Let’s Jump right into it…

You know, only a few people realize how important it is to have a good or even EXCELLENT writer to write for them. People seem to think that getting someone to write for “free” is the best way to go. I disagree. I remember starting out and dealing with customers who’d say  “oh, I’ll just get volunteers to add posts to my site and contribute for free”.Yeah, and I’d say “o.k good luck” . People who aren’t good writers write content that is generic with no dept or knowledge. They write willy nilly and just fill blogs with rubbish. Real writers combine writing skills, industry knowledge, and passion to create post that are read and “share” worthy.

For example, a hobby writer or fashion enthusiast will review the 2016 Marc Jacobs Resort Collection like this:

“I like Mark Jacob’s collection this year because the models wore lots of black, which is my favorite color. I loved the pretty dresses because it reminds me of the 50′s swinger dresses, and I love the shiny decorations on the jackets. The fashion show was pretty cool! I give it a ten, I’d wear everything, except the weird collar body shirts”

…Ok now here’s how a real career FASHION WRITER would  write it:

There’s always been a great sense of wonderment to Marc Jacobs clothing. His 2016 Resortwear collection was stunning and featured vintage silhouettes with 80′s inspired detailing . The color palette is neutral with brilliant pops of red. The atmosphere was not distracting and emphasized the overall mood of the collection. Marc Jacob hit “The Mark” this season, with form flattering clothing that’s ready to wear. 

…SEE?!  It pays to invest in quality work. I’ll tell you this much; The same people who claim they can get someone to do the same good work for free end up coming back to ME. Ultimately, your name and reputation needs to be of the best quality you can get. Invest in quality, I implore you!

P.S: I’m not dissing bloggers (I started out as one), but I don’t like the fact that people who work hard at their craft get haggled over fees THEN get told someone who does it for free is just as good. :)

Are you curious about the Fashion Industry, but don’t know where to begin? 

You’re not alone. Not everyone is a fashion veteran (like moi), and not everyone has a fashion degree. For those of you who have a skill and want to “dabble” into the world of fashion, here are some business ideas to get you moving in the right direction.

Fashion Industry Nail Artist

This is a great business to start on a small scale. There’s a high demand for Nail Artist in the fashion industry. Jan Arnold, co-founder of CND.com (Creative Nail Design Inc.) knows all to well of this demand. The Huffington Post featured her in an article here. It details why CND Inc. nail art had their own spotlight on the runways during fashion week 2015.  Nails, or nail art, is a million dollar industry increasing in popularity. In the past, no one cared how a models fingernails looked on the runway. Now magazines are doing features on them. Fashion forecasting companies are also adding the hottest nail trends to their reports. Designers who can’t afford an actual nail artist backstage are now investing in creative press-on nails. Guess who could be designing them…YOU! If being a nail artist in the fashion industry interest you, then I suggest you start with a portfolio. Nothing fancy, just a small photo album of designs with an actual hand model or without. I purposely didn’t mention getting a website, because that’s an investment for people who are serious about their craft. If this is a side gig for you, then just create a tumblr or facebook account for now. Getting work as a Fashion Industry Nail Artist is all about making connections. Contact fashion designers, models, event planners, even jewelry designers. Let them know who you are, what you do, and tell them how you can benefit their business.

Fashion Research Specialist

Believe it or not, some people don’t like to do research. They either don’t have the time or energy. Don’t assume just because a person can “GOOGLE” something, that they’re a researcher. No, there’re people who are so good at finding information that you’d swear they work for the secret services. We all know that person who somehow finds the best deals, discounts, pop up shops, plane tickets, jobs , etc. by simply searching online. They get better results than the average person who searches using the same methods. If you’re someone who loves to surf the net then this business would suit you well.  To start,  buy business cards, then set up a tumblr or facebook account.  Show off your industry knowledge  and feature reviews from satisfied business clients. Wondering who would hire you? There’re fashion designers, who need information on the best fabric stores, manufactures, model agencies, employee backgrounds, pricing, etc. There are also businesses that need trend forecasters. Not all retailers can afford subscriptions to a fashion forecasting company (which can run in the thousands!). What YOU can do is offer to create research reports detailing the latest trends in fashion, makeup, or anything else for a reasonable fee. Fashion research specialist can find work almost anywhere in the industry. As stated before, you just have to put yourself out there!

Fashion Music Composer

If you’re good at producing music, then why not use your talent for the fashion industry? Designers don’t solely use music for fashion shows. They use it for videos, events, websites, and online portfolios. Sure there’s tons of mainstream music out, but remember copyright infringement. A Fashion Music Composer can create catchy instrumental tracks, then sell them out right for a decent price. Fashion boutiques need music too. You can create a custom soundtrack and give shoppers a unique experience.  There are also fashion students presenting senior collections who could use a good music composer. Fashion companies and sites need music for professional interviews and vlogs. There are endless options. Usually producers already have platforms to showcase their music. Since I’m not too familiar with them, all I can suggest is sound cloud. link and #hashtag everything, and make sure there’s a way for people to contact you easily.

These are just a few freelance business ideas. I will definitely add more as they come to me. Until then please feel free to comment and give suggestions :). Also, share this article with other fashion enthusiast via social media (I have twitter and facebook buttons above). Soon I’ll be posting an article titled “How to Charge for freelance Fashion Services“. So subscribe and keep informed:)