A Good Old Fashioned Grab Bag

Neworking, Community, Sourcing, Negotiations. And a big life update!

Sourcing has been a popular topic on the channel lately. I’m back from the Functional Fabric Fair and I have a video full of supplier interviews, resources, and my commentary on sourcing, networking, and the tariffs here. (Key note: it’s really about networking. But also sourcing. But also the importance of networking.)

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I’ve been negotiating a lot of deals lately for projects I don’t do often or haven’t done in ages or even have never done in a specific format before. Negotiating fees can be daunting but I promise it gets easier…with practice. (Yes, I’m a broken record with the P word.)

You don’t need to become a shark overnight and you don’t need a 300 page self help book. Start small and ask for something with every single contract you sign, whether it’s a freelance gig or a full time job. Every single time, ask for something. Start by asking for a couple of extra vacation days, more work from home days, or a small salary bump. Ask if you can get free product, if you really like what the company sells. One of the things I negotiated in my book contract was double the number of free books I would receive from the publisher. (Most book contracts include a number of free copies of your own book.)

Ask for a little more, a higher percentage each time. Know your worth. Don’t work for free. Have the confidence of a mediocre white man. I’m married to a (not mediocre) white man. I ask him what I should charge and he usually quotes me something absurd from his mountain of white male privilege and we typically (lovingly) squabble about my worth, and I do end up quoting something more than I would have. I’m no shark but I’m getting there!

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Looking for community?

Conscious Fashion Collective is for fashion peeps who are devoted to sustainable fashion and looking to learn more. (I recently did a Q&A session with their group.)

The Draw a Dot Patreon Community is for fashion illustrators looks for job opportunities, educational content, general networking. (I used to be a member back when I had a bit more time in my schedule.) You can see my interview with DAT founder Marcus Kan here.

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Anyway, those are just some thoughts that have been rambling in my head a lot lately.

OH! Last bit of news!

I just signed the lease on an apartment in Los Angeles! Husband and I are moving! We hope to be situated by early June. I am so excited! I might do an LA meetup/networking event/book signing this summer to celebrate! Want to come?