The Successful Fashion Designer

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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!   In this episode, Heidi and Marc talk about: How the history of the SFD podcast mirror’s Heidi’s overall journey in fashion; How Heidi broke into fashion with NO experience; Her journey from that first step to the pinnacles of her career (so far!);  The most important factor Heidi credits with achieving her biggest goals; Some of the “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!

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; W

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!

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

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 d

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! 

(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

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

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 cu

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 a

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