Tiny Twig - Australia - Part 3

Last year I helped design some ranges for the Australian babywear brand Tiny Twig.  Click here to visit the Tiny Twig website. Here are some of the designs...

Tiny Twig - Australia - Part 2

Last year I helped design some ranges for the Australian babywear brand Tiny Twig.  Click here to visit the Tiny Twig website. Here are some of the designs...

Tiny Twig - Australia

Last year I helped design some ranges for the Australian babywear brand Tiny Twig.  Click here to visit the Tiny Twig website. Here are some of the designs...

Trending: Alpaca's

I had never even heard of these animals until I met my bothering law (who seems to own the best part of 100 of them in Spain!!!)  However, now they are cropping up everywhere - even the likes of GAP and JCrew are using them on their clothing right now!  heres a collection of the little wooly creatures that I have stumbled across lately....

Autumn Harvest Print

Here is a little autumnal themed print I created the other day just for fun!

Rebel Rules - Baby/Layette Girls | Autumn/Winter 2016/17 | Hand Drawn Print

Following on form my Rebel Rules Trends here are some hand drawn Characters to accompany the trend...

Does Working for Free Pay Off?

Over the past few months, I've received a number of design enquiries that when I've replied with my rates and charges, people have come back to me saying they were hoping I would do it for free!  These are not small design projects or projects for worthy causes (like charities) but actual people and businesses that want projects like wedding invites or fashion ranges designed free of charge!  This got me asking myself the question when should you or should you ever work for free?

Over the past decade, working for free has become something we have all become familiar with.  During the recession loads of people took pay cuts to carry out their usual jobs, working more hours in return, just to survive.  Anyone who's been a students is likely to have completed an unpaid internship in return for experience and a leg up into their desired industry but where do you draw the line?  We all have to pay rent, buy groceries and have lives that need money to survive so how much does working for free really pay off?

Major celebrities are in on the conversation too - recently Taylor Swift has been in the headlines criticising Apple for their new streaming service which offers three months free as an introductory offer and results in artists not being paid as a result.  She's quoted as saying "We don't ask you for free iPhones.  Please don't ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation," Swift wrote in a blog post titled, "To Apple, love Taylor."  She's got a point but then again she's a global star, can the rest of us get away with the same attitude?

As a freelance designer, a good chunk of my schedule includes time spent working unpaid.  All my blogging I do free of charge, as a hobby and because my blog draws in a huge amount of Internet traffic often bringing work my way.  When I was first starting out as a freelancer, I would set myself projects to build my design portfolio up in my own (unpaid) time.  All my teaching days also require a huge amount of background work and planning which is all unpaid but I guess all these things are essential in the day to day running and success of my small business.  

In reality I probably wouldn't get to where I am today without working 'free of charge'.  The first job post graduation from University I got on the basis that I had 'real' experience of design work from (unpaid) internships.  There was also a lot of unpaid hours I invested in self promotion to start my business and also numerous prints I designed when I started out that never sold that in essence was also working unpaid.

However, designing a set of wedding invitations for someone (who I don't know!!) free of charge or designing a fashion range to help someone else (I don't know) start up their own business seems a little too generous even for my beliefs of working for free!  I mean, I too had to start up my business from scratch, without handouts and on top of that (like most people) I too have a family to care for, rent to pay, food to put on the table and hopefully some free time to enjoy a few of the the finer things in life like holidays and the (rare) meal out for example! 

So when should you work for free?  I think if you are investing in yourself to start up or drive an exciting business forward, then working free of charge is essential to get yourself off the ground.  Set time aside to blog, self promote, guest write on other blogs (with higher amounts of traffic) in return for a link to you blog for example.  If you're a graduate, take on internships, set yourself extra projects contact bloggers etcetera and get yourself featured and promoted.  All of these are smart moves in my opinion and will set you way above the rest and eventually get you to where you want to be!  

Working free for a good cause, to help out a student or a charity is also great and I'm a great believer in 'giving back' to society which is why I love teaching and although I get paid for my lectures, I put in a huge amount of unpaid time creating lesson plans, sharing work presentations and answering student queries in my own unpaid time.  I also think 'giving back to society' is great for your mind and soul and gives you a personal sense of achievement (that's often better than financial rewards) but that's steering this post off in a different direction!

So to summarise; when working free of charge, be sensible, set limits, don't get taken advantage of and above all remember to give yourself free time to enjoy life too!  I've so often worked through weekends and the sunniest days of the year stressing about work (and during dry freelance patches rather the lack of it) only to be flooded with it the following week having not given myself any unpaid free time in between! Which brings me to another blog post - getting a work life balance!

Rebel Rules - Baby/Layette Girls | Autumn/Winter 2016/17 | Hand Drawn Characters

Following on form my Rebel Rules Trends here are some hand drawn Characters to accompany the trend...

Floral Poster

I have created a lot of Garden, Country Show and Allotment themes for Autumn/Winter 2016/17.  Last week I designed this poster for my Aunt who runs flower arranging courses.  I thought it fit in well with some of my trends so decided to share it here on my blog.  For anyone who is interested in attending these or other courses run by my aunt - contact details are at the bottom of the poster...

Country Show Print - Girls Autumn/Winter 2016/17

Here is a print I have designed under my Autumn Allotment and Country Show themes - check out my Autumn/Winter 2016/17 trends and prints here.  please e mail me at emikiddy@googlemail.com to purchase this or any other of my prints...

Autumn Allotment Print - Girls Autumn/Winter 2016/17

 Here is a print I designed under the Autumn/Winter 2016/17 trend I created for younger girls called 'Autumn Allotment'  click here to see the corresponding trend board.  To purchase this is any other print on my blog please contact me at emikiddy@googlemail.com.

Colour Direction | Spring/Summer 2017

As any regular follower of my blog will know I am always researching into trend and colour.  I recently started to analyse some of the colours I have been collecting in anticipation for Spring/Summer 2017 and this little collection sprung right out at me... I love this colour combo and cold look at this page for hours!!!

Rebel Rules - Baby/Layette Girls | Autumn/Winter 2016/17 | Hand Drawn Geometrics

Following on form my Rebel Rules Trends here are some hand drawn geometric fills to accompany the trend...

Recommended Reading for the Aspiring Fashion Student

I have received lots of e mails over the past couple of months from followers of my blog and Facebook Page asking for advice and information on getting into the fashion industry.  You can read my personal post of how I got into the fashion industry by clicking here.  I also promised I would write a post on some book recommendations that I think are must reads for anyone looking to study work or freelance in the fashion industry!

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Marketing Fashion

By Harriet Posner

Marketing Fashion is a must read for all aspiring fashion students. It outlines and runs through all the basic principles of marketing and branding in relation to the fashion industry.  It is packed with great imagery and easy to follow diagrams.  This book gives you a real feel for all the subjects that you would follow in more depth in a good fashion related degree and provides you with a good knowledge base to start your studies with.

You can buy this book on amazon - click here to view.

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Mastering Fashion Buying and 

Merchandising Management

By Tim Jackson and David Shaw

This great book outlines the principles of Fashion Buying and Merchandising, two major Fashion Industry roles that work along side the Fashion Designer.  Another essential piece of academic reading to give you a clear insight into the process of these two roles over the course of fashion seasons.

You can buy this book on amazon - click here to view.

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Fashion Trend analysis and Forecasting (Understanding Fashion)

By Eundeok Kim, Ann marie Fiore, Hyejeong Kim

Fashion Trend and Forecasting is one of the hardest subjects for students to grasp in the Fashion Industry Ive found through experience int eating the subject.  If there was one subject I would recommend reading up on and practising before entering studies in fashion this would be it!  This book gives a great introduction into the subject of fashion trend analysis and forecasting and looks at both from the consumer and industry personal.  It also looks at the impact of fashion consumption - something every student needs to be aware of!

You can buy this book on amazon - click here to view.

To see some real life examples of trend boards click on the trend section of my blog portfolio or click here.

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The Untimate Guide to Running a

Successful Freelance Business

By Meg Mateo Ilasco & Joy Deangdeelert

This book delivers exactly what it promises: A guide to running a successful freelance business.  Its a tough decision to start freelancing in any industry and Fashion is no exception.  This book is a great read for anyone who is considering it an option.  it runs through everything you need to consider and know from time management to invoicing.  I read it cover to cover back when I decided to go freelancing and can't recommend it enough!

You can buy this book on amazon - click here to view.

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Fashion Design

By Sue Jenkyn Jones

Fashion Deisgn is another essential read for all aspiring fashion students.  Even if you are thinking of a career in Buying or Fashion Marketing it is still really important to understand the role of the designer (and vice-versa) The Fashion Industry is all about team work and Buyers etc work really closely with designers so it's good to understand what both areas entail.  This book is a great introduction into Fashion Design and even covers examples of the syllabus for a Fashion Design Degree as well as all the basic principles of a career in Fashion Design.

You can buy this book on amazon - click here to view.

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Country Show Floral Print - Baby/Layette Girls Autumn/Winter 2016/17

Here is a little ditsy floral print I designed under one of my favourite trends for the Autumn/Winter 2016/17 season - Country Show.  Click here to see the corresponding trend board.  Please contact me at emikiddy@googlemail.com to purchase this or any other of my prints.

I am now also selling a trend magazine which contains all my trends together in one book along with Pantone colour palettes.  Click here for purchase details.

Country Show Floral Print - Baby/Layette Girls Autumn/Winter 2016/17

Here is a little ditsy floral print I designed under one of my favourite trends for the Autumn/Winter 2016/17 season - Country Show.  Click here to see the corresponding trend board.  Please contact me at emikiddy@googlemail.com to purchase this or any other of my prints.

I am now also selling a trend magazine which contains all my trends together in one book along with Pantone colour palettes.  Click here for purchase details.