Best Sew Heidi Podcasts (2025)

1
253: Tabitha’s First $1K Month (and Why She’s Quitting Her Day Job to Go All In on Freelancing) 37:17

1d ago37:17

37:17

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, …

1
252: No Degree, No Experience: How this Freelancer from India Landed Her First Fashion Design Client at 4x the Rate 27:16

16d ago27:16

27:16

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…

1
251: From $18/Day to $10K in Projects: Jolleen's Instagram Strategy for Freelance Success 40:10

30d ago40:10

40:10

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…

1
250: The $6K Freelancer: How She Replaced Her Salary in 30 Days 45:41

1M ago45:41

45:41

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…

1
Bonus: The $200K Reality Check: Why Starting a Fashion Brand Costs More Than You Think 1:03:18

2M ago1:03:18

1:03:18

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…

1
249: Landing a $12K Client at MAGIC: The Trade Show Networking Strategy That Worked 48:21

2M ago48:21

48:21

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…

1
248: The $3K Personalized Pitch: How Heidi Closed a Big Client in 6 Weeks 39:53

2M ago39:53

39:53

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’…

1
247: Attracting Premium Clients on Upwork: How Carolyn Landed A $2700 Project (without pitching) 39:45

3M ago39:45

39:45

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…

1
246: The Pricing Strategy That Doubled Amy’s Freelance Income (without doubling her workload) 40:27

3M ago40:27

40:27

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…

1
245: The Art of Soft Selling: How Gabriella 4x'd Her Rate Without Pitching 43:57

4M ago43:57

43:57

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…

1
My Top 10 Biz Challengs in 2024 (plus show updates for 2025) 21:21

4M ago21:21

21:21

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…

1
244: Sourcing Secrets: How to Find the Perfect Factory and Avoid Expensive Mistakes 46:06

4M ago46:06

46:06

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…

1
243: $0 to $6500: How this Design Director Landed Big Clients in Her First Month Freelancing 47:00

5M ago47:00

47:00

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…

1
242: I Paid $10 for a Tech Pack—and You Won't Believe What Happened 10:30

5M ago10:30

10:30

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…

1
241: Should You Have Set Package Rates as A Freelance Fashion Designer? 16:53

5M ago16:53

16:53

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…

1
240: How This Freelance Fashion Designer Landed a $15k Project on LinkedIn 53:29

5M ago53:29

53:29

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…

1
239: Why Hourly Pricing Is A Race to the Bottom (And How to Make More Money) with Jonathan Stark: Part 2 29:10

6M ago29:10

29:10

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…

1
238: Why Hourly Pricing Is A Race to the Bottom (And How to Make More Money) with Jonathan Stark: Part 1 46:07

6M ago46:07

46:07

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…

1
237: How Her 'Viral' LinkedIn Post Turned Into An Amazing Freelance Client 58:58

6M ago58:58

58:58

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 cl…

1
236: How This Freelance Fashion Designer Broke Into A Brand New Category (after corporate burnout) 52:27

6M ago52:27

52:27

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…

1
235: What If A Brand Says You're Too Expensive? Here's How You Still Get the Client 27:42

7M ago27:42

27:42

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 e…

1
234: How She Started A Fashion Design Agency (in 2 years) 45:59

7M ago45:59

45:59

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…

1
233: Are You A Freelancer Or An Entrepreneur? Why Your Mindset Matters More Than You Think 1:05:48

7M ago1:05:48

1:05:48

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 h…

1
232: Why This Freelance Fashion Designer Is Turning Down $120k+ Job Offers 1:02:45

7M ago1:02:45

1:02:45

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 f…

1
231: How to Get Work from Old Coworkers (without being annoying) 10:34

8M ago10:34

10:34

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 ca…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Sew Heidi Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms

Sew Heidi

1
253: Tabitha’s First $1K Month (and Why She’s Quitting Her Day Job to Go All In on Freelancing) 37:17

1
252: No Degree, No Experience: How this Freelancer from India Landed Her First Fashion Design Client at 4x the Rate 27:16

1
251: From $18/Day to $10K in Projects: Jolleen's Instagram Strategy for Freelance Success 40:10

1
250: The $6K Freelancer: How She Replaced Her Salary in 30 Days 45:41

1
Bonus: The $200K Reality Check: Why Starting a Fashion Brand Costs More Than You Think 1:03:18

1
249: Landing a $12K Client at MAGIC: The Trade Show Networking Strategy That Worked 48:21

1
248: The $3K Personalized Pitch: How Heidi Closed a Big Client in 6 Weeks 39:53

1
247: Attracting Premium Clients on Upwork: How Carolyn Landed A $2700 Project (without pitching) 39:45

1
246: The Pricing Strategy That Doubled Amy’s Freelance Income (without doubling her workload) 40:27

1
245: The Art of Soft Selling: How Gabriella 4x'd Her Rate Without Pitching 43:57

1
My Top 10 Biz Challengs in 2024 (plus show updates for 2025) 21:21

1
244: Sourcing Secrets: How to Find the Perfect Factory and Avoid Expensive Mistakes 46:06

1
243: $0 to $6500: How this Design Director Landed Big Clients in Her First Month Freelancing 47:00

1
242: I Paid $10 for a Tech Pack—and You Won't Believe What Happened 10:30

1
241: Should You Have Set Package Rates as A Freelance Fashion Designer? 16:53

1
240: How This Freelance Fashion Designer Landed a $15k Project on LinkedIn 53:29

1
239: Why Hourly Pricing Is A Race to the Bottom (And How to Make More Money) with Jonathan Stark: Part 2 29:10

1
238: Why Hourly Pricing Is A Race to the Bottom (And How to Make More Money) with Jonathan Stark: Part 1 46:07

1
237: How Her 'Viral' LinkedIn Post Turned Into An Amazing Freelance Client 58:58

1
236: How This Freelance Fashion Designer Broke Into A Brand New Category (after corporate burnout) 52:27

1
235: What If A Brand Says You're Too Expensive? Here's How You Still Get the Client 27:42

1
234: How She Started A Fashion Design Agency (in 2 years) 45:59

1
233: Are You A Freelancer Or An Entrepreneur? Why Your Mindset Matters More Than You Think 1:05:48

1
232: Why This Freelance Fashion Designer Is Turning Down $120k+ Job Offers 1:02:45

1
231: How to Get Work from Old Coworkers (without being annoying) 10:34