The Successful Fashion Designer

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

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 make a big life change. For over two years, she's been working as a freelancer and running her own design agency. She uses her industry network and cold pitching in email to get new clients (including a $15,000 contract from one email!) and in this episode, Melissa shares it all. YOU WILL LEARN How to transition from corporate to freelance fashion design work How to use free resources to educate yourself and build your own business Strategies to get new clients using your current network Using email to pitch and land clients The 4 podcasts Melissa listens to that helped grow her business What you need to do before cold emailing any company or person to offer your services CLICK HERE FOR MELISSA'S PITCH TEMPLATE GUEST INFO & RESOURCES http://www.melissamendezdesignstudio.com/ http://www.womencraftingsuccess.com/ https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/podcasts/ h

If you want to break into the fashion industry, it seems logical that you’d need to go to fashion school. But what if that’s not for you? There are creative ways you can approach opportunities to get your foot in the door. Bjorn shares exactly how to get an interview, and what he’s looking for during that first meeting. These are things you can do on your own (without a fashion school degree) to secure your first opportunity. YOU WILL LEARN: The value of internships and building relationships What to include (and not include) in your portfolio Why Illustrator skills are mandatory – but what other skills you need to survive The skills learned in school vs what’s required in the real world How to better prepare yourself for a job while you’re in school How to create opportunities if you don’t have a fashion school degree Why a curious mind will take you far How to get in touch with Bjorn for guidance (thank you for this generous offer Bjorn!) GUEST INFO & RESOURCES https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjornbengtsso

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 be the next big thing. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do to make sure you're miles ahead of the competition. This is part 2 of a two-part interview with Rochelle Behrens who owns The-Shirt.com, a succesful startup fashion label. She shares her best advice and some of the strategies she used to get her brand off the ground...and fast. You will learn: * Why you may not want to get VC funding to launch your fashion label, but other places where you can easily get money * The single most important thing you must do before going into production so you don’t fail before you’ve even started * How to figure out how much product you should buy so you’re not stuck with tons of inventory you can’t sell * The simplest way to to get loads of amazing press coverage, even if you don’t have any connections * The number one thing you’re not doing that will easily

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 button down shirts. The problem she wanted to solve? It's called "the gape", and some of us know it all too well. After years of working in politics in Washington, DC, Rochelle became frustrated and felt unprofessional in the ill-fitting shirts available in the retail market. So, she ditched her career in politics to pursue a more fashionable one of her own. Not only did she launch a succesful label, she was able to patent the technology. And if you know anything about patents and copyrighting fashion, you know this is no easy task. I'm absolutely thrilled and honored introduce you to her. In part one of this two part interview, she generously shares her insights on breaking into this competitive industry, the challenges of selling online, and the keys to her success. In a competitive and brutal industry like fashion, you know that designers can be very tight lipped