250: The $6K Freelancer: How She Replaced Her Salary in 30 Days

Discover how Candice Stokes went from undervalued to unstoppable in freelance fashion design!

Ever felt stuck in a job where your skills weren’t fully appreciated? Candice Stokes knows that feeling all too well. She spent years questioning if she was “ready” to freelance—if her portfolio was strong enough, if brands would take her seriously. But when she finally took the leap, she landed a $4,100 client in her very first month. A few weeks later? Another $2,000 project. Now, she’s on track to leave her full-time job behind for good.

In this episode, Candice breaks down her exact strategies for pitching, pricing, and standing out as a freelance fashion designer. She shares how she used ChatGPT to craft proposals that actually work, why your portfolio doesn’t need to be perfect, and how an Instagram post unexpectedly led to a key connection in Thailand. Plus, she opens up about her passion for ethical fashion and building a business that aligns with her values.

If you’ve ever wondered if freelancing could really work for you, Candice’s story will challenge everything you thought about being “ready.” Click play now to hear how she made it happen—and how you can, too!

About Candice:

Candice Stokes is a technical fashion designer who transforms creative ideas into expertly crafted garments, thanks to her hands-on skills and years of sewing experience. She’s passionate about how clothes tell stories—both cultural and personal—and loves geeking out over why fabric matters as much as fit. Whether she’s sketching, sewing, or decoding a tricky pattern, Candice brings humor and heart to her work (and plenty of coffee).

Connect with Candice:
Email her at: [e-mail]
Visit 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.)

Heidi [00:00:00]:
Candice Stokes wasn't sure if she could make it as a freelance fashion designer. She hesitated on pitching, questioned if her portfolio was good enough, and had spent years feeling undervalued in the industry. But in her first month of freelancing, she landed a client for $4,100, which is more money than she makes at her full time job. A few weeks later, she got another one for $2,000, and now she's on track to quit her day job for good. So how did she do it? In this episode, we talked through her exact pitch strategies, her pricing strategies, how she leveraged chat g p t per for proposals, and why she's so passionate about building a business that supports ethical fashion. If you've ever felt like you weren't ready to freelance, this episode will change your perspective. Let's get to it. Let's start with this $4,100 project you got, which is Yes.

Heidi [00:00:45]:
More than your you make in your full time job. Can we can we spoiler? Can I say that number? Because you told me.

Candice Stokes [00:00:51]:
Please. Go for it.

Heidi [00:00:52]:
Okay. So you make $3,000 a month in your full time job, and you as an embroidery technician, is that what it is? Yeah. Yeah? Yeah.

Candice Stokes [00:01:00]:
So it's like a screen it's like a screen printing and embroidery, like, local place, and I basically just, like, run the the department, all the big machines.

Heidi [00:01:08]:
Okay. Gotcha. And so you land this project for 4,100. Talk to a and then but then also spoiler before we are officially recording, you were like, oh, and then I landed another project. So we're gonna talk about that too. But, like, tell the details. Like, where did it start? How did this kick off?

Candice Stokes [00:01:24]:
Okay. So yeah. So I have been kind of, like, hesitating about building my portfolio and all this stuff, and I just put some, like, not even really well thought out stuff off on Upwork, but I was like, I'm just gonna post it. It doesn't have to be perfect. Heidi says this all the time. Just get it out there. Just stop hesitating. And so I posted some stuff, and then I just kept pitching and using Chat GbT and using the prop stuff that you, you know, taught us and all of the pitch stuff that is in the fast program.

Candice Stokes [00:01:57]:
And I used all of that. And, basically, like, once they saw that I had worked at Levi's, even though it was a very short stint, they were like, boom. Like, you're our girl. And so, basically, it's a denim project. It's a start up brand. And then we had a video call and we chatted for a little bit. And, yeah, I kind of just, like, told them my story and what I do. And, I've had this amazing, connection that I made in Thailand, this, like, small batch ethical denim manufacturer.

Candice Stokes [00:02:26]:
So it kind of was including that in the process. And so, basically, they were looking for a tech pack, and then I kind of upsold them to full product development for their entire yeah. So it was like they were looking for a tech pack, and I did full product development, tech design. We're gonna be doing fittings and sourcing stuff. Yeah. And they're a brand new brand. So I'm kind of guiding them through, like, what they need to get with their graphic designer and how they need to have, like, all their colors and all this stuff. So really helping them establish, like, a solid foundation for the start of their brand.

Candice Stokes [00:02:58]:
So really exciting.

Heidi [00:03:00]:
I have so many questions. First, like, massive congratulations. This is amazing. And you this happened, like, within your first months of joining Fast Track.

Candice Stokes [00:03:10]:
It did.

Heidi [00:03:10]:
Right? Yeah.

Candice Stokes [00:03:11]:
Yeah. It did. And I was just kind of, like, am I doing it right?

Heidi [00:03:16]:
Clearly, you are. Clearly. I I like to be pretty transparent, and I know that, you know, sometimes the stars align. But, like, how many how many proposals do you think you sent out on Upwork and you ended this one?

Candice Stokes [00:03:31]:
Honestly, not that many. Like, under Oh, okay. 10.

Heidi [00:03:34]:
Oh, great. Okay. Yeah. It's not everybody's experience.

Candice Stokes [00:03:38]:
Yeah. Yeah. I don't know.

Heidi [00:03:42]:
Okay. So where did you have, like, the stint for Levi's? Was it in, like, your Upwork bio?

Candice Stokes [00:03:50]:
I don't know if it's listed on there or if it was just my oh, I I put it in my cover letter. So when I me and ChachiPT were besties. We talk all the time. And throughout, like, the last couple months of, like, working with the prompts that you've done, and I've done some of my own research as far as, like, understanding how to get the best responses out of it. Yeah. And it is so powerful, and it has so much of my voice already, like, built into it. And so I've just started saying, like, this is what I wanna say. These are the key things that I wanna highlight in this particular thing.

Candice Stokes [00:04:26]:
And so it listed, you know, I was like, with my experience at Levi's, you know, I've not only got to see a lot of the production I worked you know, I I went to, like, the laboratories in San Francisco. I got to work in the lot one program. And so there was a lot of experience that I could do that. And then once we started chatting, I mean, it was just kind of like yeah. They were like, alright. Cool. Yeah.

Heidi [00:04:48]:
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So the listing was just a tech like, literally one tech pack.

Candice Stokes [00:04:56]:
Yeah. Pair a pair of jackets. They they were like, it's super designer. Heck, you know, it's gonna be super complicated, you know, which it really wasn't that complicated. But, like, for someone that doesn't know denim, you know, it may seem really extreme. So it wasn't even that I was like, oh, yeah. This is gonna be really hard. No.

Candice Stokes [00:05:15]:
Yeah. They're great. I absolutely love that client.

Heidi [00:05:18]:
So dear dear freelancer pitch, even if the job feels, like, kind of air quote, maybe dinky, one little tech pack. Right? You never know what can unfold.

Candice Stokes [00:05:29]:
And that's what I did with my second tech pack with my second client too on Upwork. I did the same thing.

Heidi [00:05:35]:
Okay. K. Well, real quick, give us a preview. What does that project look like?

Candice Stokes [00:05:40]:
It was kinda the same thing. She was you know, she has an existing brand, but they mostly just do, like, linen upscale, like, linen dresses. And I was able to find the brand, once we started talking a little bit, when she responded to my cover letter, I found her brand online, and then I realized, like, that she needed a little bit more help as far as, like, with tech design and stuff for the you know? Yeah. So I just basically was like, alright. Let's get on a call and talk about your tech pack. You know? Like, let's let me hear about what the what you need from that. And then once we started talking, I was like, well, it seems like fit is really important to you, And you're probably gonna want someone that's gonna be able to help you and guide you through that process. Because if that's really important, you wanna establish this.

Candice Stokes [00:06:22]:
This is her first set of jeans that she was gonna be doing. So both of them have been denim tech packs, which is cool.

Heidi [00:06:28]:
Okay.

Candice Stokes [00:06:30]:
Yeah.

Heidi [00:06:30]:
And so you I've sold that into a little bit of product development and fitting for that as well based off of initially the project being one tech pack.

Candice Stokes [00:06:37]:
And manufacturing. Yeah. And so Manufacturing.

Heidi [00:06:39]:
Okay. And how much was that project?

Candice Stokes [00:06:41]:
$2.

Heidi [00:06:43]:
Okay. Amazing. You've doubled your full time salary in the first month, first six weeks, something like that. Yeah. Are we still in the first month?

Candice Stokes [00:06:53]:
No. I I think we started officially in November was when I started Fastrack. Because we did I I won the $500 from

Heidi [00:07:02]:
Oh, that's right. Yes.

Candice Stokes [00:07:05]:
So it's really paying off.

Heidi [00:07:07]:
Star participant. Yeah. Amazing. Yes. Okay. So talk to me a little bit about I guess this is relevant for both of these projects. The the cover letter. Like, you you see the job post, and then you're working with Chat GbT to help you craft something.

Heidi [00:07:26]:
But, like, talk us through. Like, what kind of things are you asking Chat GPT for? And, like, how are you structuring the cover letter when you when you submit yourself?

Candice Stokes [00:07:35]:
Honestly, I've been really because I think because I've been so diligently using it and kind of sending it my words and my writing, you know, with captions and stuff like that. We've really been refining my voice. So it it really has an understanding of how I'd like to present myself because it's not I don't wanna be like to present myself because it's not I don't wanna be overly formal on Upwork. Right? Mhmm. And so it I have this really nice balance that I found that now I can literally just screenshot the Upwork job listing, grab the text from it, and put it into Chatubit, and I say, okay. This one, is denim. They're, you know, they are gonna need technical design. You know? And if I see if it's, like, a fixed price project, which some of them are so low in price.

Candice Stokes [00:08:23]:
Right? And so instead of just assuming that that bud that that client doesn't have a budget or that it's priced too low, I say, you know, I see that this is a fixed price project. I would love to discuss a couple tiers of things that I could offer you and services that I could offer you, you know, because if you need a tech pack, you're probably gonna need all these other things. So I kind of lay it out on all on the line for them and say, like, I would love to just, like, chat with you about it. You know? Like, because people don't know what they need. You know? They and I and I don't feel like I'm being deceitful or manipulative or too salesy because it's true. You know? Like Mhmm. If I had just given these guys from my clients, like, in Australia, if I had just given them a tech pack, like, they would have been so lost. Yeah.

Candice Stokes [00:09:10]:
So it it's felt really genuine and cool to be able to, like, show up for these people the way that, like, this is how it should be, you know, and I feel so good about doing this work. Like, I I'm just, like, giddy, like, making TikToks.

Heidi [00:09:25]:
I know. I'm so happy for you. That's amazing.

Candice Stokes [00:09:28]:
It's felt really cool.

Heidi [00:09:31]:
Yeah. So, like, what's really interesting to me like, you're almost pre upselling them in the cover letter. It sounds like you're planting those seeds.

Candice Stokes [00:09:40]:
Yeah. Yeah. So really just trying there to say, hey. I see that you're looking for, you know, this. Like, do you have a technical design that you're working with, or do you have a base foundation for your patterns that this is gonna be based off of? You know? Kind of because that's kind of my background is, like, doing full development for people. And so, you know, it's people don't really know what they need. So I'm just trying to, like, get ahead of that in the cover letter to kinda pique their interest and say, like, oh, this person not only can provide me with this solution, but they have other experiences that can provide me with all the other things I might need.

Heidi [00:10:17]:
Yeah. So I know we keep attaching this, like, upsell word to it. But what I if we really step back and look at it, to me, it's like, you're actually coming into your pitch, your cover letter as, like, you're showing yourself as an authority and an expert and, like, a consultant of, like, yes. Do you need this? But in my experience, this these other things are really gonna help, like

Candice Stokes [00:10:42]:
Right.

Heidi [00:10:43]:
To put it blank Create brand loyalty. Like, drop a tech pack to the factory and boom, you're you're you've got these garments.

Candice Stokes [00:10:50]:
Yep.

Heidi [00:10:51]:
So it's really value. And And then they're like, I do need those things. Here's my money.

Candice Stokes [00:10:55]:
Need those things. Yeah. And it and it doesn't and it it doesn't feel icky, and I love I absolutely love me and Christina, my fast buddy. We've been we've all always talking about the the pitch templates and that, like, that part of fast is so amazing. Like, the way that you're talking about all that stuff, like, I've rewatched it a few times, and those templates are so helpful. And that's what I use the Canva template of, like, the different tiers and the packages. Like

Heidi [00:11:26]:
Oh, yeah.

Candice Stokes [00:11:26]:
I've I've used that. That's that's what I use. You know, I've edited it to mine. And now that I'm doing I've done two denim proposals, it's been so easy to just, like, plug and play

Heidi [00:11:37]:
what I've used. You know?

Candice Stokes [00:11:39]:
And, you know, I've had comments from both of them that my presentation is, like, extremely professional, and, like, I'm taking the time to put it together, and it really feels like I'm invested in making sure that their products are good, which is very true. You know?

Heidi [00:11:54]:
I I'm

Candice Stokes [00:11:54]:
really excited about getting these having these come to fruition. I'm like Yeah.

Heidi [00:11:58]:
You're forgetty about it. Oh, that's so exciting. Yeah. Okay. Let's talk about the tiered proposals. So starting with the first project, the $4,100 project. Yeah. She initially thought she needed a type hack.

Heidi [00:12:12]:
You were kinda like, well, how about these other things that are really gonna help you may help make this project successful? And so what were the different packages that you wanted putting together for her, and and then which one did she choose?

Candice Stokes [00:12:23]:
Yeah. So that was the second client. So that's the $2.01. But it kind of happened. So the the $4,100 client, my guys in Australia, they're great. So, basically, they are they, you know, they really wanna get the style right and the feel and the vibe. It's very, like, streetwear. And so they're very focused on fit and structure and stuff like that.

Candice Stokes [00:12:46]:
So they want to sample from multiple factories and kind of, like, get you know, use the best sample or understand who can provide the best product. So timeline is not necessarily, look, it's gonna be quality over timeline for them.

Heidi [00:13:01]:
Gotcha.

Candice Stokes [00:13:02]:
And so I needed to definitely put boundaries in place with them because I know Allison actually was so helpful in this because she was like, okay. Well, a lot of people like the start up brands like this like to experiment with samples, and you're definitely gonna have to put some boundaries in places like how many you're gonna do, how many factories you're gonna communicate with because that can really get out of hand. And so she was super helpful in that. And yeah. So the first pitch was basically for, like, up to three samples from three separate factories initially for an initial sample. And then and then we would select one and move forward with it. And then package b was just one sample, and then we would see how that would go. And then package c was like, let's just I'll just do the tech pack for you guys.

Candice Stokes [00:13:52]:
And then Oh. You and then once we've come because you kind of said that. Right? Like, it feels like maybe $4,000 is a lot to spend up front, and we don't know how this person works and you wanna develop that trust. Let's just go with let's just do the tech pack. And Yeah. I can give you this product and you can see how we work. And if that works together, then we can talk about product development after that. So that was kind of the third option.

Candice Stokes [00:14:15]:
And, yeah, they basically came back and made it, like, a a and a half. You know? They were like, how about we sample with two factories? So

Heidi [00:14:22]:
Okay. But perfect. I mean, they went, like, in the middle of the top two tiers.

Candice Stokes [00:14:26]:
Yes. Yes.

Heidi [00:14:27]:
That is amazing.

Candice Stokes [00:14:29]:
Yeah. And then that's the second client that I did this basically the same thing with looking for a tech pack all the way to production. Yeah. It was I would provide a manufacturer of Verta to sample with was the largest one. So it was, like, full product development, tech pack, and everything, and then access to the factory that I'm working with. And then b was basically she had a factory that she had found, but she wasn't super sold on it and didn't have a price yet because she needed the tech pack. Mhmm. But but I had you know, that was gonna be a UK pay based, manufacturer.

Candice Stokes [00:15:05]:
So I wanted to offer her something outside of The UK that was still an ethical manufacturing that she could feel good about, but maybe wasn't as expensive. Okay. And then c again was just the tech pack. And, yeah, she was a little bit more like, can you explain I I think I rushed the proposal a little bit, you know, like, thinking about because I went through the options really quickly, and then she was like, can you tell me what I'm getting again in, like, the first package? And so that was a good little tip for me to, like, really slow down and, like, explain what I'm going through in each of these and what value they provide. But once I told her Yeah. You know, and it it felt like she was hesitating a little bit, but then, she was like, I want package a. Like, let's go for it. So

Heidi [00:15:46]:
So you got, like, a and a half and a, like, basically, like, a and three quarters here. You're, like, almost at the top. That is amazing.

Candice Stokes [00:15:57]:
Thank you.

Heidi [00:15:58]:
And how were each of these projects presented price wise on Upwork? Were they, like, flat rate, $35? Or, like, or what did you have an hourly rate on your like, because I think you have to have an hourly rate on your bio. Like, what Yeah. What did all that look like?

Candice Stokes [00:16:15]:
I have 75 an hour listed on there, for tech design. And, in the cover letter, I believe I talk about, like, one of the lines that is kind of, like, embedded in the g Chi GPT, like, thing that I kind of, like, have worked through is, like, I'd love to talk through some options with you of, like you know? So that's kinda, like, embedded in the cover letter as well. That's like Okay. I see you know? But but I I can't remember exactly what I did whether I, like because I haven't guessed. I haven't said, like, that'll be approximately $2,000 because I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna put it out there and have them, you know, hold me to that number because I don't know what the workload is gonna look like. So I just kinda keep it really open ended and conversational really and kind of, you know, provide them with that value upfront and proving my expertise upfront, for them to feel like, oh, I wanna know more about what this person could offer me. You know? And I feel like that pretty much has, you know, I since then, I've sent, I would say, like, six more proposals, 10 more proposals, and, you know, they're viewed, but I haven't really gotten anything else.

Candice Stokes [00:17:30]:
But I'm just kind of, like, doing like, I'll look in the morning and then we'll do my screenshots, send the chat GPT cover letter, you know, make sure that it's okay and send it off and kind of just wait. And so it doesn't take a lot of work on my end, you know, now that I've kind of front loaded all of the information into the memory and kinda have it, like, dialed in. So that's been really helpful. And I make sure to read read through the post to say, like, okay. They mentioned this, and this is something that I'm niche in. So I'll zone in on that a little bit.

Heidi [00:18:02]:
But Okay. Cool. Yeah. And so how did you figure out the pricing? So you have it set at 75 an hour. Like, how did you backwards calculate that this package should be 41 and this package should be 2,000?

Candice Stokes [00:18:15]:
I did have some struggles, especially with the sourcing, and I went to the fast circle and basically was like, oh, like, I have no idea how much to charge for this. And, like, you know, is it because access to a vendor, you know, it's like, that's a relationship that I'm working with and and Mhmm. Nurturing. And so, you know, that's something that I need to cost out. But, yeah, I basically came down to a price that would, you know, belong with access to a manufacturer supplier that I have, and that's, like, a one time thing per year. I think that's how I phrase it. And then for all the other costing, I have a huge spreadsheet and, you know, kind of just have it logged into, okay, if I'm doing a complicated, you know, sketch, it would take me this long at this cost. And if I'm doing, BOM, you know, it'll take me this long at this cost and kind of just, like, filter down until, like, oh, the sum is this much, you know, and then you have to calculate the the overhead for Upwork, you know, because it is 10%.

Candice Stokes [00:19:14]:
So Yeah. But, I mean, it was incredible to sink that that $4,000 1. I was like, I just made more money than I make in thirty days. It was crazy.

Heidi [00:19:25]:
How where are you at in the project right now?

Candice Stokes [00:19:28]:
We are currently working with a graphic designer in Brazil to develop some of the, like, hang tags and stuff that are gonna go on the jeans because they want them to be, like, super designer, like, you know, and everything like that. And then I have, Jacqueline Schumann actually referred me to a, a connection in Italy. So I'm gonna talk to her about, some denim options and manufacturing options there because that that client, you know, is look yeah. Willing to, you know, wanted to get their pants made, wear Balenciaga gets their jeans made and everything.

Heidi [00:20:03]:
So Yeah. That's a good little claim.

Candice Stokes [00:20:05]:
Yeah. Yeah. So we're we're exploring different options.

Heidi [00:20:09]:
Okay. Cool. How do you how do you, you said that they get access to the supplier for a year. How do you work that? Like, once they have their information, don't they just have access? Or

Candice Stokes [00:20:22]:
Well, I mean, I I don't know. That was just like my that was just my, you know I was really curious.

Heidi [00:20:30]:
Like, selfishly, I was so curious.

Candice Stokes [00:20:32]:
Yeah. I just I I guess it was, like, naive trust, but, Okay. Kind of kind of the idea because currently, the connection that I have in Thailand, I made through Instagram threads. It was so cool. I posted something, and I was like, my dream is to connect artisans all over the world with clients that truly respect their craft and, like, want to take them seriously and pay them a good wage. And someone piped up and was like, I do that. I'm in Thailand. And so we've just become, like, instant friends.

Candice Stokes [00:21:04]:
We have such similar values. We chat regularly. And yeah. So she has her brand there and also offers these services. So she has connections with a bunch of different manufacturers. So I'm actually just working with her. She's kind of like an agent.

Heidi [00:21:17]:
And She's like the hub.

Candice Stokes [00:21:19]:
Mhmm. And so because a lot of them aren't, like, a full package production. So she's actually sourcing, like, a lot of the hang tags and packaging and everything like that. So

Heidi [00:21:28]:
Okay. It's pretty cool. And then where does her fee come from?

Candice Stokes [00:21:32]:
Yeah. So she she like, she's the one that's costing everything that I'm getting from them.

Heidi [00:21:37]:
So I have to run it into the costing.

Candice Stokes [00:21:40]:
Yep. Yep. Okay. And Gotcha. And it's, you know, it's a little pricier, but, like, the the packages that she submits and the proposals and stuff are super high end, like, professional, and she sent me videos of inside all of these beautiful places. And I'm like, wow. I wanna work there. Like, I wanna sew those jeans.

Candice Stokes [00:21:58]:
Like, those look great.

Heidi [00:21:59]:
Oh my gosh. Wow. This is so amazing. So you mentioned you had your stint at Levi's, and I know you focus on TD, technical design. Like, what is your backstory in the in the industry?

Candice Stokes [00:22:15]:
It's kind of crazy story. I so I graduated, and I did not study fashion, from university. Yeah. I studied international affairs, which I, you know, is definitely coming in handy these days. Yeah. But I started working at Chico's, the headquarters in Fort Myers and because I'm from Florida.

Heidi [00:22:39]:
Yeah. Yes.

Candice Stokes [00:22:40]:
And, so I started working there, and I worked there for about a year, and I just kept and I was doing sourcing. So Okay. So working with I was in the accessories department, and, basically, I was just tired of telling people on the other side of the world to work faster and for less money and just in that corporate rat race as a timeline of the show.

Heidi [00:23:02]:
You just push the vendors. Yeah.

Candice Stokes [00:23:05]:
Yeah. And it just didn't feel good. And, you know, at that time, I was 23, so I was just kind of, like, going along with it. I was like, I don't like this. So I sold I quit my job. I sold everything that I owned, and I went on an adventure to, like, figure out how to make anything and everything that I could. I moved to Austin, Texas, and I worked, with a jeweler, like, hammering over an anvil. I worked at a leather goods maker's, like, soap making wallets and learning how to do all that stuff.

Candice Stokes [00:23:31]:
And then I worked at a tailor shop. And so learned a lot about fitting and construction and everything there. And then I moved to Oakland, California, and I went to patterning school at apparel arts. It's an amazing little tiny private school, and I absolutely love it. Susie Ferrer, great teacher. And yeah. And then that's where I worked at Levi's, was in San Francisco. I was a tailor there.

Candice Stokes [00:23:55]:
So did, like, customizations and, like, measurements for all their, made to order jeans that they did in in house, which is cool.

Heidi [00:24:02]:
Oh, cool. Yeah. Yeah.

Candice Stokes [00:24:05]:
It's a really cool program. And then I got hired, to be, like, the lead powder maker and technical designer for, like, a small cut and sew brand. And so it was, like, all sustainable, all made in Oakland. And then I managed, like, the whole sewing team and patterned everything from scratch and graded everything by hand. And, yeah, it was, it was a pretty tiny company, but, you know, was not being compensated the way that I needed to for all of those skills. So this is the first time in my life where I've I'm getting paid what I need to be getting paid for all of the work and knowledge that I have. And so it just truly feels so rewarding. You know? Look.

Candice Stokes [00:24:45]:
The last couple years I spent trying to run my own brand and do everything myself and cut and sew and burnt myself out, you know, and really Literally,

Heidi [00:24:54]:
you were trying to, like, make the goods.

Candice Stokes [00:24:56]:
Oh, I was, yeah, I was making them. I was doing everything.

Heidi [00:25:00]:
Really kind. So, like, you are you're the manufacturer. Okay.

Candice Stokes [00:25:04]:
I was everything. You know? And so I completely burnt myself out. And, you know, because we don't have much of a fashion industry here in St. Pete, Florida. And so, I was just really trying to create that for the community. And, I was putting on fashion shows and doing events and really just trying to be the person that I wish I had had when I was growing up. Mhmm. You know? And so that felt really cool.

Candice Stokes [00:25:28]:
And I got to, like, teach a lot of people how to sew, and I got to show people what it was like to, you know, make garments and, like, kind of educate and build, like, an appreciation for the industry. Mhmm. But, ultimately, was not sustainable, and it took me a while. And I finally am feeling better after you know, when you're I'm sure you understand, but when your brand fails, you know, it's hard. It's tough, and you put your everything into it. So I was pretty depressed for a while and finally was getting better. And then I was like, no. I'm gonna take this Heidi course.

Candice Stokes [00:26:06]:
I'm gonna invest in myself.

Heidi [00:26:09]:
So you were working at when did you start working at the embroidery shop?

Candice Stokes [00:26:13]:
Yes. So, basically, like, a year and a half ago?

Heidi [00:26:17]:
Yeah. Okay.

Candice Stokes [00:26:18]:
Yeah. Because

Heidi [00:26:19]:
I moved

Candice Stokes [00:26:19]:
back from California, basically, during COVID.

Heidi [00:26:23]:
Okay. Gotcha.

Candice Stokes [00:26:24]:
COVID kinda shut everything down

Heidi [00:26:27]:
Yeah.

Candice Stokes [00:26:28]:
As we know. Yeah.

Heidi [00:26:30]:
Okay. So then you jump into this embroidery screen printing role. And then, like, what was the exact moment where you're like, I'm gonna invest in this in myself, this Heidi course.

Candice Stokes [00:26:41]:
You know you know, it's so funny because I've been following you for years, and I just I have such a hard time, like, investing in myself and spending money on myself and all of these things because I I was just in, like, a not so great place. You know? And I've just worked so hard to just try and get paid, like, a fair wage for I'm a garment worker. You know? We don't get paid fairly for the most part. And so, you know, so it was very much like, okay. I need to take care of myself. I need to set myself up. And the so I was and then I got, like, an email. It was like, we're doing a workshop.

Candice Stokes [00:27:19]:
You know? You have chance to win $500. And I was like, okay. I'll just sign up. And if I win my $500, I'm gonna take the course.

Heidi [00:27:29]:
Oh, snap. And you did. You won it.

Candice Stokes [00:27:35]:
Yeah. I was like, alright. I'm gonna win this because I need to do this. And, honestly, it has changed my life, Heidi. I am, like, singing your praises to all my friends that, like, we were in that factory, you know, cutting and sewing in Oakland. And, like, I'm like, girl, you need to get in this. Like, it's it's game changer. It truly is a game changer, and the resources alone, the community have been amazing.

Candice Stokes [00:27:59]:
And, like, this is not a paid ad by Heidi. I was just super fan.

Heidi [00:28:04]:
Did not, like, plan this beforehand.

Candice Stokes [00:28:08]:
I I'm just as like, you know, and you you I followed along for years, and maybe maybe listeners can, like, really feel this. But, like, I followed you for so long, and it just it felt like I couldn't invest in myself because it wasn't or it was too much money. And it truly, like, I've already made the money back that I have invested. You know? And and it's only been a few months, and it it it truly has changed the way that I'm seeing my near future and my distant future. And, like, it's, like, it's really instilled, like, a trust in myself and, like, an ability in myself that I haven't been financially rewarded for previously. You know? So I'm I'm so excited. I'm so excited to see what's gonna happen. I have so many ideas.

Candice Stokes [00:28:55]:
I feel so inspired, and I'm just really excited, truly.

Heidi [00:29:01]:
So spoiler alert because we chatted before we hit record. You're already like, I'm gonna quit my job.

Candice Stokes [00:29:08]:
I know. I'm like, oh, can't send this podcast to my boss. Whoops.

Heidi [00:29:13]:
Should everybody edit this out?

Candice Stokes [00:29:15]:
No. It's fine.

Heidi [00:29:17]:
Yes. But no. And then I was like, really? And you're like, well, maybe part time. Like, no. But, like, eight like, let's move this train along.

Candice Stokes [00:29:24]:
I know. Well, because I you know, things are hard, and we live in a in a community that got impacted by the hurricanes this year. So it's like, businesses are still picking themselves up from that. And so it's just kind of slow, and it's slow business here. And, you know, small businesses, I think, are hurting all over the country. And it's just it's kind of this reminder of, like, the reason I don't have that corporate job is because, you know, it's a rat race. It doesn't feel good, all of these things. But then these small brands, like the one I worked for in California and the one that I'm working for currently, just can't pay me the amount that I need to achieve the life that I, you know, that I want.

Candice Stokes [00:30:07]:
And so, yeah, so I'm just kind of in this place where I'm like, oh, I have to be the one to create this opportunity for myself.

Heidi [00:30:17]:
I love that attitude. That is so powerful. Like, you're taking control.

Candice Stokes [00:30:26]:
Yeah. And for so long, I doubted myself. You know? It's like, I can do all of these amazing things with clothes. But, you know, to to put it out there and to to say, like, oh, well, I can do all you know, I can make a tech pack for you. It's like tech packs are pretty easy. Like, you know, it's like, I am more than capable of doing these things, and I just needed to trust and, like, have a coach and a community to tell me, like, oh, just do it. Just go for it. You know? And anytime that I'm feeling, like, listless or, like, I don't know what my next move should be, I just go back and, like, listen to some of the coaching calls and stuff, and it just feels so inspiring.

Candice Stokes [00:31:07]:
So I just I'm yeah. I'm just grateful and excited.

Heidi [00:31:11]:
Aw. I am just over the moon happy for you. This is amazing. Thank you. I am so proud of your trajectory, and you've clearly, like, put the work in and have the diligence and the focus, which which does affect your results for sure. Yeah. What have been, like, some of the big challenges along the way? Because it's not all, like, oh, perfect. Like, would it like, I I know you said you didn't send out a tremendous amount of pitches on Upwork, which is really awesome.

Heidi [00:31:41]:
And I do think there's a component of luck to all of this, not to discount your wins on any level. %. Just like a little bit luck and timing, but, like

Candice Stokes [00:31:48]:
Timing. Yeah.

Heidi [00:31:49]:
What, what have been some of the challenges along the way, or what are you still struggling with?

Candice Stokes [00:31:55]:
You know, it's just Let's

Heidi [00:31:56]:
get real real here. I was

Candice Stokes [00:31:57]:
gonna I was gonna get real. So, honestly, I still have not completed my portfolio. I'm still feeling judgmental towards myself about it, that it's not good enough or that I need to work on it more. And, you know, I was talking to Allison about it, and she goes, well, you're you're getting work with what you have posted right now. So, like, don't worry. Just keep focusing on, like, your work and, like, that'll happen. You know? And it's I still feel I'm like, it's not good enough or it doesn't have everything perfect, and so I still haven't completely solidified my portfolio. That's one thing that's been real.

Candice Stokes [00:32:35]:
I would say that, like, oh, there was a couple things. So, like, the holidays and feeling like no one's answering my emails. And then there's kind of just, like, a lag at the end of the year, you know, where people aren't start wanting. They're not wanting to start things and they're not, you know so I was feeling a little self conscious of, like, oh, well, I think the one project was, like, you know, luck. You know, it was just and it's not gonna happen again. And so I got in my head a little bit, and then I was like, that's not true. Like, give yourself some time. Just relax.

Candice Stokes [00:33:11]:
Enjoy a holiday, girl. Like, what? And then there was, I was supposed to help another freelancer that I met, not through fast, do some, like, tech packs and stuff, and I for one of her clients. And then they ended up not needing me, but I had already kind of, like, anticipated the, like, thousands of dollars that I was going to get from helping them. You know? But it was just kind of like, oh, well, we're gonna need you. You know? We're so busy. And then when it came down to it, they're like, oh, actually, we're we don't need you. Thank you. You know? We'll work together in the future.

Candice Stokes [00:33:50]:
So it was just kind of like, oh. I see. Yeah. It just didn't feel very good. You know? And, so that had me down a little bit. And and then I think that actually was the day that you reached out that to be on the podcast. So I was just like, okay. Well, that's a win.

Candice Stokes [00:34:11]:
And then I was focused. I was very much like, alright. I need to get another client before I go on the show. That was my goal.

Heidi [00:34:18]:
And I did it. Well, I've gotta unknowingly put that may sounds like positive pressure on you.

Candice Stokes [00:34:26]:
Totally. Yeah. I'm like, okay.

Heidi [00:34:28]:
I did it.

Candice Stokes [00:34:30]:
I did it.

Heidi [00:34:31]:
But, like, it doesn't sound like you're what is your niche exactly? Technical design for, like, it's not just denim. Right?

Candice Stokes [00:34:42]:
Yeah. It's just it just kind of happened that both of those were denim. I do feel really confident in talking about that, and I, you know, I was having this this insecurity with, my work experience has been at such small brands other than working at Levi's. You know, it was just like, everything was a cut and sew or very tiny, and it's all been and it all kind of, like, vanished after COVID. You know, everything kind of closed down. So it was just kind of, like, none of my work really exists, or that's how it was feeling. Or, like, I had a ton of experience by running my own brand, you know, but I didn't have a lot of solid work experience. So that felt a little like I have this insecurity with that.

Candice Stokes [00:35:29]:
So I think denim has kind of, like I've been able to attach myself to Levi's. Right? But, I think my niche I'm still working through it, and I think it's ever evolving. But I think the niche that I do wanna concentrate on is, you know, either launching small brands, starter brands, anything like that, or just providing them with a way to, like, get ethical manufacturing. That's been my focus. I help brands, you know, source and find ethical manufacturers. So because that's mainly why this whole journey started for me years and years ago. Right? Was because I didn't like the feeling of working at that corporate, you know, company and just being like, oh, this is gross. Yeah.

Candice Stokes [00:36:24]:
And so now I get to support people like me that are just trying to make beautiful things and uphold traditions and create beautiful textiles and embroider these techniques that are gonna be lost to time, you know, unless we support them. So that's kind of, like, my my thing that I'm sticking with.

Heidi [00:36:41]:
Okay. I love that. But the whole reason I asked that question was because, like, it doesn't sound like you're just mass pitching to every listing on Upwork. You're being intentional and focused about where you're, like, even you're, like, I'm I'm gonna pick this with these ones. I'm not gonna pick all these other ones. Like, you're being a

Candice Stokes [00:37:04]:
little picky. Yeah. I guess I am.

Heidi [00:37:07]:
Or maybe you're not. I don't know. I shouldn't put words in your

Candice Stokes [00:37:10]:
mouth. The ones that I'm choosing are I'm not pitching any, like, active wear stuff because I guess maybe I feel insecure about my experience with that because my focus has been in, more wovens and, like, less compression focused stuff.

Heidi [00:37:31]:
Mhmm. Mhmm.

Candice Stokes [00:37:32]:
And, I would like to get more experience in that, and I think I I just have, like, a little, like, it like, but I'm like, oh, look. I'm not a specialist in this. So, you know, maybe I and I don't have any evidence on my portfolio that's on Upwork of working with I have nothing in there that's, like, yoga wear. Right? Which there is a lot of activewear stuff on Upwork. And, you know, I was thinking to myself today, I was like, I think I should just throw something out there. But, you know, if everyone's pitching for all if they all all have activewear stuff, you know, someone needs to do all the wovens. So Yeah. I'm kind of feeling like that feels good.

Candice Stokes [00:38:10]:
I feel confident in that. And I think, you know, tailoring is so big right now, and I think it's gonna trickle down into more commercial, commercial things right now because it's, like, super high fashion is still high the high tailored stuff. But,

Heidi [00:38:26]:
yeah. So for now, only pitching to the woven type of category, avoiding some of the active. But then also, like, within those those jobs that you're pitching to, are they front and center, like, we're, you know, doing ethical manufacturing and stuff? Or, like No. Okay. No. Okay.

Candice Stokes [00:38:52]:
Yeah. So is

Heidi [00:38:52]:
it like a technical designer? I just need this tech pack for this. Do they just both happen to be denim?

Candice Stokes [00:38:58]:
Yeah. Yeah. Which I think I think, you know, I have quite a bit of denim on my portfolio right now just because those are the things that I, like, uploaded first, I guess. Yeah. And I just I have some really great photos from when I was running my my brand. So I have, like, a lot of content from that as well, which I think people see and are like, oh, this is cool. You know? Streetwear stuff. So Okay.

Candice Stokes [00:39:25]:
Yeah. So I think it just it it from the work that I have, because I haven't finished my portfolio yet, from the work that I have uploaded on there, you know, it's like, that's what it's giving.

Heidi [00:39:35]:
Okay.

Candice Stokes [00:39:35]:
It's giving jeans. It's giving denim. It's giving streetwear.

Heidi [00:39:39]:
Yeah.

Candice Stokes [00:39:39]:
Yeah.

Heidi [00:39:40]:
I love it. I am so stoked for you. And this is just the beginning. We're, like, in the first couple months, baby.

Candice Stokes [00:39:47]:
Oh my gosh. I know. I'm I'm feeling so grateful and, you know, it's so funny. My partner was, like before this, he's like, you've got this. Like, this is just the beginning. Like, after this, you know, it's just

Heidi [00:40:00]:
Yeah. I mean, we're recording this. It's 02/04/2025, and you jumped into Fast Track in November. And then, obviously, like, December's holidays. But, like, you're, like, barely two months in. Yeah. I

Candice Stokes [00:40:16]:
thank you. I had another, like, client that I was helping just do, like, some sourcing and stuff. But it's, like, a really small micro brand. So they ended up, like, not having the budget for it, but Mhmm. It was just kind of like yeah. So, like, I got another opportunity in there, but it was just kind of like, okay. Like, you need to start your January without having to pay me a couple hundred dollars, like I see.

Heidi [00:40:39]:
Yeah.

Candice Stokes [00:40:40]:
Yeah. Yeah. But I'm I'm just really excited. I I I wanna keep pitching. I wanna keep getting clients. I want to kind of overwhelm myself with clients so that I'm forced to quit my job.

Heidi [00:40:54]:
Good. That's my goal. Yeah. Okay. You're gonna be there so fast.

Candice Stokes [00:40:59]:
Oh. I know.

Heidi [00:41:04]:
I would love to wrap up by asking you well, first of all, where can everybody connect with you online?

Candice Stokes [00:41:09]:
Yes. So, on Instagram, LinkedIn, I actually I'm going to launch, like, a little, like, Etsy shop where I'm gonna have some digital stuff that you can download and all of that stuff just because we're doing all the digital products anyway. Might as well do the work once, get paid over and over again. Totally. But but Candice Stokes designs and candicestokes.com, those are my that's all of my stuff. Yeah. And yeah. And then

Heidi [00:41:36]:
I think you probably know what questions coming next, but that is what is one thing no one ever asked you about being a freelance fashion designer, fan's technical designer? Did you wish they would?

Candice Stokes [00:41:49]:
It, again, it all goes back to originally why I started on this journey back in 02/2013. You know, it's just, being part of a system that relies on relationships and on nurturing craft and people and not, depending on exploitation and, you know, shortcuts and and cheap labor, cheap items. You know? I wanna be part of a system that's doing good in the world, and I wanna help people and be a friend to them and create relationships with people all over the world. You know? And, yeah. So why ethical manufacturing? Like, that's that's why. I want you know, I just wanna preserve all of that. I wanna be the the teammate that I didn't have when I was doing my brand. You know? I I want I wanna help people and bring their visions to life.

Candice Stokes [00:42:46]:
Like, you make a little sketch and then you you have a garment. Like, that's so much fun. And I love being a it's it's like magic, and people are so in awe of it. So, yeah, I guess the one question would just be, like, why would you do ethical sourcing? And everything that I'm trying to do is is just for my people, my garment workers.

Heidi [00:43:06]:
Aw. What a cool full circle story based on your history and stuff. I love it.

Candice Stokes [00:43:14]:
It's been a journey.

Heidi [00:43:16]:
Yeah. Thank you so much for coming on the show, Candice. It's been lovely to hear more about your trajectory and all your wins.

Candice Stokes [00:43:22]:
Thank you, Heidi. I really appreciate your time and everything that you do for all of us freelancers and community, and you're really changing lives. So thank you.