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The Fashion Freelance Option
By admins | March 6, 2009
via flickr by lanuiop
Following up on our recent article regarding job hunting, we got to thinking about freelancing. While there are all kinds of freelancers, in this post we are mainly focused on in-house freelancing. How often have you been slaving away, working late hours, taking on much departmental pressure and dealing with office politics while at the next cubicle a freelancer making more than you hourly is working away with little stress and is always out the door at 5:00pm? Any full time fashionista chained to the insane schedule and bureaucracy of an apparel company has dreamed of giving it all up to take control of her life and work freelance. But, is freelancing really that dream job that we all hope it to be? And is it really worth sacrificing a stable salary and benefits to join the world of freelance? And specifically, in the current economy and job market is now a smart time to do so?
Well the truth is, as with any job in fashion, freelancing is not all it’s cracked up to be. For some people freelance is a dream job, it’s not for everyone. If you already have a client base and a large network to draw from your chances of success are greatly improved. In addition to your marketable skill, whether it’s graphic, pattern-making, design, etc, to be a successful freelancer you must be an extremely organized and business minded person. Since freelancing does not come with any health benefits it’s also helpful to have a spouse whose health plan you can take advantage of. Besides freelancing on your own, you can also sign with one of the large fashion freelance companies here in NYC. If you do go through an agency, a word of advice, consistently follow up with your contact person and any other employee you know there or else your name will get lost in the shuffle of the thousands of other fashionistas out job hunting.
Before you begin freelancing, one of the most important decisions to make is setting your own rate. Once you set your rate, which can be a small range, do not wavier from your set price. To decide on a fare rate, find out what other freelancers are being paid, what companies are offering, or divide your yearly salary into an hourly wage (but do not forget to add extra dollars for lack of benefits). Your rate should be dependent upon your level of experience and include options for overtime pay. By the way, if you are new to the industry, when figuring out your rate or salary, never use an online salary calculator. They are completely unrealistic for the fashion industry, especially in NYC. Now the biggest myth around the Garment Center is often the notion that freelancers make so much more for doing so much less than their full time counterparts. This is actually rarely true, many freelancers work through agencies, so when your company cuts those fat freelancer checks, the freelancer only receives about 65% of that and even less after taxes. Plus keep in mind that freelancers have to pay for health care out of pocket which can be extremely costly.
While freelancing can certainly give your schedule more freedom, it also brings financial and emotional instability. Not having a steady reliable paycheck in the country’s most expensive city could give you an ulcer when the rent comes due. Just like any job there are pros and cons to freelancing but if you are looking for the perfect dream job this is not it. For those seriously thinking about making the jump, it is advisable to try freelancing on the side before leaving your full-time job, as well as, building a large nest egg before giving your notice. Lastly, we would greatly encourage anyone to keep their stable job until the economy begins to turn around. Right now freelance jobs in the fashion industry are few and far between, and with so many recent layoffs the amount of competition for those few jobs have greatly increased.
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Topics: economy, fashion industry, jobs | 4 Comments » 
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March 7th, 2009 at 11:41 am
So true, I happen to love freelancing and love the freedom of it but fulltime defintely pays me more yearly, no question.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Thank you for sharing such an informative article. It’s nice to have great ideas just like what I’ve read in http://www.integritycareertransitions.com/blog/
Keep it up!
April 30th, 2009 at 12:22 am
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