How do you turn a passion for print design into a freelance business? In this episode of The Print Life Podcast, freelance fashion print designer Erin Lever joins Leslie to share her journey from studying printed textile design to creating bespoke prints for fashion brands around the world. From internships in London and Stockholm to an in-house role and eventually full-time freelancing, Erin explains how each experience helped her develop the creative versatility and industry knowledge she brings to her work today.
Together, they explore the creative process behind fashion print design—from photocopying flowers to combining hand painting, Procreate, and Photoshop—and why you don’t need to render everything perfectly to create compelling prints. Erin shares how working with print studios and attending client meetings helped her understand fashion trends, what buyers want, and how artwork moves from an initial idea to a finished product in stores.
They also dig into the business side of freelance textile design: finding clients, building repeat business, raising rates, and establishing clear contracts, deposits, and boundaries. Erin explains how sharing experimental process videos on Instagram and TikTok became a way to attract clients while making space for creative play. Whether you’re exploring fashion print design or ready to take your freelance business more seriously, this conversation offers a candid look at building a career through passion, persistence, and professionalism.
In this episode
Erin’s path from textile design student to full-time freelance fashion print designer.
How studio internships and an in-house role strengthened her creative and technical skills.
Creating prints through experimentation, hand painting, Procreate, and Photoshop.
Understanding fashion trends and designing for different brands and briefs.
Finding freelance clients through outreach, industry connections, and social media.
Why raising rates, requiring deposits, and setting clear boundaries changed her business.
Balancing client work with personal experimentation—and finding inspiration in travel, quiet, and boredom.
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