Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms

If you've ever wondered how to keep your freelance momentum going during one of the most life-changing transitions—this episode is for you. Jade Wei didn’t wait until after having her baby to get back into freelancing. She made the bold decision to start rebuilding *while* she was pregnant. With no recent work, no active portfolio, and a toddler on the way, she used this time to reset everything—from her niche to her minds...

What if your biggest freelance project started with a LinkedIn message... and didn’t close for another 8 months? That’s exactly how Amanda Cabania landed a $9,000 client for a women’s golf brand. With no website, minimal marketing, and a lot of uncertainty, she wasn’t sure where things would lead—but she stayed patient, followed up, and eventually got the yes. In this episode, Amanda shares how it all played out, what help...

Tired of saying yes to everything—and still not getting paid what you’re worth? Martha Fogarty was, too. After years of permalance gigs, unpaid invoices, and murky job titles, she drew a line in the sand. In this episode, Martha shares how getting hyper-clear on her niche and offer flipped the power dynamic, brought in multiple five-figure clients, and helped her build a freelance business that’s finally on her terms. If y...

Just because you land a $10K freelance project doesn’t mean it all goes smoothly. Jacqueline’s back to share what *didn’t* go so great—and the one decision she regrets most. We unpack the lessons she’s learning around boundaries, overgiving, and setting clear terms from the start. Whether you’re early in your freelance business or landing big wins yourself, this episode is a must-listen for protecting your time, energy, an...

You ever wonder what it *actually* takes to land a $10,000+ freelance project in fashion? Jacqueline’s back for her third appearance—and this time, she walks us through how a total stranger found her on Google, filled out her project form, and signed a $10,498 contract without negotiating. We get into the exact pricing strategy, mindset shifts, and proposal she used to close it—and what she did *before* the contract even l...

You’ve probably been told never to say yes to cheap work. But what if that project could launch your freelance career? That’s exactly what Max Guemto did. With no reviews and a fresh Upwork profile, he got a message from a client offering just $150—and instead of walking away, he saw a smart opportunity. In this episode, Max unpacks the mindset, strategy, and communication that made this “cheap” project totally worth it. I...

What if you could build a thriving freelance fashion business… while raising a toddler at home? That’s exactly what Philippa Cooper—aka Pip—has done, working just two days a week. In this episode, Pip shares how she went from a COVID layoff to building a client roster using platforms like PeoplePerHour and LinkedIn. You’ll hear how she doubled project rates, started integrating Clo 3D into her services, and got consistent ...

What happens after you hit $100K on Upwork? For Afroditi, it meant finally stepping away. In this second half of our in-person interview, she shares how she scaled her freelance business, raised her rates, and built a system that brought clients to her. But she also reveals why she chose to leave it all behind. From pricing mindset to proposal tips and her 2025 pivot strategy, this is an honest look at what growth really t...

What if your first freelance project paid just $15 and took a week to complete... would you keep going? In this first episode of our two-part series, I sit down in person with Afroditi, a Greek fashion freelancer who started on Upwork with no clients and no portfolio. She opens up about landing that first $15 sketch job, the fear and uncertainty she faced, and why Upwork felt safer than anything else.

Afroditi shares the ra...

Could you land a $75/hour freelance gig without even showing a portfolio? Sara Bleske did—and her story might just change the way you think about pitching.

After being laid off from her full-time design job, surface and textile designer Sara Bleske didn’t wait until everything was “ready.” Instead, she led with sincerity, curiosity, and a desire to be helpful—and ended up landing her dream client from a cold email (yes, rea...

From Zero Reviews to $4K Clients: How Danielle Steman Broke Into Freelance Fashion With Just 8 Pitches

Ever wondered how to stand out on Upwork without a single rating, review, or testimonial? Danielle Steman did just that—and banked $4,000 from her first two freelance clients.

In this episode, you’ll meet Danielle, a former engineer from The Netherlands who left behind a stable tech career to carve out a bold new pa...

No degree, no industry connections, no Illustrator skills—and still crushing it as a fashion freelancer! Tabitha Calvin proves you don’t need the "perfect" background to make it happen. Just a year ago, she was a Spanish teacher with a dream—and now she’s designing streetwear collections for clients, including a former NBA player!

In this episode, we get real about what it’s like to build a freelance fashion career from scr...

Curious how a self-taught freelancer with zero fashion experience charged 4x the going rate—and landed the client anyway? Fathima’s story is the bold confidence boost you didn’t know you needed.

This episode follows Fathima Thasneem’s surprising entrance into the freelance fashion world, where a single LinkedIn message turned into a high-paying opportunity. With no degree and no prior design clients, she faced tough questio...

Learn the powerful mindset shift that took Jolleen from underpaid to unstoppable in fashion freelancing!

Tired of feeling stuck, underpaid, or invisible in the fashion world? Jolleen Gabriel’s story will seriously light a fire under you. She went from earning just $18 a day in the Philippines to making over $4,000 a month as a freelance fashion designer—working only 20 hours a week. No massive audience. No secret connection...

Discover how Candice Stokes went from undervalued to unstoppable in freelance fashion design!

Ever felt stuck in a job where your skills weren’t fully appreciated? Candice Stokes knows that feeling all too well. She spent years questioning if she was “ready” to freelance—if her portfolio was strong enough, if brands would take her seriously. But when she finally took the leap, she landed a $4,100 client in her very first mo...

Think you can launch a fashion line with a few thousand dollars? You might want to think again. In this eye-opening bonus episode, Rachel Erickson breaks down the real cost of building a successful fashion brand—and spoiler alert: it’s not cheap.

After crunching the numbers, Rachel discovered that $200,000 is the magic number to hit profitability by year three. But where does all that money actually go? She walks us through...

From Nervous to Thriving: Discover how Alina Sanchez-Lopez transformed trade show nerves into a $12,000 freelance triumph!

Ever walked into a trade show feeling completely out of place, unsure of how to approach potential clients? That was Alina—until a few key mindset shifts and strategic moves changed everything. A casual chat at Magic turned into a game-changing $12K project, reigniting her passion for design and proving...

Ever wondered how some freelance fashion designers land dream clients with just a simple email? In this episode, Heidi Herrman breaks down her secret sauce for securing a $3,000 project with a personalized pitch. From using ChatGPT to find niche brands to crafting an authentic, heartfelt message, she shares all the ins and outs of her process. You’ll be inspired by Heidi's genuine approach and her knack for turning a one-o...

Ever wonder how some freelancers land big-ticket clients while others struggle to get responses?

Imagine setting up your Upwork profile in just half a day and scoring a $27,100 project just weeks later. Sounds unreal, right? That’s exactly what happened to Carolyn. In this episode, she breaks down the key moves that helped her attract premium clients—without years of trial and error.

Carolyn shares how she went from working ...