Stitch with SACSS participants receive valuable tips on becoming a freelance fashion designer

As the women in our Stitch with SACSS program continue to hone their sewing skills, we were delighted to have La’Daska Powell, president and executive director of LM Foundations and fashion designer at LADASKA MECHELLE, visit our class to share her experience and advice on becoming a successful freelance designer.

Participants in our Stitch with SACSS program, which aims to empower South Asian immigrant women, learned the importance of freelance opportunities, networking with industry professionals, navigating pricing negotiations with clients, and self-promotion.   

“The more you practice with challenging garments, the better you’ll become,” La’Daska said. “The faster and more proficient you are, the more you can charge. Becoming an expert takes 10,000 hours of practice, and that’s where the money is.” 

According to La’Daska, promoting their work, such as wearing their designs and creating a flier or online portfolio, is vital in presenting themselves to their target audience or market. She also encouraged the women to learn about different fabrics and quality materials.

“When starting a business, you cannot afford to make costly mistakes. In almost any situation, you must have almost two years of experience,” La’Daska said. “Play around with different fabrics, and ask yourself, ‘Can I make a pattern out of this, and can I sell it?’ Besides the sewing class, keep learning.'” 

With over 15 years of experience in the apparel and manufacturing industry, La’Daska helps to empower individuals and communities by providing access to high-quality educational resources, skill development opportunities, and specialized training programs.