Starting a fashion brand feels super exciting but sometimes a lack of design skills can worry first-time fashion founders. But here's the good news...you can hire a designer to bring your ideas to life.
However, if you’re not a designer yourself, you might be wondering how can you find the right fashion designer for your clothing brand and what to look for.
Whether you need someone to sketch your initial ideas, create technical drawings, or guide you through the manufacturing process, finding the right expert is crucial. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to find a fashion designer for your startup.

1. Understand What Type of Fashion Designer You Need & The Help You Need.
Before you start your search, be clear about what kind of support you need. There are different types of fashion designers, including:
Concept Designers – Ideal if you need help refining your ideas, mood boards, and initial sketches.
Technical Designers – who specialise in turning ideas into professional tech packs that manufacturers can understand.
Full package Designers - like me, who do it all.
3. What to Ask When Hiring a Fashion Designer
Once you’ve found a potential designer, ask the right questions to ensure they’re the right fit for you and align with what help you need. You'll want to ask things like:
Do you have experience in my product category?
Can you share examples of previous work?
Can I see your client reviews?
What’s your process from idea to tech pack?
Do you have experience with manufacturers?
Which brands have you worked with previously?
Do you have experience working with other startup brands?
Can you help me with follow on services such as sampling, working with manufacturers and
4. Budgeting for a Fashion Designer
Fashion design services vary in cost depending on experience, location, and the scope of work. On average you can expect to pay:
Freelance fashion designers charge anywhere from £30–£200 per hour.
Tech packs typically cost between £250–£1,000 per design.
Full design services (from concept to tech pack) can range from £1,500–£5,000+ per collection.
5. Working Successfully with Your Fashion Designer
Once you’ve hired a designer, here’s how to ensure smooth collaboration:
Be clear on your vision – Provide references, sketches, and mood boards.
Agree on timelines – Set realistic deadlines for sketches, revisions, and final tech packs.
Keep communication open – Regular check-ins help avoid misunderstandings.
Ready to Find Your Perfect Fashion Designer?
If you’re ready to bring your brand to life but need expert guidance, I can help. As a fashion designer and startup mentor with 20+ years in the industry, I’ve worked with hundreds of first-time founders just like you. Whether you need design support, tech packs, or a full startup roadmap, let’s chat and get your brand moving in the right direction.
Want to work with me? Book a free discovery call here.
See you in the front row,
Michelle