258: How This Mom Built a Freelance Business With a Toddler at Home

What if you could build a thriving freelance fashion business… while raising a toddler at home? That’s exactly what Philippa Cooper—aka Pip—has done, working just two days a week. In this episode, Pip shares how she went from a COVID layoff to building a client roster using platforms like PeoplePerHour and LinkedIn. You’ll hear how she doubled project rates, started integrating Clo 3D into her services, and got consistent inquiries without even having a website. If you’re trying to make freelancing work in the margins of your day, Pip’s story proves it’s 100% possible.

What if you could build a freelance career during nap time and weekend evenings? That’s exactly what Philippa Cooper—aka Pip—has done. Specializing in technical outerwear, she shares how she turned part-time hours into consistent £1K+ months, how Clo 3D transformed her workflow, and why LinkedIn has become her go-to marketing tool. This episode is packed with real strategies, mindset shifts, and tactical advice for freelancers trying to make it work with limited time.

Resources:
216: What 3D Fashion Design Software Is the Best? With Sylwia Szymczyk
Facetuneapp.com for professional AI headshots

About Philippa:
Philippa “Pip” Cooper is a freelance pattern cutter and outerwear specialist based in Southeast England. She helps UK startups develop technical outerwear with a focus on fit, precision, and performance. Using tools like Clo 3D and leveraging her extensive industry experience, Pip creates efficient workflows that support startup founders from concept to production.

Connect with Philippa:
Email her at [e-mail]
Check out her website

Follow on Instagram 

Connect on LinkedIn 

Download my Freelance Price List just for fashion (it’s free!): sewheidi.com/price

Creators and Guests

Host

Heidi Weinberg {Sew Heidi}

Heidi (aka Sew Heidi) is a self-taught freelance fashion designer who built a six-figure business without a degree, portfolio, or industry connections. After years of burnout in the fashion industry, she went freelance—and never looked back. Now, she helps other designers ditch toxic jobs, land better clients, and build flexible careers they love. Through her podcast, courses, and resources, Heidi has helped thousands of designers take control of their fashion path and finally get paid what they’re worth.

What is Fashion Designers Get Paid: Build Your Fashion Career On Your Own Terms?

This is a show for burnt-out fashion designers (and TDs, PDs, patternmakers, textile designer and beyond) who want more flexibility in their career while still doing work they love.

You'll learn how to build a freelance fashion business, so you can do the work you love on your own terms. Freelancing in fashion is the only way to get freedom in your day (instead of being tied to a desk).

Whether you want to earn extra money on the side, fund your fashion brand, or replace your salary, the FDGP podcast will help you get there. Listen in for actionable tips and strategies to kickstart or grow your career as a freelance fashion designer, build your confidence, and create the life you want.

Hosted by $100k+ fashion freelancer Sew Heidi, the show features interviews and strategy sessions with successful freelance fashion designers from around the world who've ditched toxic fashion jobs and taken control of their own destinies. This is the only place to get REAL insights from REAL freelancers who have built REAL careers on their own terms. (Formerly the Successful Fashion Freelancer podcast.)

0:08 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
How are you?

0:18 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, I'm good. How are you?

0:21 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
I'm good. I'm good. Thank you. Yeah, life feels good. No complaints. All right. I think you know the routine. I know you've listened to the show before. I think you've listened. Yeah? Yeah, I've listened before.

0:34 - Philippa Cooper
Okay.

0:36 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
I would like to chat, because some people come on, they're like, I don't really listen to podcasts. I haven't really. So I always like to make sure, but I'm pretty sure I had. Cool. So I think, you know, the routine, we'll just go through. We'll chat. I kind of want to chat. chat. I kind of want to chat.

0:58 - Philippa Cooper
So does that sound good? Do you have any questions for me? Yeah, no, that's okay. Okay.

1:05 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
All right, I'm going to hit recording here. All right, we're all set. Cool?

1:10 - Philippa Cooper
Cool.

1:11 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay. Welcome to the podcast, Pip. I have so many things I want to dig into and talk about. I know you've been working really hard at building your freelance business over the last couple of years, but I'd love to start from really high level. Like, you have built a freelance business, working part-time, wrangling a toddler, and so I want to hear, like, high level, what are some of the things that you've done that have allowed you to do that, and then we'll get into real nitty-gritty on it.

1:52 - Philippa Cooper
Can you just rephrase that?

1:55 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yes, we could totally start over.

1:57 - Philippa Cooper
Let's just start completely over. Cool? Yeah. Okay. Do you understand the question, or I'm kind of, am I all over the place a little bit? Let me be more clear. Yeah.

2:10 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay, totally fair. No, you're good. All right, here we go. Welcome to the podcast, Pip. There are so many things I want to talk about with your freelance business, but I think to start, I'd love to hear some of the strategies that you've used to build a freelance business working part-time while wrangling your toddler. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

2:35 - Philippa Cooper
Ah, yes. Okay, yeah. So when he was a lot younger, he napped, like, at least two hours in, like, one chunk. So that meant that, like, every day I had that two-hour chunk to, like, refocus. And he is in nursery for, like, one day, and then my mom helps out one day. Um, but then, like, sometimes they just have to work on me. Okay. need that. Or Or like today, I put lasagna in the oven to reheat, 20 minutes, right? Let's get my LinkedIn out, do my post.

3:07 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Ready for tomorrow.

3:08 - Philippa Cooper
Like, it is like, yeah, I have kind of set, a couple of set days a week, and then try and get an hour in each day, whether it's like we go out in the morning, go to a castle, and then like, you can have his, his screen time is like my tool. So I try not to let him have too much screen time. His screen time is my then like work time. Yeah, and it really makes you really time efficient. Yeah. Okay, and I have to kind of, I do a list like the day before, or like for the week, like what my priorities are, and the day before I'm like, okay, I just want to get this, this, this, and this done, if possible, and then sometimes even like work out roughly how long that might take me.

3:49 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah.

3:51 - Philippa Cooper
Isn't always fair to it, but you know, it's good to give it a punt and then be like, okay, I think I can get that done. So, yeah, I think those are probably some of the.

4:01 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah, okay. I love that, and I think my son is a little over five, and I know when he was first born, I was like, wow, nothing makes you be more efficient with your time than having a baby. That was my feeling. So how old is he now?

4:20 - Philippa Cooper
He's about to turn three in about a week.

4:22 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay, and so we're talking in May of 2025, and if I'm not mistaken, you started your freelance business about two years ago, so he was about one.

4:31 - Philippa Cooper
So I kind of, I started in 2020, but if I wasn't taking it seriously, it was because that's when COVID hit, and I kind of lost my job, and then the job market shut down because I had interviews and a trial day, and then suddenly, like, it was gone. And I was like, okay. But then the brand I was working for, they're like, well, we can't afford to keep you on full-time, but do you to do some freelance for us? So I started then, and just was dabbling, but I kind of thought it was all, like, temporary because it was COVID. So we moved house and had a baby, and then I was like, okay, I want to keep freelance, I want to take this seriously, so yeah, was like, he was born May 2022, so yeah, then I started kind of thinking like Christmas, I need to actually do some strategies and like take it seriously, and I think I found your course in the July.

5:23 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah, was July 23 that you joined. Yeah.

5:26 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, yeah, I looked back at that recently, I was like, when did I actually join? It literally does feel like I've been part of it for like, more than, it's not even two years, but it feels like it must be at least five.

5:38 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Well, I take that as somewhat of a compliment that it's just been so much fun, being in the community and everything. Okay, so it sounds like fitting things in like in cracks of the day, like you're like, I throw a lasagna in the oven, I'm like, okay, I've got 20 minutes, let me do Do something during that versus, you know, it's so easy to just like maybe sit and scroll on your phone and get sucked in but Even, like, 10 or 20-minute cracks, you're like, I can do something in this moment.

6:04 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And sometimes even, I know, I mean, I do do some work on the weekend. Like, on a Sunday evening, it's, like, all chilled out. I've had some time to relax. And they're like, okay, I'm just going to, like, throw out some ideas for my LinkedIn content because that's my main marketing thing. And then try and focus on client work more in the week.

6:21 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
But, yeah, that's, yeah, on a Sunday evening, I kind of do that. Yeah.

6:27 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, okay, and so now, I'm like, okay, I'll just type some, actually do something productive. Which takes some discipline, for sure.

6:37 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
It takes some discipline.

6:39 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, it's just building a habit.

6:41 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah, for sure, for sure. Yeah. Okay, so, what, like, talk us through the trajectory of your freelance business. So you told a little bit of backstory. got laid off during COVID, and then you kind of were doing some freelance, but you were like, oh, maybe it's just temporary because COVID. And started leaning more into it end of 2022. So first half of 2023, like where did things kick off? And like, what did you first start with in terms of like putting yourself out there and finding clients? What were you doing and what was working?

7:13 - Philippa Cooper
So firstly, I had a few people just from my network. I knew one was the brand I was working for. And then one was actually just some like hairdressing gowns for my hairdresser. So I was like, okay, why not? I need, I need money. I need work. was, you know, hairdressers, you lot of people. So I did that. And then I also relied a lot on the platforms and particularly people for hours, which I know a lot of people don't get on with, but I've actually had some good clients from there. Feared by the Queen, like you really got to kind of be quite specific on there. But actually when I was on maternity leave, I had a guy approached me and was like, Oh, want to make this like. Modifunctional face, and you seem like a really great person to work with, and I was like, I'm actually on leave, not back, you know, so I worked for like January, February, but he was like, alright, I'm going to wait, and I thought, okay, yeah, I'm not going to wait, and actually he waited until I was back, and then he was like, perfect, let's get this going, but he was like, yeah, and that gave me a lot of confidence, because I think when you're on leave, like, you do kind of think, because you're so focused on becoming a mum, you're like, oh, wait, I've got a career, I've got, like, skills, are they outdated, so like, he gave me that, like, and I was kind of returning from maternity leave, and it was a really fun project, and I think he launched last year, and he's, yeah, really nice, that was like the first, and then, I did go on Upwork a bit, I did get one project on Upwork, but that was kind of after I started doing your course, and that was like one of the strategies, so I haven't really heard of it at the time.

8:59 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay.

9:00 - Philippa Cooper
And where do you live? Remind me. Southeast England.

9:06 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Southeast London?

9:08 - Philippa Cooper
England. Yeah, well, about half of London.

9:11 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay, okay, Southeast England. Okay, gotcha. And so I remember we had a training and you had mentioned, I think, in the chat or something that were like, no, no, no, people per hour worked for me. And you were the first person that I've heard say that. I've not really heard the best things about it. But I do think there's maybe a little bit more of a European presence, perhaps, or it's more popular there, whereas maybe Upwork is, leans more U.S.

9:34 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, I think you've got to be more confident there, like, they can be, like, lower priced. So even over Christmas, I was like, oh, I wanted to get some more paid clothes projects, like clothes 3D. So I did, I took a project on, just a small one, just to get, like, mainly for, like, portfolio stuff. And I managed to double watch. She wanted to charge, but it wouldn't have been as high as I would charge if I was doing it directly. But, like, you've got to, because they say... Like, yeah, that's what they put, like, what they want to pay, but I'd always put more in my proposal, then do a really detailed, like, propose and put, like, really relevant imagery and stuff, so, and then try and get a call with them, and then try and persuade them. Yeah.

10:14 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
So I think it would be, like, kind of ball, yeah, I suppose. Yeah. Okay, wait, so talk through that. You doubled what she put in her listing. Can you talk, I know you said, like, a really detailed proposal with great imagery and stuff, but, like, can you share a little more? Can more detail on that, because I think people listening would be really interested to hear exactly what you did, because I think that could be relevant for Upwork or arguably any freelance client.

10:38 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah. So think she wanted, like, £15 an hour, and I was thinking, that's, like, just about minimum wage in the UK, and that's without any commission that the platform takes. So I like, she's not probably going to go crazy high, but I was, like, I'm just going to double it and just explain, like, you know, this includes commission, and also, you know, that is a skill. a That And I'm still kind of, you know, using it in my workflow, but I was just like, I just kind of broke down what I could do, and it was almost like, I think I almost said more of a trial rate as well, so maybe if it was a long-term thing, might go up, but, and then I had done a couple of, like, simple top-paid projects on clothes, I was like, because obviously I'm outerwear, but I'm, you know, it's a lot to get from, like, simple stuff on clothes to get the clothes out of it. So I showed her some of stuff I'd done already as well, and I just know a lot about the whole development process and work with a lot of startups already, so I think just, like, putting my experience out there, she seemed to kind of, yeah, she seemed to be standing and really keen. I think she just could see that I'd worked with quite a of startups, kind of knew what I was talking about with development, but obviously Chloe was still kind of a new tool.

11:56 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah, yeah, a new tool for you that's new to your service offering.

12:00 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah. Anyway, mean, I've been talking about it for like a year, but I'm actually, like, it's incorporating my work right now.

12:10 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay. Okay. Gotcha. Okay. So I have a couple of questions coming off of that. First is just to clarify, you do design through development for technical outerwear, or you lean more on, like, the pattern-making technical product development part of the process?

12:28 - Philippa Cooper
Yes, I don't do the creative design side. just do the pattern-pattern, mostly, but now I kind of almost offer, like, a support package for, like, the sizing and fit, and then factory liaising as well sometimes. Because it's all, like, part of it, and since using flow, like, my process of how to approach pattern-cutting has kind of changed a bit. Now I kind of give them different packages now, as well, and they can just pick and change.

12:57 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay. Okay, can you talk a little bit about About, like, how you started incorporating Clo into your workflow and more specifically, actually what I think I mean rather than your workflow, more into, like, your service offering. Because I just, I hear from a lot of freelancers who are like, oh, I want to start adding this, but, like, can I charge the full rate when I'm still learning? And, like, how do I talk to or present myself to clients to do this if I haven't actually done it and I'm still just, you know, kind of learning and I only have, like, self-directed stuff? So can you walk us through a little bit how you started putting yourself out there for those opportunities before you, air quote, like, had the experience or anything and how you might have pitched that to clients?

13:44 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, so I think with Clo, because there's so much to learn, and there's quite, you could offer quite a lot of services from that, so I am quite focused on what I offer, so I'm more focused on, like, the 2D pattern onto a 3D avatar. The general fit and style and stuff. not, I'm not like, I don't know, like I won't do like a fully rendered piece and I've basically just started doing it using like some t-shirts and I'm just going to start doing it on simple pieces first and then I'm gradually starting to do like windproof jackets and I'm about to do like a line gilet and it's like it's just gradually growing but definitely like focusing on one part of it that you can learn and it does take a while. mean I did a used Gerber which is like 2D pattern software for like nine years so it's kind of I've got the 2D side but it's just from you know then using the tools in Chloe and then transferring that into 3D. So I think yeah it's just if that manageable chunks I suppose and then kind of being open with clients like because I think if you've got a lot of experience in in pattern cutting or design and they're just saying that I'm just starting to use a new tool I could just I could show you I definitely show examples of stuff that I've done and then just say, look, they're clear that it's not going to be a fully rendered piece. And I don't know if I'll ever offer that because that's not what I'm really focusing on. I want it to be a good fit, even the right fabric properties and what the style lines and things like that.

15:17 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay, that's awesome. I love how you kind of pitch it as like, I have this base skill set and I'm just adding a new tool into the workflow. let me show you how this works and what this will give you. That's a great, like, simple way to kind of sell it. And then without having to be like, oh, but I don't have experience in this thing yet. What sort of reaction do you get? Like, I guess, well, first question is, would you prefer to do projects and incorporate Khloe into that? And then the follow up question to that is like, what feedback are you getting from brands when you pitch? Like, I'm going to do this with Khloe because I know a lot of people comment how startups. Can, and arguably speaking, brands in general, and I think this has decreased over time, but that there is some resistance to these softwares, whether it's Clo or Browseware or whatever. Do you see or feel any of that with your clients?

16:19 - Philippa Cooper
I think they don't necessarily understand enough about it. I think I had some really good discovery calls last year. They were kind of small brands, and I think they were very focused on, okay, we want it to be like the 2D pattern exported, but also the fully 3D rendered. And I was like, okay, well, that is basically like two skill sets. I mean, I think AI is starting to help more with the rendering side, but you kind of definitely have to explain it more, but I think a lot of people really want to use it. And when I've had, like, another client where I kind of said, oh, let me just try out this neckline, and is this the right level of height for the neck? Just so. She her a screenshot, and she's like, yeah, and then I was like, oh, is this enough fullness, and just showing, like, the odd snapshot in an email, just not even, it wasn't even part of the original package, I was just doing the patterns, and I was like, okay, well, for me, it's actually more efficient than to, like, cut out some paper, cut out some fabric, sew it up, take photos, I could just, like, do it on there, and then I can use that 2D pattern piece, I can print it off, or I can scan it in, or whatever, it's like, it's there. So I've had really good feedback on it, and when I, I've started doing, like, a Winproof jacket recently, and, like, just showed, like, the general fit of the block on the avatar that matched their brand size guys, and they were like, we might need to re-look at our brand size guys, because that body shape isn't really our ideal client, and I was like, and we haven't even cut any fabric yet.

17:51 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
That's great.

17:52 - Philippa Cooper
As you tell me, like, my process has changed, like, it's a lot more focused on, like, making sure it's fitting the right, kind of, size, and I know, no one, like, there's no, Perfect-sized avatar, I don't think, but it's a lot closer than just like a static mannequin where you can't really move your limbs very well.

18:08 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah. Okay. So it sounds like now it's just kind of become an integrated part of your workflow and what you offer, and even if the client, even if you're not like air quotes selling them on that service, you still implement it, and then they wind up being happy because you can send them these little screenshots and it just makes everything better for everybody.

18:31 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah.

18:32 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay.

18:34 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, because I, funnily enough, actually, one of the people I actually culpits from your course, I did some work from her, and then actually recently I've just done, I did a dress for her, she's country wear, and I've done like, she lays in a fleece set pack and stuff, but she wanted to do this tartan dress, and I've actually done the pattern on clay 3D and sent it to her, and she's really happy with it, so it's like, you know, it's just how things have evolved.

18:57 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
So, yeah, yeah, that's cool. That's cool. So how do you price things normally? I mean, I know you said with that client on people per hour, you went in for the £30 per hour, which I imagine because of the name of the site, people per hour, is that typically hourly-based projects?

19:17 - Philippa Cooper
It can be, or they just put like estimated total project price.

19:21 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
can be project hourly. Okay. Okay. So how do you normally price? Yeah, go ahead. Sorry.

19:29 - Philippa Cooper
Normally, I try and just do project-based pricing with the kind of support package, which is hourly.

19:38 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay.

19:39 - Philippa Cooper
So like, actually, because we had a call recently, and I have tried to use. Yeah, so I've done like the tech pack and the pattern of like project pricing, but then if she wants help with consulting, like because it's a startup. welcome. Thanks for Or, like, liaising factories, I would do, like, email logs and log the times that take in that hourly. And then I said, I'll invoice that monthly with the email log and the time log.

20:08 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay. But then, like, the pattern is, like, project price. Okay. So how are you figuring out and coming up with those project prices? And do you have, like, a general set price based on the complexity of the garment?

20:22 - Philippa Cooper
Or do you custom price every project? Or, like, what does that look like? I definitely got price ranges. But in our last call, you told me I need to up my prices a lot. So, I mean, yeah, also Tectac, I never really went above £1,500 for, like, a jacket Tectac. But this recent one, I've created, like, £1,650, so 10% above, because I know it should be more. Eventually, hopefully it'll be more. But I thought I could do 10% more this time and see. And, yeah, she's reading the proposal now. It would be, like, three-day proposal. Okay. Okay. and she's yeah she said she's gonna read it through in detail and get back to me but okay you'll have to keep you posted then yeah yeah we knew right now she's like my ideal client has found me um yeah then we had a really good call and I did I walked through the tech pack because you suggested walking through like a working tech pack so I one of my other clients said it was okay to just walk through it but no screen grabs or like no direct competitors so and she yeah that was really good and I have a powerpoint that kind of shows my working process as well so I just I'm walking out my process and then I'll say hey this is my tech pack it's like a working tech pack this is like the third project now like you can see how it changes because I think a lot of you know yeah oh that's really cool so you used a tech pack from an existing client and you just got permission to use that and they said it was fine as long as you're not sending like static images that someone could technically yeah

22:00 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah.

22:00 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, I mean, because it's outerwear and kind of outerwear, I don't have time to do a really great tech pack as well as like work on the business and in the business and in the market. So I was like, I'll just ask and see. And it was, yeah, paid off. Yeah, that's amazing.

22:17 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Oh, I'm so glad to hear that. Okay, so she came to you. Did she find you on LinkedIn? I want to hear about LinkedIn because I know you're pushing that platform really, really assertively.

22:27 - Philippa Cooper
So do tell. Yeah, so I think back in July 23, that's when I started fast. That's also when I, I think we, I think maybe one of your training calls, I asked about what, do I need to be on all the platforms? We were like, no, no, no, Do I need a website? No, no. So I don't have a website yet. I just have, I mainly use LinkedIn. I am on Instagram as well. But I think I put like one post out on LinkedIn that July and I got one client from it straight away.

22:55 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Like a good one. What?

22:57 - Philippa Cooper
Because I was like, what? Because I was so intimidated. I linked him, and I was like, okay, it was a referral from another designer that I didn't know, but she'd seen my post and then referred me to take on a project that she didn't now have time to do, which was Technical Outwear. He's about to launch Kickstarter, it's in September, to kind of show the sampling and then get crowdfunding to see if it's viable for a full-on, you know, production one.

23:31 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah.

23:32 - Philippa Cooper
So that was, that was like my start, which was a really great start, but I know it doesn't happen that often. And I was posting like just once a week and trying to engage as much as I could, and I think it was after three or four months I started getting a bit more traction. So it does take time, especially if you don't have lots of time to post every day. If you're posting more, more regularly, then yeah, you probably will get a bit more traction. And then Okay. So just gradually just started getting more inquiries. And I think last year I had, so it's not all, I don't think it's all about just getting jobs. It's about building your community and your relationships. I had a collaboration with Sylvia. I can't remember. can't, I don't know pronounce her.

24:22 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
I know who you're talking about.

24:28 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah. She an AI and 3D expert. Yeah. So we did some video collabs as well for her YouTube channel. And then I posted that on LinkedIn and like got more kind of interest about pattern cutting and stuff. And then I've just been stuck like posting once a week. You know, I was getting some inquiries. And then I think one of our other guests, Lauren Robson, she was, yeah, she's just launched a LinkedIn power force. I don't know. I was one of her first guinea pigs, and I was like, I can't not take this opportunity. I was trying to find new nurses for Cassius, trying to learn Chloe as an official course, and trying to do my business. I've got to try and fit in this six-week course with Lauren. I ended up re-branding. I've got AI headshots. I've got colours and fonts of my brand, and just more of a strategy now. And I now post at least twice a week and engage that every day. And then in April alone, I got eight genuine inquiries, and I think I've secured like two or three of them. But some of them are just little projects. And I was like, wow, it really does make a difference when you do just look a bit more polished and have more strategy on there, and just more consistent. So now, yeah, so this recent part that we were talking about before, she found me on LinkedIn and Instagram, and she sent me a really detailed email, like, you seem like a really perfect person to work with. I'm doing like a... You know, an outerwear jacket, I'm from the UK, want to start up, and let's, you know, can you help me? I did put, like, a price range in that email, which is before our other calls. And I was like, I know, but I put, like, $1,500 as, like, the maximum. I was like, no, I'm going to, so I put, like, I know I said, but I think, like, this is quite a complicated design. I think it probably might be up to this. So, yes, that's where I'm at. Okay, she, this is the one who's reviewing the proposal right now. We're waiting on it. Yeah, yeah.

26:32 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay.

26:34 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah.

26:34 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay. Okay. And today's only Monday, so fair enough.

26:38 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah.

26:39 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay, so you get from, like, posting once a week and engaging to getting a little bit more polished, a nice headshot. You had AI literally generate your headshot? You just, like, upload a bunch of photos and...

26:51 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah.

26:52 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah. Okay.

26:52 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah. Which ones do you use, just out of curiosity? I've gone to the studio and had proper, like, photo shoots, but...

26:57 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
I was just like, just trying to do anything. Yeah. What tool did you use? It was for the headshot.

27:03 - Philippa Cooper
Do you remember? think it's called Facetune, I think.

27:06 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Facetune?

27:07 - Philippa Cooper
I think it's called Facetune. I literally had it for like a week.

27:11 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Just like a free trial?

27:13 - Philippa Cooper
It's really bad with it, but I mean, I wouldn't have paid the money for it, but I got money to get what I needed in that free trial. So I was like, I don't need it anymore. Yeah.

27:23 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay. So polished headshot, some brand colors, and now you're posting like twice a week, and you're engaging, and I don't, like, I don't think, well, let's be a couple minutes. Like, talk about, give us like two or three high-level examples of posts. Like, how do you think about your posting and like, what are the topics? Like, so I think this is where people get really stuck. Like, well, what should I be posting about? Like, what should I share? So give us an example of a couple posts that you've done and kind of how you think about, coming up with post ideas and posting and I guess all that.

28:00 - Philippa Cooper
So when I started I was mainly just thinking about like technical outerwear and how I could share my knowledge that I knew wasn't really out there very much because I learned a lot. I worked for an outdoor brand for a long time doing their patterns and samples and tech packs and stuff and in like the fittings everything so I just I thought about like one of them was like how important is arm movement in his jacket and I had a picture of a flea pattern and then talked about that and how that affects movement in outerwear and then it'd be like how do you draft an outerwear pattern like what do you need to know that sort of thing that was how I started kind of posting okay and then more recently as I'm working with different clients like every week I'm like there's something that comes up I'm like I'm gonna have to write a post about it like so it literally is like inspired by my freelance freelance clients and like either problems they've had or like successes they've had and like how I you know just help help that that And make sure that other people aren't, you know, going to make the same mistakes or struggling with the same problem, how we, like, muddle through it to get it better, and I have, like, one long-form post that I do on a Tuesday, which is more detailed, and then I have, I've started doing PitBits on a Thursday, because I was just like, I need something, like, easy, so it's just, like, a short tip for, like, for startups, like, founder startups, and... And, yeah, and I don't really think that much about visuals, I have, like, a template that I adjust every week, whereas the Tuesday one, I don't think about the visual. So, yeah.

29:41 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Okay, cool. Well, we'll definitely link to your LinkedIn, so people can take a look at your post sheet and see what you're doing. I see your posts periodically, and they're always really, really good. Clearly, it's working, which is really exciting. I mean, eight inquiries last month alone, that people found you on LinkedIn, and...

30:01 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, and because I now have like a design inquiry form on my profile as well, which doesn't look like very creative or anything, but it's just there, you know, in the features section, and I've had three, yeah, three people fill in, and one I've secured a little project from it. One I actually turned down.

30:19 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah.

30:19 - Philippa Cooper
just feel like it was really right for me. I was like, I'm at that stage. That's exciting, yeah. mean, could be making money, but I find it's just so valuable, so.

30:29 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah. So do you still only have two hours of coverage a week? One in, I think you said in daycare, and one with your mom, I think you said it was?

30:42 - Philippa Cooper
Yes, like two days, so I have Wednesday at nursery, and then Monday my mom helps.

30:46 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
And then like every other day, or every other weekday, I kind of do at least an hour or so. Okay. Okay. Yeah, but you're fitting a lot into very few hours because you're doing, like working on your business, doing proposals, building your linked app link. Obviously, there's correspondence and communication that goes on behind the scenes with these eight inquiries that come in. Then on top of that, you're doing actual work for clients and fitting that in. So you're like running at top speed, I imagine.

31:15 - Philippa Cooper
It does feel like that I have like every work time is just like really organized. It didn't. mean, last time last year, was like, OK, I'm just working on this now. But now I'm like, OK, I have to get this, and this. But I think what I find with what I'm doing is there's a lot of like turn and throwing. So I wouldn't just be able to work on one client project because then I'll be twiddling my thumb sometimes and waiting for a sample or waiting for an answer. So I think I generally have like three or four projects in the show, maybe like two bigger ones and like some little ones.

31:45 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah.

31:46 - Philippa Cooper
And it's, yeah, I mean, I do need to kind of make sure I don't do too much. But I think it seems OK. I don't, I wouldn't want to take on too much more.

31:55 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
OK, OK, I know we talked about this on that. Strategy session you and I did, but can you share a little bit about how you are thinking about or planning out your time as you tell clients certain milestones that you'll meet and obviously hitting their deadlines and then also clients coming to you and wanting something and you're like, I'm kind of booked up for the next month, but maybe I can fit you in in June or something.

32:25 - Philippa Cooper
Like, where are you at with all of that and scheduling since you do have such limited time? Yeah, it is a tricky one, and I have to be, so when I do like the proposal, I'll kind of flesh out how long I think it's going to take, considering I only have certain days a week and I'm working on more than one project at one time, and then I'll kind of add the buffer on, and then at the moment I'm kind of saying, yeah, like four to six weeks, like I can't really start four to six weeks. Sometimes, sometimes if it's something that I probably think I could squeeze in, I'll be like, I might I'm better to squeeze it in a couple of weeks, but I might charge you more, or something like that, but I haven't really charged more yet, but I'm like, I'm becoming into that mindset, like, I probably should start saying that for sure.

33:10 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Like a rush fee or something.

33:13 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, yeah, because I'm, like, actually working, these are my priorities, but I might be able to squeeze this in if I have a spare hour or something like that. So, and so far, like, it's strange, like, not that many people have said, oh, I can't wait. But, I mean, I think there might be one that's kind of, I haven't really heard back from him since I said I probably don't have to do much this month, but most people are like, okay, well, and I've got, yeah, a couple of things, like, like, kind of fifth amendment projects, and they're going to pay, like, 50% now, and then, like, 50% when I can do it. But this one that I'm waiting for, said, because it's probably, hopefully, going to be more than a grand project, I said, I'll, you know, take £500 up front, and then book it in for, in. Four to six weeks to start, and then do it, like, take payments as and when aspects are finished.

34:07 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah, that's really exciting. I feel like that's a huge, like, new milestone that you've met.

34:15 - Philippa Cooper
It's hard. mean, I think because I've done quite a few projects now, I kind of know that they don't, they actually take longer. think for outerwear, if they haven't got fabrics and manufacturers and stuff, it just takes a lot longer. So I think I've just realised that I know, if someone's ready to go, I know it'll be more, like, intensive and probably shorter. But, I mean, this new client probably will take, like, a year. So it's just all spread out. So there is some, like, space that I can take other work on. But it's harder than get the cash flow, like, consistent and regular. It's a juggling act, but I'm definitely in a much better position than I was, like, a year ago. Absolutely.

34:56 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah. Would you be open to talking about that a little bit? But some of the cash flow. and, like, where you're at within your business if you're comfortable sharing numbers or anything?

35:04 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, it probably – I mean, I don't think it sounds very high, but because I'm literally just doing, like, two days, basically, I'm really chuffed that this has all come from me and what I'm doing. So, like, yeah, when I first started your course, you were, like, you have to kind of set, like, a goal. And that was literally, like, if I can make £800 a month, that would be great, doing, like, part £800 a month? Yeah. Okay. And I think I reached that, like, last summer. And now – and then I think it was last September, I think I had my first, like, £1,100 or £1 a month. And then it kind of – I then had a not-so-good month, and then I had a good month. I I don't get, like, months where it's, like, £3,000 yet. I think it's just, like, the length of what I'm doing also because I don't – I can't – if I had, like, four or five days' worth of hours, like, I'd probably – it's of of of bit bit of Thank And I know that my pricing isn't quite right yet. So maybe when my pricing's better, I might be up to this, but now I'm kind of more like around a grand, just under a month, I suppose, average. But I literally work, I've got to do my tax attention, and I was just working out, like, all my groceries, and I'm probably growing, like, 8-10% a year. So I think that's quite a steady, nice, steady growth. That is really exciting. So, yeah, like, it's not, like, a massively money success story yet, but it's, you know, slow and steady. And there's still so much, I can't show people yet, like, this client that's going to launch his Kickstarter in September, I can show you that. I'm working on the clock with a client that he's probably not going to get that launched yet, because it's delayed. Because also with outerwear, it's like, you've got to think about the weather, like, you can't launch a jacket in, like, spring, summer, it's just not going to sell. Yeah.

36:56 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
So you might have worked on it for a year, and then you've got to think about it, like, well. Yeah, I think it's amazing what you've built. Like you have such limited time and you're also getting these amazing moments with your son that you're never going to get back in, you know, the other three days a week. And you hit your goal, which is super exciting. And you've passed your goal. And like you said, the continual growth year over year is amazing. How do you like, do you feel, do you feel like maybe aside from increasing your prices and making a little bit more money with the same amount of time, do you feel like a good balance with where you're at? Or are you like Jones in for like kindergarten when you're like, okay, then I can work like five days a week or like where, what is ideal for you and your freelance business and a balance?

37:57 - Philippa Cooper
I think when he's at school, ideally. I'd like to not work five days, like I did I think I'd like to work four or maybe three and a half and then have like time for me or time for like focusing on my house or something else, so yeah probably if I can like yeah I suppose not quite double the amount I'm doing each week for the moment but do some more and then hopefully we'll have the whole time coming in so I can still like I don't want to get burnt out and I want to make sure that I'm just I'm enjoying life and not just working, you know living to work.

38:39 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah that is really exciting. Okay so we've heard a lot about like what's working and what's going really well, LinkedIn which is amazing and so raising your prices which is also amazing you know I'm a huge proponent of that. What are some of the things that you still feel challenging or like what are some of the things that you're still struggling struggling with in your business? Let's go. go.

39:03 - Philippa Cooper
Well, I know that I want to have a website soon. I know I didn't need to initially. I don't think you need one to start with as a freelancer, but now I feel like I'm at a point where I probably should. So that's something that I need to work out this year or next year. A of things. I think just keeping on top of business admin, I suppose. Maybe getting some other, like, automating some processes. I mean, I do my own accounting. I have, like, an invoice app for that. What do you use out of care? I think it's all together. What do you use for your accounting app? FreshBooks.

39:51 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
FreshBooks. Okay, gotcha.

39:53 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah. I find it really good. So, yeah, I think it's just, yeah, automating. So even I think you might have done it where you have to log like your time like every minute of your day and see where like where you're kind of oh yeah and I just really being really on it with like business.

40:17 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah I have done it it's kind of painful.

40:24 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah and I think it's better at clay like finding the time to really focus on learning it. I think I'm doing it because I because I did Gerber and then I did have all this marvelous designer before like Chloe kind of came out of that and I'm just being self-teaching myself because a little bit similar for the 2D side. Yeah. But actually I want like some certifications to be good so I am doing like just the basic apparel course at the moment and then hopefully do more advanced ones and like it's okay. But also, I think, I suppose, is personal projects. I like I can do client projects, but I need to make sure I'm finding time. Which probably won't be until my son's at school. Finding time to work on projects, which I can either show into freelance lives, or I can just have it completely different to what I'm doing. Yeah.

41:25 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Is that because you just have the desire to do this personal project, or because you truly feel like there's a gap in what you're able to show in your portfolio and to prospective clients, and because you can't share certain information from past projects?

41:43 - Philippa Cooper
I think, I mean, I think it's because I'm a creative person, so even though I'm more technical, like, for me, designing is pattern cutting, so I think I just want to show, like, what you can do as a designer who is a pattern cutter. And I think with Chloe now, you kind of... It's just so much easier than having to draft it all out, cut it all out, sew all together. I mean, I love sewing, and I do miss not doing as much stubble sewing, but the reality of my life, my real life, like clothes is definitely...

42:16 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah. Was there a time when you were doing sewing protos and stuff for clients?

42:23 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, yeah. I mean, even now, I will say I still think it's important to mock up some features so, like, I'd give them some little options, so you're just working on a cuff, or I'd show, like, some sort of vent, and I'll just sew it up, and then I can send photos to the factory, instead of just, like, hot spots. So, but yeah, so for that fleece climb that I did after maternity leave, I sewed the block, the protos, and the cysex, as I graded the pan.

42:55 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Oh, wow, that was quite a bit.

42:57 - Philippa Cooper
and sewed. I was like, why have I seen this? Like, Tracy Allardy for this piece. Yeah. It was a great, it was a lovely time.

43:09 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah. Okay, good. Good. You're doing so much. This is amazing. I have, like, always kind of seen you around in the community and on LinkedIn and stuff, but I never knew, like, the depth of your story. So it's really exciting to learn more and kind of hear about how your journey's gone over the past couple of years and hear what you've built. It's really amazing and you should be really proud. It's quite phenomenal. All while juggling your little kiddo, which is so cool.

43:39 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah. But then, I mean, like, your course and, like, the community from your course is just, you know, it really helps. I wouldn't be, like, where I am now. I would still be struggling around, like, am I doing this right? Like, on these platforms.

43:54 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
like, you. What has been so valuable about the course and or being in the community?

44:06 - Philippa Cooper
I think just your strategies. mean, like the whole like setting up this spreadsheet, like having your list of like potential brands you want to pitch to, like writing out the pitch template. Even though I don't really do that now, like at the beginning, that was so helpful. just setting like the realistic goals, like your tech pack template. Like, I think I met like Jade, Jade Wee, like through your course, like pretty much straight away. And now there's like Renee, she lives like about 10 minutes with me down the road. And then there's another one in the sport. Another way I hate things, like so many people I know, like I've done the course and then just meeting other people. So I think the community and just your strategies and like, you've just got so much knowledge. And also, I've always got your voice in my head. So I'm like, what's going on, what's going on? on? Yes, I remember. said that. It's like a guarded angel, it's like a freelance guarded angel I told you to be like, yes, you need to do this, remember? You probably think it has to be uncomfortable.

45:13 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah, yeah. Oh, good. Did you feel uncomfortable when you sent a proposal for 10% more, the $1,650 instead of $1,500?

45:21 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, because I said in the, like, now I try to type a price range in an email. Just move them out. don't want time waiting. Right. That's right.

45:30 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
had told her the number in advance.

45:32 - Philippa Cooper
tell me if it's too much, or if they don't, then it's like, guess, because they're more keen.

45:38 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah. So cool. Well, Pip, I would love to end the interview with the question that I ask everybody, which is, what is one thing that people never ask you about being a freelance? What's technical fashion designer or pattern cutter or that you wish they would?

45:56 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, that's the whole question. I have been thinking about this question. And then I was like, ooh. you. I'd wish they said, do you wish they taught you how to freelance at uni?

46:06 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Oh, oh, and what is your answer?

46:09 - Philippa Cooper
It would be yes. And I'd be like, even if you're not thinking or have the confidence to go like full on freelancers at uni, you could still not just be so focused on getting like a permanent contract somewhere. You could have that contract, but then be thinking in the background, hey, well, if I want to freelance at some point, I need to like get this going and like the skills, I mean, some of the skills that you teach, like that could be taught in college. Like, because I think so many people now freelance, especially in fashion. It always used to be like, oh, graphics freelance run or web freelance run. But now I think that's popular. So I think, yeah, I think like, yeah, that'd be the question. And that'd be my answer.

46:49 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
I love that. Thank you for sharing. As far as I know, they're still not teaching it on any level. I know I've heard from teachers who are like, oh, I share my I share your resources, me and my resources with their students and stuff. Which I'm very grateful for, of course. But yeah, as far as I know, most schools don't really touch on it at all, which is unfortunate and maybe will change as times are definitely changing.

47:10 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, I think that's strange because I'm pretty sure the kind of college professors were freelancing around doing professing at the time. So they probably had a skill set to teach.

47:21 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, that's funny. That's funny. Yeah. Yeah. Well, maybe someone will be listening and we'll hear and we can make some some shifts in the industry with this conversation. So where can everybody find you and connect with you online?

47:36 - Philippa Cooper
Sounds like LinkedIn and possibly Instagram are the best places. Oh, I am on Instagram as well or just email.

47:42 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah. All right. We'll link to all that in the show notes. Thank you so much for coming on the show. What's what you say?

47:49 - Philippa Cooper
Website coming soon.

47:51 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Website coming soon. Yes. Yes. Yes. Which I'm sure that at the at that time people can find off.

47:56 - Philippa Cooper
It'll be linked off of your Instagram and your LinkedIn bio, I imagine.

48:03 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah. Awesome. Thank you so much for chatting. was lovely to have you on the show, Pip.

48:07 - Philippa Cooper
Thank you for having me.

48:10 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Thank you. There we go. Yeah. Thank you. That was amazing. What do you think?

48:21 - Philippa Cooper
How are you feeling? Yeah, good. was pretty fluid.

48:25 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yeah.

48:26 - Philippa Cooper
No, you're totally good.

48:29 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
You're totally good.

48:31 - Philippa Cooper
Yeah, no, it was great.

48:33 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
This will air on July 7th.

48:38 - Philippa Cooper
Oh, really? I thought it would be like later. Okay. I definitely would have a website by then.

48:43 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
That's fine. Yeah, we used to record quite a bit in advance and we used to block and do it only once a quarter. We kind of changed our structure around that for a long list of reasons. So we're recording not quite. in real time, but just slightly in advance. So yeah, it'll be out sooner than later. So I'm really excited to share. Well, thank you. This was truly lovely. I mean, all the things that I said, and it's, it's really cool to hear about all the things you built. It's pretty amazing. You should be really proud of yourself.

49:18 - Philippa Cooper
Well, yeah, I'm just really glad to be honest. I did apply a couple of times, but I wasn't really in the best space, I don't think. Like, like being on the podcast.

49:27 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Sorry.

49:28 - Philippa Cooper
I did. I think I applied to go on the podcast a few times through the fast course, but.

49:32 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Oh, did you?

49:35 - Philippa Cooper
Becoming a mom was hard. I've definitely went like.

49:37 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
It is hard. No. Yeah. You've like launched a whole freelance business and done the whole mom thing at once. That is a lot. That is a lot. So awesome. Well, good to chat. Thank you so much for taking some of your limited time with me. And yeah, we'll reach out when it goes live and definitely be sharing it on LinkedIn.

49:55 - Philippa Cooper
And I'll let you know about the client as well.

49:58 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Yes, please do. Well, I can update it in the show notes.

50:01 - Philippa Cooper
Awesome. Thanks, Pip.

50:03 - Successful Fashion Designer (Heidi {Sew Heidi})
Talk to you soon. Bye-bye.