for growing your circle of friends to help support you during your ventures, and how to create a product that your customer loves. You will learn: How to know when you’re ready to go after funding Why you’ll probably get rejected 100+ times (and that’s ok) Why you should become friends with your competition How to get over the dirty “networking” word Why you need to put your customer, not yourself, first The difference between emotional vs quantifiable data in fashion tech, and which direction we’re moving towards The importance of creating experiences for people through the clothes they wear Why you should look at yourself as a designer of the future Where fashion tech is headin

Jay is your absolute one stop shop for sourcing anything and everything you need to make your product, including fabrics, trims, hangtags, labels and so much more. In this interview, Jay shares why indie designers are seeing more success now than they were 5 years ago, what materials you can cut costs on and where you may want to spend a little more, and why buying from NYC’s garment district is the biggest mistake most designers make. You will learn: The different supplier tiers: retail, jobber, fabric importer, converter and mill Why you need to be really careful buying from a jobber The challenges of sourcing fabric in the NYC garment district Why independent designers are seeing greater success now than 5 years ago The importance of continuity in the supplies you source Why logistically it’s more expensive to do small batch production overseas than locally What materials you can cut corners and costs on, and what ones you don’t want to Guest Info & Resources: The Sourcing District Website The Sour

Kathryn Hilderbrand is a master tailor, designer and business entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience working in the fashion industry. She founded Good Clothing Company in 2015 to create small runs of production for designers, and is passionate about bringing clothing manufacturing back to the United States. In this interview, she shares why it's important to bring manufacturing back to the US, how it's unfair to expect a garment to cost the same as a cup of coffee, and what designers are doing to educate their consumers about ethical manufacturing. You will learn: Why manufacturing and production are coming back to the states The number one challenge US factories face How doing small batch production and going direct to consumer can make you more money Why US production costs are starting to compete against Chinese factories How to educate your consumer about your product and why the cost is more than some retail The downfalls of fast fashion and why customers are starting to shop differently Why cons

Dior Bediako founded Pepper Your Talk out of personal frustration. As a young designer beginning her career in fashion, she realized there was little to no support available for designers to work they way up from an entry level job. In her own words, PYT is that friend that will: (a) steal all the unanswered fashion questions from your head (b) ANSWER THEM with the help of our cheeky industry connections (c) Make you laugh (when you want to cry) throughout the process of navigating the career cross-roads. In our interview, she delivers on all of these things! You will learn: How to tailor your resume / CV towards fashion jobs even if you have no experience How to write a cover letter / introduction that gets noticed What you can do to be prepared for an interview, and how to decrease your anxiety Why you must have an opinion, even if everyone doesn’t agree How to add value to your team and get noticed in your company Why you should always be thinking about what’s next in your career Why it’s ok not to know e

I took the day off today and hope you did too! We'll be back next week with another great episode.

Anna Livermore is founder of VMora, a fashion business and production consulting company that works one on one with independent designers. In this interview, she shares where many designers waste money that has little to no return, why you should look at your first round of production as a test, and why staying specific and niche with your idea is better than trying to please every body. You will learn: How much you need to budget for each design Why timeline, costing and budgeting are essential for success The number one (and number two) thing brands spend money on that have little to no ROI (and where to spend your $$ instead) How to make sure your fit is perfect so it sells Where most creative designers get stuck during development and production The challenges of finding an investor for your fashion collection How to build your audience before launching a product Why having a specific niche audience will help you build lifelong customers The value of staying true to your product and story and not trying

Kim Dippel is a fashion designer with 12 years of experience working for surf brands like Oneil and Quiksilver. After having a baby and moving away from a hub, she wanted to try freelancing. After not having any luck with her existing contacts, she turned to UpWork where she successfully landed a few ongoing clients that have kept her consistently busy. In the interview, Kim shares how to land your first few gigs, why honesty and transparency is essential to building relationships, and how to raise your rates with clients. You will learn: What you can do to land your first few jobs and build up your ratings How to write a custom proposal and get the client’s attention Red flags to look for when deciding whether to take a project or not What to watch out for when bidding project based (flat fee) work How to negotiate your rate without cutting yourself short How to transition clients off UpWork Strategies to track correspondence (phone, email) to make sure you get paid for your time Why your website should be

Kathleen Fasanella is author of one of the fashion industry’s best resource books, The Entrepreneur's Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing. Kathleen is a trained pattern maker with almost 4 decades of experience, and now owns a factory in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In this interview, she shares why speaking the right language can help factories and vendors take you seriously, how to make sure your production stays on track so you don’t get bumped out of line, and why designing isn’t always as glamorous as it can seem. You will learn: Less expensive and more effective alternatives to FIT or FIDM for technical design Why you may be more technically inclined than you think (hint: if you can sew, you are) The difference between a manufacturer and a sewing contractor How speaking the right language will help suppliers take you seriously Why you should only produce one style with a new factory The realities of being a designer, and why it’s not as glamorous as you think How to make sure your production stays on track

Having a job as fashion designer glamorous and creative. Honest, it isn’t always that way. Most people don’t talk about this publicly, but Emily Keller is different. Which is why I knew I had to invite her on the show. In this episode, Emily shares her experience working as an employee the perception of working as a designer versus the reality, how to figure out if pursuing fashion as a second career is right for you, and the often limited creativity you’ll actually use in your job. You will learn: The difference between what you think a fashion designer does and what they really do How creative you really get to be as a designer Pros and cons of working for big runway brands versus smaller lesser known brands The perception of working in fashion versus the reality Tips on pursuing fashion as a second career How to understand what you’re really getting into when you go into fashion Why fashion designers don’t dress well Guest Info & Resources: Emily’s Website Emily’s YouTube Channel Connect with Emily

In this episode I’m chatting with Abbie Ellis, co-founder of Stitch Method - a Chicago fashion agency that helps you DEFINE your market, DEVELOP your product and DELIVER it to your customers. In the interview, she walks through a step by step overview of the production process, how to work backwards from costing and budgeting to design, and why a tech pack is essential for every product, no matter how simple or where you’re manufacturing. You will learn: How long it takes to go from idea to production (hint: it’s longer than you think!) How much you should budget to get your design into production How to know whether you should manufacture overseas or locally A step by step walk through of the production process from start to finish Why your factory is one of your most valuable resources How to work backwards from costing and budgeting to design The value of thinking bigger picture and creating long term goals Guest Info & Resources: Stitch Method Production Checklist Enjoy the show?

In this episode I’m chatting with Colleen Monroe, founder of Untucked Workwear - clothes designed for women who embrace a lifestyle filled with gumption and a whole lot of go. After a year and a half of hard, Colleen launched a successful Kickstarter to fund the first round of production of her three piece collection. In the interview, she talks about how to build an email list and an audience before you even have a product, why fit is one of the most important factors to your success, how to deal with the financial realities of launching a label, and the importance of engaging with your customer You will learn: How to build tons of raving fans for life before you even have a product How to collaborate with non-fashion brands to grow your audience Why it's better to take your time to make sure your product is done right The financial challenges of launching a label and advice to overcome them The non-glamorous parts of the fashion world How to have a successful Kickstarter campaign Guest Info & Resource

In this episode I’m chatting with Sheena Schoolcraft, a fashion designer in NYC who’s worked with brands like OshKosh, Tommy Hilfiger and Dress Barn. During our conversation, Sheena shares how to present your online portfolio and why it should be different than your physical portfolio, why being easy to work with can be key to your success, what you can bring to an interview to impress the hiring manager, and the best strategies to make sure your resume stands out. You will learn: How to make your resume results driven - even if you don't have a lot of experience The value of relationships and a positive attitude Why happy hour and casual work engagements may be where you land your next gig The one thing nobody brings to an interview but should The importance of showing brands how you can benefit them What employers really want in their employees Guest Info & Resources: Sheen's Website LinkedIn Enjoy the show? You can help us out by: Rating us on iTunes - it really helps! Subscribing on iTunes - I

In this episode I’m chatting with Shilpa, founder of Nayali, an activewear brand for women bra size "D-cup & Up". Shilpa spent over a decade working for huge brands like Conde Nast, Fubu, and Gap. She took all her experience, quit her job, and went to Bali to do a solo label. A year and a half later after some big mistakes and a lot of tears, she launched her brand, Nayali. This is her story, her lessons learned, and her advice to others starting a brand. You will learn: The importance of capturing your customer with a solution to their problem How to tighten your assortment (and the dangers of offering too many skus) The etiquette of working with factories in different countries How to push your factories to get your product made the right way Why it’s safe to stick with what you know at the beginning, and worry about growth later The pros of getting really specific with your collection The benefits of getting help from others and why you shouldn’t do this alone How to convince a factory to take your or

In this episode I’m chatting with Traceena & Lauren, founder of The Sales Concept, which helps designers maximize profits through merchandising and sales strategies. This is one of the most content packed episodes to date, and if you have - or want to start - a label, grab a pen and paper to take notes and listen carefully to everything these two experts have to say. Traceena and Lauren give step by step instructions of how to approach buyers at shops and trade shows, word for word scripts of what to say on phone calls or in emails, and the exact steps to follow from the time you find the shop to writing the order. You will learn: What merchandising is and why it’s crucial to your success The simple “backwards” strategy of pricing your products The number one merchandising mistake designers make How to approach buyers in person, in email and by phone (and which is best) The etiquette for following up with buyers (how much is too much!?) The easiest way to build your prospect list Why your prospect list i

In this episode I’m chatting with Michelle Fifis, founder of Pattern Observer and creator of the Textile Design Lab, a blog and community that helps creatives grow their textile design business. Michelle’s done textile work for Columbia Sportswear, Lucy Activewear, Jantzen Swimwear, Perry Ellis and had been featured in Stylesight.com, Elle Decor, and Nordstrom. In the interview, she shares how she got started and worked her way up in the industry, her strategy for leaving her full time job to start freelancing, and how she grew her blog into a successful online business. Michelle and I also talked about how to choose and start working with an agency or print house, how to stay motivated when you feel deflated, and not only how to price your work, but how to gracefully raise your prices. You will learn: The role a textile designer plays in the fashion world The pros and cons of working with an agent or print house How to rediscover your creativity when you feel stuck The importance of having patience with you

Gia's a fashion freelancer who’s worked with huge names like Northface and Columbia Sportswear as well as small startup brands. Her eye for technical design and product development plus her friendly personality and hard working attitude is why most of her freelance gigs have luckily fallen right into her lap. In this interview, Gia and I chat about why your network is the best resource for new work, why it’s ok to charge premium prices, and creative ways to break into the industry without going to fashion school and starting with no experience. You will learn: The importance of going above and beyond in all the work you do Why it’s ok not to ask a lot of questions and not know everything How to get started in the industry without any experience The pros and cons of charging hourly vs by project and when to choose what Why the people you already know are the best resource for future opportunities Guest Info & Resources: Gia's Site Connect with Gia on LinkedIn Kathleen Fasanella Enjoy the show? You can

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. You will learn: What the first inch of your resume must include to catch the employer's attention What parts of the industry are dying, and what parts are booming Guidance for young job seekers and advice for breaking into the industry Advice for older job seekers to stay up to date and relevant The importance of taking risks How fashion is competing with other "must have" items and why designers need to be aware of this Why the fashion industry is in a rut and what designers need to do to break out of it Guest Info & Resources: Style Caree

In this episode I’m chatting with Danielle Meder who’s had a 10 year career as a professional fashion illustrator. She’s done live runway sketching at fashion weeks worldwide has a book called Draw Fashion now. Danielle shares how she broke past her fears of approaching people at events, how improving her appearance increased her success, and how she estimates and prices her freelance work to make sure she doesn’t leave any money on the table. YOU WILL LEARN: Breaking out of your shell and getting past fears of approaching people you want to work with How your appearance affects your success The “sex and cash theory” for jobs and why you need a balance How to estimate project fees and knowing when to pad your price Playing the pricing game with clients to make sure you’re not leaving money on the table What Danielle’s up to next now that she’s done knocking on fashion’s door GUEST INFO AND RESOURCES: http://www.finalfashion.ca/ http://www.drawfashionnow.com/ https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/danielle-med

Marissa ditched her volleyball career during her junior year at UCLA to enroll in Parsons - without the support of her parents. She turned her love for sports and fashion into a successful career as an activewear designer which she's been doing for over 10 years, working with brands like Lululemon and Athleta. She also had her own line of scarves with distribution to over 60 retail outlets internationally, and she now freelances full time from the comfort of her home while being a twin mom to two boys. Marissa shares exactly how she pitches new clients, prices her projects to make a fair wage, and successfully does that scary networking thing to get more work. YOU WILL LEARN: How to use your industry contacts to your advantage What to do to make yourself easy to work with and get more jobs How to get inside the customer’s head to make sure your designs are on target How to price yourself (and estimate projects) as a freelancer to make sure you get paid a fair wage How to use email to keep in touch with your c

Brian didn't even discover that he had an interest in fashion until high school, and then he dove head first in. Four years later armed with a degree, he avoided design jobs due to his lack of proficiency in Adobe Illustrator. He finally got an opportunity he couldn't pass up, so "lied" about his AI skills in the interview and landed the job. He "faked it till he made it" and frantically got up to speed in the software. Since then, he's used his skills, drive and determination to advance his fashion career and get promoted within his first year as a designer. YOU WILL LEARN How curiosity can drive you to success Why you have to ask for what you want (or else you probably won't get it) Why it's ok to not keep up with everything that's going on in the industry How to approach your boss (or your boss' boss) to get the promotion you want Why defending your designs and perspective is crucial What it's like working for small vs. large brands ENJOY THE SHOW? YOU CAN HELP US OUT BY: Rating and subscribing on iTunes