Selling My Work on Etsy Was The First Step In My Freelance Career
I started as a fashion design major at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Illustrating was always my favorite part of the design process however professors regularly told me in this day and age it was impossible to make a career as a fashion illustrator anymore. Instead I focused on wardrobe, styling and design and put fashion illustration behind me. I landed at Hearst Magazines as a product designer in brand development.
Although I loved designing products, meeting with editors and styling shoots I truly missed illustrating. After a little push from a friend I sketched up some new girls, signed up for Etsy and opened Brooklit. In the first few weeks I had multiple editorial features and write ups from bloggers. Shortly thereafter there was a recession and I lost my corporate design job. It was scary and I wasn't sure what to do next or how I would support myself. There where bumps in the road but one thing led to another and clients continually found me; bloggers, brides and even corporate clients and worldwide brands.
Now its been over 13 years and I can proudly say I'm a full time fashion illustrator with a client list that includes some of the biggest names in fashion; Burberry, Cartier, Dior and Vogue to name a few. I've also been able to add book illustrator to my resume which was always a goal, and I now have 23 books under my belt!
It's been a journey and is sometimes hard navigating it on my own but I can say I do have moments of feeling quite accomplished am excited to set new goals and grow my business.
