Best Sew Heidi Podcasts (2025)

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261: The Big Mistake She Made on a $10K Project (and How She’s Fixing It ) (Part 2) 32:19

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10d ago32:19

32:19

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 …

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260: How Jacqueline Landed Her First $10K+ Freelance Fashion Project (Part 1) 49:58

24d ago49:58

49:58

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…

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259: Why Max Said Yes to a “Cheap” Project—and Doesn’t Regret It 49:29

1M ago49:29

49:29

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, st…

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258: How This Mom Built a Freelance Business With a Toddler at Home 48:03

2M ago48:03

48:03

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 proj…

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257: Why Afroditi Quit Upwork After Hitting $100K (Part 2) 31:25

2M ago31:25

31:25

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…

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256: From $15 to $100K: Afroditi’s Fashion Freelance Journey on Upwork (Part 1) 48:39

3M ago48:39

48:39

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 sh…

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255: From Laid Off to $75/Hour: How This Textile Designer Booked Her First Client Without a Portfolio 35:53

3M ago35:53

35:53

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…

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254: How This Ex-Engineer Used a Super Specific Niche to Land $4K in Clients (With Zero Reviews) 41:08

4M ago41:08

41:08

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 Nethe…

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253: Tabitha’s First $1K Month (and Why She’s Quitting Her Day Job to Go All In on Freelancing) 36:29

4M ago36:29

36:29

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, …

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252: No Degree, No Experience: How this Freelancer from India Landed Her First Fashion Design Client at 4x the Rate 26:27

5M ago26:27

26:27

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 opp…

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251: From $18/Day to $10K in Projects: Jolleen's Instagram Strategy for Freelance Success 39:22

5M ago39:22

39:22

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 des…

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250: The $6K Freelancer: How She Replaced Her Salary in 30 Days 44:53

5M ago44:53

44:53

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 wh…

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Bonus: The $200K Reality Check: Why Starting a Fashion Brand Costs More Than You Think 1:02:30

6M ago1:02:30

1:02:30

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 b…

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249: Landing a $12K Client at MAGIC: The Trade Show Networking Strategy That Worked 47:33

6M ago47:33

47:33

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 int…

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248: The $3K Personalized Pitch: How Heidi Closed a Big Client in 6 Weeks 39:04

6M ago39:04

39:04

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’…

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247: Attracting Premium Clients on Upwork: How Carolyn Landed A $2700 Project (without pitching) 38:57

7M ago38:57

38:57

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 clien…

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246: The Pricing Strategy That Doubled Amy’s Freelance Income (without doubling her workload) 39:39

7M ago39:39

39:39

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…

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245: The Art of Soft Selling: How Gabriella 4x'd Her Rate Without Pitching 43:08

8M ago43:08

43:08

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…

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My Top 10 Biz Challengs in 2024 (plus show updates for 2025) 20:59

8M ago20:59

20:59

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…

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244: Sourcing Secrets: How to Find the Perfect Factory and Avoid Expensive Mistakes 45:18

8M ago45:18

45:18

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…

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243: $0 to $6500: How this Design Director Landed Big Clients in Her First Month Freelancing 46:09

9M ago46:09

46:09

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 ho…

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242: I Paid $10 for a Tech Pack—and You Won't Believe What Happened 9:38

9M ago9:38

9:38

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 ca…

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241: Should You Have Set Package Rates as A Freelance Fashion Designer? 16:02

9M ago16:02

16:02

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 un…

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240: How This Freelance Fashion Designer Landed a $15k Project on LinkedIn 52:41

9M ago52:41

52:41

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 $15,0…

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239: Why Hourly Pricing Is A Race to the Bottom (And How to Make More Money) with Jonathan Stark: Part 2 28:22

10M ago28:22

28:22

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 cli…