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 ro...
Jun 23, 2025•31 min•Ep. 257
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 em...
Jun 09, 2025•49 min•Ep. 256
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, really). In this episode, Sara opens up about the moment she hit “send,” the...
May 26, 2025•36 min•Ep. 255
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 path in fashion. Specializing in made-to-measure and latex pattern making, she bui...
May 12, 2025•41 min•Ep. 254
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 scratch. From teaching herself Illustrator to landing $2,500 streetwear clie...
Apr 28, 2025•36 min•Ep. 253
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 questions about her background—and didn’t flinch. Instead, she leaned into her w...
Apr 14, 2025•26 min•Ep. 252
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 connections. Just a smart strategy, a mindset shift, and some intentional Instagram...
Mar 31, 2025•39 min•Ep. 251
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 month. A few weeks later? Another $2,000 project. Now, she’s on track to le...
Mar 17, 2025•45 min•Ep. 250
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 the financial roadmap, from inventory costs to hiring a team, and reveal...
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 3 min
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 that in-person networking can lead to massive freelance success. In this...
Mar 03, 2025•48 min•Ep. 249
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-off gig into an ongoing client relationship. But it doesn't stop there! Hei...
Feb 17, 2025•39 min•Ep. 248
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 with high-street brands in the UK and navigating the job market in Hong ...
Feb 03, 2025•39 min•Ep. 247
Ever feel like you’re undercharging for your freelance services? Amy Barnhart shares how a smart pricing shift and one game-changing service helped her nearly double her income in just one year. In this episode, Amy Barnhart, a freelance fashion designer, reveals the strategic decisions that transformed her business, including raising her rates for tech packs and introducing a new print design service tailored to the men’s golf fashion niche. These moves not only boosted her revenue but also str...
Jan 20, 2025•40 min•Ep. 246
Discover how Gabriella Bilotta transformed a heartfelt LinkedIn message into a six-figure client! In this episode, Gabriella shares her journey of building genuine connections, landing high-paying clients, and transitioning to full-time freelancing. She dives into her background in lingerie and sustainability, the value of mentorship with her coach Alison, and the role personal branding played in her success. Gabriella also unpacks her strategies for pricing, networking, and fostering meaningful...
Jan 06, 2025•43 min•Ep. 245
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of your favorite podcast? In today's episode, I’m sharing some exciting updates for the Successful Fashion Designer Podcast in 2025 and reflecting on the challenges I faced in 2024. From business hurdles to personal struggles, I’ll dive into what I learned and how those lessons can help you navigate your own journey as we head into the new year. Join me as I share the highs, lows, and everything in between, and let’s get ready for an amazing 2025! Dow...
Dec 23, 2024•21 min
Walking into a tradeshow with no idea where to start can be intimidating! As a freelancer, having a plan of action for the next fashion trade show you attend can make all the difference. In this episode, I talk live with Andreu David, the Vice President of Sourcing at MAGIC, to get insights from an industry expert on how to make the most of a trade show. Andreu covers everything from understanding market levels and price points to the importance of factory operations and the benefits of attendin...
Dec 16, 2024•45 min•Ep. 244
Freelancing in fashion might seem risky, but what if it didn’t have to be? You could replace or even exceed your corporate salary in just one month. In this episode, we will share how Aiden got noticed on Upwork, even without ratings. You’ll learn the negotiation tips that helped her turn a $2,000 offer into a $5,000 win. Aiden will also explain how she set up her profile so brands find and contact her, which means she doesn’t have to pitch herself anymore. If you’re tired of the stressful corpo...
Dec 09, 2024•46 min•Ep. 243
How do you compete with low prices on Upwork? Is a bargain the only thing clients will look for? I did an experiment and hired 5 freelancers at 5 different price points to see what you get for a tech pack at each level. The results are shocking and entertaining. Stick with me as I walk through the results, explaining why these low-priced options can lead to big problems for clients and why you shouldn't undervalue your own work. By the end, you'll see why quality tech packs are worth the investm...
Dec 02, 2024•10 min•Ep. 242
Starting with set package rates might feel tempting, but it’s like trying to sew a wedding dress on your first try—it’s better to start small and build up your skills. In today's episode, I'll share a better strategy for finding your pricing sweet spot and how to handle those tricky conversations when clients think your rates are too high. We'll uncover the nuances of custom versus package pricing, how to gauge client reactions, and strategies to ensure your services demonstrate clear value and ...
Nov 25, 2024•16 min•Ep. 241
Ever had a client respond with, "Wow, that's a bit steep"? If you’re charging you're worth, you’ve probably seen that reaction before. But there are some easy ways to help clients get on board with your deserved rates. Take Alison Pickthorn, for instance. She’s a student in my hands-on coaching program, Fast Track Turbo, and she just landed a $15,000 client. She chats about maintaining fair pricing, understanding your value, and how crafting a compelling, client-specific proposal can make all th...
Nov 18, 2024•53 min•Ep. 240
This is Part 2 of my interview with Jonathan Stark. If you're pricing hourly, you're potentially leaving a lot of money on the table in your freelance fashion design biz. In this episode, business coach Jonathan Stark talks about value-based pricing. He shares his journey from charging by the hour to adopting a pricing strategy focusing on what clients truly value. From aligning services with client revenue goals, to three-tier value pricing strategies, to becoming meaningfully different, get re...
Nov 11, 2024•28 min•Ep. 239
If you're pricing hourly, you're potentially leaving a lot of money on the table in your freelance fashion design biz. In this episode, business coach Jonathan Stark talks about value-based pricing. He shares his journey from charging by the hour to adopting a pricing strategy focusing on what clients truly value. From aligning services with client revenue goals, to three-tier value pricing strategies, to becoming meaningfully different, get ready to uncover some key insights that could totally ...
Nov 04, 2024•45 min•Ep. 238
Can a LinkedIn post really transform your freelance fashion design career? In today's episode, I talk with fashion designer Fernanda Martinelli about how one Linkedin post took off and helped land her a client! We discuss the strategies for leveraging a popular post and how to turn new leads into dream clients. Find out how she builds meaningful client relationships, leveraging tools like AI-generated images and detailed proposals. Whether you're new to freelancing or have been around for a whil...
Oct 28, 2024•58 min•Ep. 237
Are you scared of getting scammed from factories? Here are the red flags you should look out for. Natalie is a corporate fashion designer turned freelance after some major burnout and the pandemic. In this episode, she talks about things like how she got her clients, some sourcing red flags to look out for, how she sets her prices, and so much more. Natalie's story shows how she bounced back and came up with fresh ideas, how she's making customized mini portfolios, and how she landed gigs throug...
Oct 21, 2024•52 min•Ep. 236
What do you do when the brand says you're too expensive but you know you're the right person for the gig? That's exactly what one of my FAST Track Turbo students, Allison Pickthorn experienced! We worked out her pricing strategy and with some savvy negotiation, she landed a $15,000 project! We break down all the strategies and mindset shifts that eventually got her the project, her experience with client negotiations, and the surprising twist involving an Indian manufacturer and a retailer right...
Oct 14, 2024•27 min•Ep. 235
How do you go from fashion freelancer to owning a design agency? We're breaking it down in today's episode with guest Lindsay Kondel who did exactly that! In our chat, she shares her journey, from starting out as a head designer at an activewear label to leveraging Instagram and networking to build her agency. Also find out why collaboration trumps competition, especially in the dynamic world of fashion design. Whether you're a freelancer or an agency owner, this episode is packed with actionabl...
Oct 07, 2024•45 min•Ep. 234
What if you could break the feast or famine freelance cycle with one simple mindset shift? I talked with Kyle Kushner, a coach for freelance and entrepreneurial creatives, and we had some very interesting discussions around this topic and much more. Kyle opens up about overcoming self-doubt and embracing an entrepreneurial mindset. He talks about how to promote ourselves, boost confidence, and form genuine, non-transactional connections on LinkedIn. And you gotta hear Kyle's awesome journey from...
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 233
Curious about turning freelancing into a stable career? It's possible with the help of these secrets on pricing, Upwork strategies, and LinkedIn hacks with today's guest, Rachel Kranick. She shares real talk on ghosted clients, work-life balance, and leveraging her previous experience. Plus, get tips on staying financially savvy and embracing the freedom of freelancing. Don’t miss this inspiring career pivot story! Whether you're wondering if making the leap into freelancing is possible, or a se...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 232
What if getting new projects was as easy as sending a quick catch-up message? You've got a hidden goldmine in your network, and today we talk about how to tap into those connections without feeling awkward or annoying. This clip is from a strategy session with one of my FAST students, Daniella Kahle, where we talk about the simple strategies you can use to reconnect with old industry connections. We give some real-life examples of how reconnecting pays off, sometimes in unexpected ways. From dus...
Sep 16, 2024•10 min•Ep. 231
Today we're flipping the script and interviewing the host, Heidi - part 2! One of our FAST students approached with the idea of interviewing Heidi and they talk about naysayers, email etiquette, and the hurdles of scaling a business. We tackled the reality of failures and why resilience is key. We also shared candid stories about hiring struggles and overcoming confidence issues, especially when it comes to pricing. Remember, the right support system can push you beyond your limits. Resources: P...
Sep 09, 2024•55 min•Ep. 230
