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

• 260: How Jacqueline Landed Her First $10K+ Freelance Fashion Project (Part 1)

  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 landed to help seal the deal. Let’s get into it.Resources:196: How This Freelancer Does Sourcing & Product Development for Factories (and is making bank)197: How to Sell Yourself As A Freelance Fashion Designer (without feeling gross) with Nikki Rausch250: The $6K Freelancer: How She Replaced Her Salary in 30 DaysConscious Fashion CollectiveThe Power Pause, Neha Ruch BookAbout Jacqueline:Jacqueline is a freelance denim designer who collaborates with ethical brands. Denim production has significant environmental and social consequences, mainly due to chemical dyes, excessive washing, and unethical labor practices. Her work aims to raise awareness that the denim industry should prioritize not only sustainability but also fairness, ethics, responsibility, and promoting slow consumption. Jacqueline is dedicated to contributing towards steering the industry in a positive direction for the future.Connect with Jacqueline:Email her at [email protected] out her websiteFollow on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

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• 259: Why Max Said Yes to a “Cheap” Project—and Doesn’t Regret It

  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. If you’ve ever debated whether a low-budget job is worth your time, this story will shift your perspective.About Max:Max Guemto is a freelance 3D fashion and activewear designer currently based in Korea. After earning his degree in textile and clothing technology in Germany, he interned across the globe—from lingerie brands to spinning factories—before diving headfirst into freelancing. With a sharp eye for detail and a deeply strategic mindset, Max helps brands bring functional, innovative activewear to life.Connect with Max:Email him at [email protected] out his website Follow on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

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• 258: How This Mom Built a Freelance Business With a Toddler at Home

  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 inquiries without even having a website. If you’re trying to make freelancing work in the margins of your day, Pip’s story proves it’s 100% possible.What if you could build a freelance career during nap time and weekend evenings? That’s exactly what Philippa Cooper—aka Pip—has done. Specializing in technical outerwear, she shares how she turned part-time hours into consistent £1K+ months, how Clo 3D transformed her workflow, and why LinkedIn has become her go-to marketing tool. This episode is packed with real strategies, mindset shifts, and tactical advice for freelancers trying to make it work with limited time.Resources:216: What 3D Fashion Design Software Is the Best? With Sylwia SzymczykFacetuneapp.com for professional AI headshotsAbout Philippa: Philippa “Pip” Cooper is a freelance pattern cutter and outerwear specialist based in Southeast England. She helps UK startups develop technical outerwear with a focus on fit, precision, and performance. Using tools like Clo 3D and leveraging her extensive industry experience, Pip creates efficient workflows that support startup founders from concept to production.Connect with Philippa:Email her at [email protected] out her websiteFollow on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn  Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

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• 257: Why Afroditi Quit Upwork After Hitting $100K (Part 2)

  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 takes.In Part 2 of our conversation with Afroditi, we pick up after her rocky first year and dive into how she built a stable, high-paying freelance business. She talks about growing from $15 projects to $70/hour clients, using Upwork to teach herself strategy, and why she ultimately chose to leave the platform.Resources:Afroditi's Upwork Profile253: Tabitha’s First $1K Month (and Why She’s Quitting Her Day Job to Go All In on Freelancing)256: From $15 to $100K: Afroditi’s Fashion Freelance Journey on Upwork (Part 1)About Afroditi:Afroditi is a fashion technical designer who earned $100K on Upwork while living in Greece. She now helps early-stage brands with tech packs and development—and is shifting her freelance business off-platform to gain more control.Connect with Afroditi:Follow on InstagramConnect on LinkedIn Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

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• 256: From $15 to $100K: Afroditi’s Fashion Freelance Journey on Upwork (Part 1)

  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 raw, unfiltered truth of her first year freelancing: her strategies, the emotional toll of working without boundaries, and the surprising reasons she didn’t give up.Listen to this powerful story of grit and growth, especially if you’re just starting out or need a reminder that every expert was once a beginner.Resources:Afroditi's Upwork Profile 253: Tabitha’s First $1K Month (and Why She’s Quitting Her Day Job to Go All In on Freelancing)About Afroditi: Afroditi is a fashion technical designer based in Athens, Greece. She transitioned from teaching cello to fashion, and after a tough start in the industry, she built her career on Upwork (eventually crossing $100K on the platform).Connect with Afroditi:Follow on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

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