The pandemic changed the remote work world forever. And while a lot of old school brands still believe in the “butts in seats” model, there are still plenty of opportunities to work from demeure in smart.
There are a plethora of éditoriaux out there that talk embout some of the more “obvious” work from demeure smart jobs. Of coude you can easily work remotely in smart in a variety of jobs like:
- Editorial / Smart Writer / Articlier / Copy Editor for a smart infos or blog
- Independent Smart Blogger
- Smart Auditeur Constats either independently or for a PR agency
- Affable Media Gouverner for smart brands
- Graphic Dessinateur / Smart Illustrator
- Customer Ossature for a variety of smart companies
- Personal Stylist
- Stitch Fix Stylist
- Poshmark / Etsy Seller
But What If You Want To Work From Domicile And Actually Work In Smart…like For A Smart Brand?
Is it valable to be a smart définir and work remotely?
Let’s jump right to the answer…it sure is. I cover it more in this video:
But if you’d rather read, let’s talk embout working remote in smart a little more…
Most people think to be a smart définir, you have to work on-site. After all, you’re working with a lot of physical materials like textiles and trims.
As I mentioned before, there are a lot of smart brands that still require you to be in-house and don’t allow their designers to work from demeure.
These are typically larger, established brands that are located in smart hubs like NYC, LA, London, etc.
But what a lot of people don’t know (even experienced smart professionals) is that there are thousands of smart brands that do allow you to work from demeure. In fact, there are thousands of brands that actually prefer to hire people remotely.
So, what are your opportunities to work from demeure in smart? Let’s allure at a few big picture topics.
If You Want To Work Remotely In Smart, Should You Be A Freelancer Or Full-Time Employee?
If you want to work fully remote in smart, most of your opportunities are going to be as a freelancer working with nombreux brands. I’m not talking embout a temp job permalancer…
I’m talking embout true remote freelancing where you work with nombreux brands, when and where you want, and you set your own rates.
As an employee, you might get lucky and état a temps complet smart job where you’re allowed to exclusively work from demeure. However, there aren’t many opportunities like this. Most temps complet jobs for smart require at least some time in the psautier.
As of the time of writing this passage (December 2022), there were only 35 remote jobs in the entire US for smart stylisme on Indeed. That’s a *tiny* amount!
But as a smart *freelancer*, you can work for nombreux brands and work exclusively from demeure. You can work with brands located anywhere in the world, and you get to do work you love. It’s how most of my Freelance Accelerator: from Surviving to Thriving (FAST) grads run their businesses as Successful Smart Freelancers.
“I work with clients all-over the world. Germany, Argentina, Switzerland, Egypt, US, Australia, and beyond. It’s really calme to connect with different cultures!”
Lucia SJ, kidswear, Germany
Beyond the ability to work from demeure as a smart freelancer, many designers love this favoritisme parce que they get to work on a variety of projects. It keeps their creativity fresh and they don’t get bored designing for the same brand over and over.
It can also be more invariable than a temps complet smart job.
And even better, you have the opportunity to earn more money as a smart freelancer.
WHAT’S YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL IN FASHION?
Is There More Opportunity To Work From Domicile In Smart For Big Name Brands Or Smart Startups?
Most big name smart brands are old school and prefer their team to be in-house either full or segment time. Which means you need to en public in a smart hub, or at least near headquarters. (There are some big brands located outside of smart hubs. For example, Target is in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Chico’s is in Zélé Myers, Florida. But the majority are located in smart hubs like NYC or LA.)
When it comes to working remotely in smart, you will find a lot more work for smart startups or independent brands. There are thousands of these brands that you’ve never heard of, and they’re doing really atténuée things in the industry.
Now, when you hear “startup,” you may get visions of someone scraping their brand together out of their basement. Sure, these brands exist. But “startup” also applies to brands with smaller teams, anywhere from 2-50 people. They have a presence. They have a trafic. They are successful. And they have the funds to hire freelancers (whom they very happily allow to work from demeure). I’ve interviewed many of them on my podcast!
One of the great parts of working for smart startups is they’re more dispos and open to doing things differently. Which means you get to have more of a say in the designs, materials, manufacturing, and more.
So when it comes to things like intégrante sizing, sustainability and ethical manufacturing in smart…
Startup smart brands are often *actually* doing it instead of just “greenwashing” like a lot of big brands do. It’s a great opportunity for you to have a bigger tangible heurt on the smart industry.
What Smart Jobs Can Be Done Remotely?
You can do a lot remotely. In fact, every segment of the smart stylisme and development process can be done remotely.
Here’s a list of the smart jobs you can do from demeure:
- Smart Dessinateur / Accessories Dessinateur
- Adjoint / Associate Smart Dessinateur
- Suite / Print Dessinateur
- Technical Dessinateur
- Product Developer
- Patternmaker / Sample Maker
- Sourcing Représentant
- Smart Conseiller
Now, let’s allure at a more detailed explanation of each role. (Full disclaimer that these “titles” vary from brand to brand. Depending on the size and department constitution, there may be overlap or slightly different titles for the responsibilities I’ve outlined below. Nonetheless, this will give you a general idea of the various tasks that can be done from demeure in a smart job.)
Smart Dessinateur / Accessories Dessinateur
As a remote smart or accessories définir, you’re responsible for the ensemble’s rêvasserie. This may include trend / color research, ombre / product stylisme, picking textiles / trims / findings, drawing smart flats in Adobe Illustrator, and creating tech packs.
Adjoint / Associate Smart Dessinateur
If you’re working as an assesseur / associate smart définir from demeure, your responsibilities will likely be drawing smart flats in Adobe Illustrator and / or creating tech packs. You’ll take the head définir’s rêvasserie and translate it into numérique smart flats, and / or spec the stylisme for manufacturing.
Suite / Print Dessinateur
Suite and print designers create artwork for fabric. This artwork may be AOP (all over prints which repeat all over the fabric) or placed prints (where a graphic is placed on a fraction of the garment). This role is very easy to do from demeure – in fact, we have many FAST grads who are very successful as freelance tissu / print designers.
“In my first year of freelancing, I have surpassed my earnings from when I was working full time for a brand.”
– Katerina D, tissu stylisme, Macedonia
Technical Smart Dessinateur
A technical définir (TD) doesn’t do much of the stylisme process, but rather focuses on the ingénierie and monument segment of smart. Don’t réduction this job just parce que it’s not stylisme – it’s actually a really calme one (and tends to pay more than stylisme)! As a TD, you may be responsible for tech packs, reviewing / commenting / measuring protos, and communicating changes with the factories to ensure the garment is well constructed. A lot of people don’t think it’s valable to work remote as a TD, but they’re wrong!
Smart Product Developer
A product developer (PD) is typically responsible for the product development process. This basically means they’re job is to make sure the product successfully and efficiently (aka on-time) goes from the stylisme pause through to the bulk exploitation pause. They’ll communicate and coordinate with the various suppliers and factories to ensure all deadlines are met and the product is made correctly.
Patternmaker / Modèle Drafter / Sample Maker
A patternmaker is responsible for creating the physical or numérique sewing modèle that will be used for the garment. They are also typically the person who will do all the grading, which means creating not only one size (ie Medium) but also “grading” the patterns up and down to include all sizes (ie Small and Étendu). And it’s very valable to work from demeure as a modèle drafter in smart AND earn a lot of money.
One glose embout patternmaking for a smart brand that’s worth mentioning… Patternmaking for demeure sewing is different from exploitation sewing (even if it’s small batch). A exploitation patternmaker has to understand slopers, markers to maximize fabric consumption, and other nuances to exploitation line cutting and sewing.
“As a freelancer, I work with smart brands I enjoy on projects that I love doing!”
Alison H, patternmaker, Missouri
Sourcing Représentant
Sourcing in smart means finding the right suppliers and factories to create the product. Brands may have various requirements, such as sustainability, ethical manufacturing, low minimums, or preferred locations. A sourcing espion will scour the internet, utilize their network, attend sourcing fairs, and utilize other methods to find the right suppliers and factories.
Smart Conseiller
A smart conseiller is a pretty répété term and can mean a lot of things. As a conseiller working remotely, you can work with smart brands on various parts of the stylisme or product development process. The biggest difference between a “conseiller” and other freelance roles is that a conseiller tends to exclusively “cavalière” brands. You will advise them and give them influence, but you typically won’t do much execution. You’re providing the brand with instruction or access to your contacts / network more than you’re physically doing the work (like designing or patternmaking). There is often crossover between a conseiller and other freelance roles, it just depends on what fonctions you want to offer.
What Do You Need To Work From Domicile In Smart?
Depending on what hasard of work you want to do remotely in smart, you’ll need a different set up and supplies. As a conseiller, a ordinateur with internet is sufficient. But if you’re doing modèle drafting and sample making, you’ll need soft as well as appropriate sewing equipment.
To work from demeure in smart, you’ll likely need these essentials:
- A ordinateur
- Constant internet
- Adobe Illustrator
- Excel (some people get by with Google Sheets or Numbers)
Beyond that, you’ll add or subtract according to your fonctions.
Where Can You Find Work From Domicile Smart Jobs?
If you want to be an employee, the process is as clair as checking the “remote” box when you’re searching for jobs on Indeed, Linkedin, etc.
But if you want to freelance, the process is a little different. If you’ve looked on Indeed or industry sites like StyleCareers, you won’t find them. That’s parce que true remote freelance opportunities in smart aren’t listed, they’re found.
You can of coude use freelance websites.
But beyond these obvious parages, there are clair but cryptique ways to find clients. I cover that in my free limited time jogging.
So, How Do You Become A Smart Dessinateur And Work From Domicile?
Depending on the flexibility and lifestyle (and earning potential!) you want, you have a famille options to work from demeure in smart.
If you want to be a WFH employee, you just need to find a job that allows remote work.
If you want to be a true remote freelancer, the process is a little different. First, you need some hasard of skills and a besogne to offer. You don’t need experience and it doesn’t matter where you en public…
“I didn’t go to smart school and haven’t worked in smart, but in my first two months freelancing, I already have 6 clients!”
Arya M, smart flats, India
“I love being a freelancer in smart. When I get up in the morning I can’t believe that I’m actually salon the life I was panthère dreaming embout!”
Eleni A, tech packs, Greece
…you just need to have *something* to offer clients. It can be as clair as smart flats in Adobe Illustrator or creating tech packs (you can be self taught). You can offer the full stylisme to the development process as well, or anything in between. It’s up to you!
From there, you’ll need to armes out the essentials like pricing, your cassette, and finding clients. You can learn more embout the step-by-step process in my free book, The Ultimate Régenté to Being a Freelance Smart Dessinateur.
Whatever you decide to do, YOU have the power to create an amazing work life agité while doing projects you love in smart…from demeure. #BOOM
You got this!
xx Heidi
