Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms
Episodes
SFD082 Fashion Startup Trade Shows: Are You Ready (and what's the cost)?
18 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to trade shows, there are SO many questions. How much is this going to cost? How does this all work? How do I make sure itâll be a suc...
SFD081 When Your Parents Don't Support Your Fashion Design Dream
04 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kaylaâs fashion career journey has been an uphill battle. First, her parents didnât support a âartsyâ degree. Not that uncommon. But then? Dur...
SFD080 Production & Manufacturing Processes for Small Batch Fashion
21 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jessica Osborn is the CEO and founder of Privy Label, a company that teaches fashion entrepreneurs how to launch their custom Men's or Women's apparel...
SFD079 Three Years as a Freelance Fashion Designer: Advice on Pricing
14 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kimberly Dippel was on the Successful Fashion Design podcast in August 2017, and we talked about her success finding freelance projects on Upwork. Sin...
SFD078 Working with Factories as a Freelance Fashion Designer
07 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of different paths to becoming a freelance fashion designer. And Heather Royer took one Iâd never heard of before. Instead of workin...
SFD077 Interview with Project Runway Juniors Winner Chelsea Ma
17 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 in...
SFD076 Six Steps to Starting a Fashion Line that Sells
10 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 sel...
SFD075 How to Be a Lingerie Designer with Laurie Van Jonsson
26 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
SFD074 Mailbag: Fashion Design Career Advice on 3D Prototyping, Kickstarting Your Career, and Productivity
19 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Many of you have loads of Qâs about working in fashionâŠand I know it can be hard to find answers. Maybe you donât know any industry experts to a...
SFD073 Accounting Advice for Fashion Designers and Businesses
12 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Guess what? If you want to have a fashion brand, youâre going to have to deal with accounting. And while itâs not the sexiest topic around, itâs...
SFD072 This Fashion Designer Applied to Puma 7 Times. How He Finally Got His Dream Job.
05 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Itâs easy to see someone whoâs living their fashion design dream and think, âthey got lucky, but that could never happen to me.â But the truth...
SFD071 Part 2: A Fashion Design Dream Come True: From the Honduras to NYFW, With Guillermo Irias
29 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When it came to success in fashion, Guillermo Irias had nothing going for him. Raised in the Honduras by a single mom who didnât think a fashion car...
SFD071 Part 1: A Fashion Design Dream Come True: From the Honduras to NYFW, With Guillermo Irias
22 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When it came to success in fashion, Guillermo Irias had nothing going for him. Raised in the Honduras by a single mom who didnât think a fashion car...
BONUS: What I Wish I Knew About a Career in Fashion (from 10 industry experts)
16 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 n...
SFD070 Build a Fashion Brand with a Cult Following
15 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Seeing other fashion brands on social media with these crazy cult followings can be pretty intimidating. You see these fashion brands and think, âI ...
SFD069 Launching a Sustainable Fashion Brand and Manufacturing in Bali
01 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you want to create a sustainable fashion brand ...but feel like youâre on the outside edge of what is going on in the fashion world? It can feel ...
SFD068: Fashion Design Career Advice on College, Why You're Not Getting the Job, Freelancing and Factories
24 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Many of you have loads of Qâs about working in fashionâŠand I know it can be hard to find answers. Maybe you donât know any industry experts to a...
SFD067 Working with a Fashion Showroom
17 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You finally have your design process down and your merchandise production down to a science and you feel like youâre ready to take on one of those b...
SFD066 10 Easy Networking Tips (you can use today) to Get Ahead in Fashion
10 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
One of the best ways to get ahead in fashion - whether it's to get your first (or next) job or to launch your own fashion brand - is networking. Now,...
SFD065 How This Surface Pattern Designer Creates From Music
03 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are you an artist or designer who finds inspiration is everywhere, often in the most unexpected places? And do you ever feel stuck not knowing how to ...
SFD064 Fashion Startup Advice on Creating, Manufacturing and Selling Your Designs
20 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Youâre someone who spends hours getting lost in a fashion idea, drawing and redesigning a garment over and over again until itâs just right. But o...
Bonus Episode: Aliexpress knocked off this fashion brand. Here's what they did.
15 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Fashion designers worry all the time about how to protect their ideas. Unfortunately? Our industry doesnât get much protection or have much control ...
SFD063 Mailbag: Fashion Design Career Advice on Samples vs Prototypes, Made to Order fashion and Textile Design
13 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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....
SFD062 Building a Profitable Baby Bag Fashion Brand with No Experience
06 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have ideas, big ideas that can change the way consumers use a specific fashion product? Do you spend all your time drawing up designs, getting ...
SFD061 Are You Ready to Quit Your Job for Your Fashion Startup Business?
23 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You have had this full time corporate fashion job for several years. Youâre comfortable where you're at, with benefits, income and stability. But yo...
SFD060 Shanghai, Hong Kong and Istanbul: A Day in the Life of an International Fashion Designer
18 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The thought of being a jet setting international fashion designer working around the world from London to Shanghai and Hong Kong to Istanbul sounds...
SFD059 Mailbag: Fashion Design Career Advice on Freelancing, Gaining Industry Experience and Quitting Your Job
16 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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....
SFD058: Navigating the â4 Pâsâ of Fashion Marketing and Overcoming Networking Intimidation, with Robyn Spady
09 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
One area of the fashion industry that unites us all together is marketing - getting the right message about our products to the right people. On this ...
SFD057: Donât Miss This Insider Coverage of Denverâs Massif Fashion Week
25 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Few events are as exciting as the Massif Fashion Week held in Denver, Colorado every May. I attended the events this year and interviewed 9 different ...
SFD056: Mailbag! Your Fashion Industry Q's Answered
18 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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....
SFD055: Follow These 4 Tips for Enhanced Fashion Media Coverage
11 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Fashion media coverage is a challenging area for any fashion business, but Lorraine Sanders has perfected the process after years of working as a jour...
SFD054: Podlet Episode, The Priceless Advice of âKnow Thy Customerâ
04 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Youâve probably heard about the value of getting to know your customer. It helps you understand what they need and learn how you can solve their p...
SFD053: 4 Best Practices for Fashion Job Search Success, with Recruiter Shellie Simpson
28 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The fashion job search process is not one to be taken lightly. Thankfully, my guest for this episode of The Successful Fashion Designer is Shellie Sim...
SFD052: Mailbag! Your fashion industry Q's answered
21 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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....
SFD051: Discover How One Fashion Design Entrepreneur Created a Flexible Direct-to-Consumer Business
14 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Creating a direct-to-consumer (DTC) business in the fashion industry isnât easy. Learn from serial entrepreneur and new fashion designer Allison Flo...
SFD050: Special 50th Episode, Heidi Gets Interviewed
07 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Successful Fashion Designer podcast celebrates ONE YEAR đđđ! It seems like just yesterday that having a podcast was something we just "talke...
SFD049: Learn How to Create a Stellar Fashion Portfolio From a Former Under Armour Designer, featuring Leila Jalili
30 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Contact Heidi: podcast (at) SuccessfulFashionDesigner.com Few fashion professionals are as passionate and knowledgeable as Leila Jalili, my guest for ...
SFD048: How An Amazing Eco Friendly Clothing Brand Was Built On The Passion Of One Woman
16 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you need a shot of inspiration, youâve got to hear this conversation with my guest Elle - the creator and designer behind Ellerali, an eco friend...
Important Show Updates (and what they mean for you)
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As we near the one year anniversary for the show (WOW! Thank you for all your support to help us get this far!), I have some important updates about t...
SFD047: Why Choose a Career as a Pattern Maker (instead of a fashion designer)
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When most people think about working in fashion, all they think about is being a designer. But did you know there are a lot of other really cool jobs ...
SFD046: How to Authentically Engage with Your Audience for Fashion Entrepreneurs
26 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As fashion creatives, we think if we come up with the world's most brilliant design...it will just sell itself. If we just put up an ecommerce site, ...
SFD045: How to Plan a Fashion Photoshoot (step by step)
19 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of variables to consider to plan a fashion photoshoot. And in this interview, fashion photographer Kristen Walther and I cover all...
SFD044: This Company Runs their Fashion Brand like a Tech Startup (and they're crushing it)
12 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel like the fashion design and development process moves at a snail's pace? We often work years and multiple seasons ahead, and by the...
SFD043: Build Your Career as a Freelance Pattern Maker (from anywhere)
05 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You may think it's impossible to have a career as a freelance pattern maker in the fashion industry. And you'd probably think it's even more impossibl...
SFD042: Surviving Failure and Competing Against Huge Fashion Brands
26 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
"But I'm just one person. It's hard competing against huge fashion brands out there?" It can feel really hard to launch your fashion line when you're...
SFD041: How to Set Up Your Fashion Brand Successfully, from Samples to Production
19 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tricia runs her fashion studio, Hello World Fashion, in DTLA. With more than a decade of experience in the industry designing, sourcing and doing ...
SFD040: Behind the Scenes with 7 Fashion Industry Professionals
12 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's not often we literally go this far behind the scenes of the fashion industry on the podcast. But when the Outdoor Retailer trade show lande...
SFD039: How to Launch Your Fashion Line with No Experience
05 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you have no fashion industry experience, it can feel really daunting to try and start your own clothing line. Where do you source materials? How...
SFD038: Hard Lessons Learned From a Career in Fashion
29 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Stamatina is a designer who finally gave up on her fashion career dream, and wanted to share her fashion career lessons. Now, I don't want to start th...
SFD037: Our Similar Fashion Journeys (you're not alone)
22 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, for the first time ever, I shared the full, unedited version of my fashion journey with you. It included: The painful (and ugly) begin...
SFD036: How to Make it in the Fashion Industry (and in Manhattan) with Caroline Vazzana
15 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Your dream has been to make it in the fashion industry since you were a little girl (or boy). I get it! It was my dream too. But this industry is toug...
SFD035: Build Your Career as a Contract Fashion Designer (and work from home)
08 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's hard to have a career as a contract fashion designer and work from home. But what if I told you it was possible to get so good that you no longer...
SFD034: Happy New Year 2018!
01 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year everyone! Today, it's just Heidi here wishing you a happy and safe holiday! We'll be back next week with a brand new episode - talk to ...
SFD033: 2017 Review + 2018 Preview
25 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Just Heidi on the show today, and I'm going through a review of 2017. This was a big year of change and growth for me and the business, so I figured w...
SFD032: Best of 2017
18 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
It's almost the end of the year, and to celebrate how far the show has come in just 6 short months (thanks to you for all the support!), I put togethe...
SFD031: Behind the Scenes of an $87k Kickstarter Launch
11 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
With no fashion background, experience or contacts, Sarah Coronado launched an insanely successful Kickstarter campaign for her underwear line, Bloo...
SFD030: How to Get Press Coverage & Publicity for Your Fashion Line
04 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
If you love step by step instructions, you're going to love this SFD episode. Rosie Davies runs The London Fashion Agency and PR Dispatch to help ...
SFD029: Fashion Career Advice for Ambitious Designers
27 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Malieâs climbed her way up the corporate ladder in the fashion industry and now works for one of the largest fashion brands in the industry, PVH. It...
SFD028: Thanksgiving Thanks! A Special Holiday Message Just for You
20 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
It's Thanksgiving week in the US, so we're taking a holiday on the podcast. But I did create a short holiday message just for you to say thanks for a...
SFD027: Curled up in a Ball Crying: How Community Can Save You
13 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Making it as an indie fashion designer is emotionally, mentally and financially brutal. And trying to do it alone is even harder. Which is why I lov...
SFD026: How Millennials Are Giving the Fashion Industry a Better Name
06 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Liz Segran covers fashion at Fast Company, a world leading progressive business magazine. Sheâs interviewed hundreds of industry professionals, and...
SFD025: Make the Most of A Fashion Sourcing Trade Show
30 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Trish has worked with companies that support startup and indie designers since 2009. Her breadth of knowledge isnât just around trade shows, but the...
SFD024: Part 2: Fighting Fear in Fashion
23 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, in episode 23 (part 1), I introduced you to Solomon Eversole, who has the most calm and collected approach to creativity I've ever witnes...
SFD023: Part 1: How to Stay Creative (when there's never any time)
16 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Solomon Eversole has the most calm and collected approach to creativity I've ever witnessed. With 15 years experience working in the corporate worl...
SFD022: Why We All Must Ask: Who Made My Clothes?
09 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Carry Somers is founder of Fashion Revolution - a global movement calling for greater transparency, sustainability and ethics in the fashion industry....
SFD021: How to Get Funding for Your Fashion Startup
02 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
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 r...
SFD020: How to Source Low Minimum Fabrics & Trims for Your Fashion Collection
25 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Jay is your absolute one stop shop for sourcing anything and everything you need to make your product, including fabrics, trims, hangtags, labels and ...
SFD019: What's it really like to manufacture apparel in the US?
18 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Kathryn Hilderbrand is a master tailor, designer and business entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience working in the fashion industry. She found...
SFD018: Advice for Entry Level Fashion Career Professionals
12 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dior Bediako founded Pepper Your Talk out of personal frustration. As a young designer beginning her career in fashion, she realized there was little ...
Happy Labor Day!
04 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
I took the day off today and hope you did too! We'll be back next week with another great episode. Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (...
SFD017: Why You Shouldn't Design for Everyone with Anna of VMora
28 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Anna Livermore is founder of VMora, a fashion business and production consulting company that works one on one with independent designers. In this int...
SFD 016: How to Get Freelance Fashion Design Jobs on Upwork
22 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
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 fr...
SFD 015: How to Get Factories to Take You Seriously
14 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Kathleen Fasanella is author of one of the fashion industryâs best resource books, The Entrepreneur's Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing. Kathleen...
SFD014: The (Sometimes Ugly) Truth About A Fashion Design Career
07 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Having a job as fashion designer glamorous and creative. Honest, it isnât always that way. Most people donât talk about this publicly, but Emily ...
SFD013: The Step by Step Production Process for Fashion Design Entrepreneurs
31 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Iâm chatting with Abbie Ellis, co-founder of Stitch Method - a Chicago fashion agency that helps you DEFINE your market, DEVELOP y...
SFD012: How to build a group of raving fans before you have a product
24 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Iâm chatting with Colleen Monroe, founder of Untucked Workwear - clothes designed for women who embrace a lifestyle filled with gu...
SFD011: The Number One Thing to Include On Your Fashion Design Resume
17 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Iâm chatting with Sheena Schoolcraft, a fashion designer in NYC whoâs worked with brands like OshKosh, Tommy Hilfiger and Dress Ba...
SFD010: Strategies to Manufacture Your Fashion Brand Overseas
10 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Iâm chatting with Shilpa, founder of Nayali, an activewear brand for women bra size "D-cup & Up". Shilpa spent over a decade wo...
SFD009: How to Grow Sales & Maximize Profits for Your Fashion Brand
03 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Iâm chatting with Traceena & Lauren, founder of The Sales Concept, which helps designers maximize profits through merchandising...
SFD008: How to Have A Successful Career as A Textile Designer
26 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Iâm chatting with Michelle Fifis, founder of Pattern Observer and creator of the Textile Design Lab, a blog and community that hel...
SFD007: Using Your Network to get more Freelance Fashion Work
19 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Gia's a fashion freelancer whoâs worked with huge names like Northface and Columbia Sportswear as well as small startup brands. Her eye for technica...
SFD006: Job Hunting & Resume Advice for Fashion Industry Professionals
12 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Iâm chatting with Chris Kidd, founder of Style Careers, the largest fashion only job listing site. With inside access to fashion ...
SFD 005: How to Make a Career as a Fashion Illustrator with Danielle Meder
05 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Iâm chatting with Danielle Meder whoâs had a 10 year career as a professional fashion illustrator. Sheâs done live runway sketch...
SFD 004: Freelancing Strategies for Fashion Designers with Marissa Borelli
29 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
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 fo...
SFD 003: How to Ask for (and Get) a Promotion in Fashion with Brian McIntyre
22 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
SFD 002: Using Email to Successfully Pitch Freelance Clients with Melissa Mendez
15 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
After Melissa experienced what she thought was a heart attack while working in the corporate fashion world for over 10 years, she knew she needed to m...
SFD 001: How to Get Your First Job in the Fashion Industry with Bjorn Bengtsson
08 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to break into the fashion industry, it seems logical that youâd need to go to fashion school. But what if thatâs not for you? There ar...
How to Get Funding and Launch A Successful Fashion Brand
05 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Trying to make it as a new fashion brand is insanely cutthroat. The competition is fierce and there are hundreds of thousands of designers fighting to...
Why Solving A Problem Is Essential to Building A Successful Brand
14 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Rochelle Behrens launched her label, The Shirt, almost seven years ago after she saw a gap(e) in the market for properly fitting and fashionable butto...