The Business of Fashion: Lessons From My First Year as a Designer”
One year ago, I officially called myself a “fashion designer.”
Not in my heart, I’d always known that but in front of clients, tailors, press, and stores.
Now, after twelve months of living and breathing Chi and Stainless Fashion full-time, I want to share the honest lessons I’ve learned about what it really means to run a fashion business.
1. Pricing Isn’t Just Math, It’s Emotional
I struggled to price my early pieces. Would people pay what they’re worth? Would they think I’m too expensive? Too new?
Eventually, I learned this:
Pricing your work properly isn’t arrogance. It’s respect for your time, your training, and your team.
2. Systems Save You
I now keep:
- A production checklist
- A delivery tracker
- Weekly cashflow updates
- A digital archive of every customer conversation
These small systems keep my work professional and scalable.
“Work in Progress”
🧷 3. Say No More Often
At first, I said yes to every request—fabrics I didn’t like, styles that didn’t fit the brand, unrealistic timelines.
Now I say no with kindness and confidence.
Not every client is my client—and that’s okay.
Running Chi and Stainless Fashion is the most beautiful, frustrating, and meaningful thing I’ve ever done.
And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Related Links:
- See our current designs → (shop)
- Browse my collections →(link to shop)
- Read how I started →(about us)
