Freelance Fashion Designer Supporting Established Brands & Startups
HIRE A PROFESSIONAL FREELANCE FASHION DESIGNER FOR YOUR NEXT COLLECTION
Hi I'm freelance fashion designer Michelle Ramsay, here to bring my 20+ years of industry experience to create collections and designs for you that sell.
Whether you’re an established brand that needs extra design support from an experienced freelance fashion designer, or you're a startup brand launching your very first products, I can provide the design help you need.
Let me bring your design ideas to life with professional CADS, tech packs, surface pattern design and graphics.
ESTABLISHED BRANDS
If you have your supply chain set up and need a plug and play freelance fashion designer who can pick up your existing design handwriting and come up with fresh input for your new collections then I can help.
✓ Freelance design support
✓ Seasonal collection development
✓ Additional hands for busy design teams
✓ Trend analysis
✓ Initial concept CADS
✓ Factory-ready tech packs
✓ Branding, swingtag, labels and packaging design
✓ Print, surface pattern and graphics design
✓ Product development
STARTUP BRANDS
If you're just starting out with a new brand or product you can hire my freelance fashion design services to help translate your vision. I'll take your raw ideas, develop your collection and produce industry ready tech packs you can pass to a manufacturer.
✓ Concept sketches
✓ Branding, swingtag, labels and packaging design
✓ Print, surface pattern and graphics design
✓ Fabric selection
✓ Design development
✓ Collection and range-planning
✓ Factory-ready tech packs
✓ Guiding you through the process
Fashion Brands I Work With
Freelance fashion design portfolio
As a multi-product designer I design across womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, sportswear and accessories, from initial concept to final product.
Below is a snapshot of my work and you can click into each category to explore more examples of my frelance portfolio.
Freelance Fashion Design Process Overview
INITIAL CONSULTATION
DESIGN MEETING
DESIGN CONCEPTS
A free, no-pressure call to talk through your ideas, where you’re at, and what support you need. I’ll ask the right questions to understand your goals and challenges, then guide you on the best next steps to move your fashion brand forward with clarity and confidence.
This is where we start to bring your vision to life. We'll explore your ideas, inspiration, and ideal customer to shape a clear design direction. Whether you have really rough sketches or just a mood, I’ll translate your concept into a cohesive collection plan that aligns with your brand goals.
Your first look at the designs taking shape. I’ll present digital colour sketches (CADs) based on our design meeting, giving you a visual feel for the collection. This is your chance to review, refine, and give feedback before we move into final design development.
TECH PACKS
Once designs are approved, I’ll create detailed tech packs for each style, which are the essential blueprints manufacturers need to bring your collection to life. This includes construction details, fabric recommendations, trims, and size measurements tailored to your target market.
Design Frequently Asked Questions...
What does a freelance fashion designer actually do? A freelance fashion designer works independently with brands and founders to create designs for clothing, accessories and fashion products, without the overheads of a full-time in-house designer. I work with you on the creative and technical side of your collection: from initial concept and CAD drawings through to factory-ready tech packs. I can work on a single style, a full collection, or anywhere in between, and I adapt my approach depending on whether you're an established brand or launching for the first time.
What is a fashion CAD and do I need one? A CAD (Computer Aided Design) in fashion is a professional flat drawing of a garment with front and back views, in colour, with accurate proportions and detail. It's the industry-standard way of presenting a design before any physical sample is made. If you want to work with a manufacturer, you'll need a CAD. If you have rough sketches or just ideas in your head, I'll translate those into polished professional CADs that your factory and tech pack can be built from.
Can you design just one or two styles, or do I need a full collection? You can come to me with a single style if that's what you need - there's no minimum. Some clients need one hero product designed and tech packed. Others need an entire seasonal collection. I work flexibly depending on what you need, and we'll discuss the scope on our initial discovery call so you know exactly what's involved and what it will cost before we start.
Do you design across different product categories or do you specialise in one area? I design across womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, activewear and sportswear, and accessories. I also work on innovative and technical products that don't fit neatly into a traditional fashion category. Having designed across all of these areas over 20+ years means I understand the specific construction, fabric, sizing and manufacturing requirements each one involves, so wherever your product sits, I can bring the right technical knowledge to it.
Can you help with branding, labels and packaging as well as garment design? Yes, I offer branding, logo design, swing tags, woven and care labels, hangtags and packaging design alongside my garment design services. Many clients don't realise this is something I offer until they see it listed, and it can save a lot of time and money to get it done by the same designer who understands your collection and your brand aesthetic. Everything is designed to work together cohesively.
Can you create print and surface pattern designs for my collection? Yes. I design fabric prints, repeat patterns, placement graphics, embroidery artworks and embellishments for clothing and accessories. Whether you need a signature print that runs through your collection, a branded graphic for a T-shirt, or a surface pattern for a fabric, I can create it in the formats your print house or manufacturer needs.
I only have rough sketches and ideas — is that enough to get started? Absolutely, most clients start exactly here. You don't need professional drawings or technical files to work with me. A rough sketch, a photo of something you love, a Pinterest board, or even just a written description of your idea is enough. That's exactly what the initial design consultation is for - to take your raw ideas and turn them into a clear creative direction and professional CAD drawings.
How much does freelance fashion design cost? Design costs vary depending on the scope of the project e.g. the number of styles, the complexity of the garments, and whether tech packs, branding or other design elements are included. The best way to get an accurate picture is to book a free discovery call. I'll ask the right questions, understand what you need, and give you a clear quote before any work begins. There are no surprises.
Do you work with UK clothing brands and manufacturers? Yes, many of my clients are UK-based and I have extensive experience working alongside UK clothing manufacturers. I understand the standards and expectations of UK factories, which means the designs and tech packs I produce are built to land well with any UK manufacturer. That said, I work with brands and manufacturers worldwide - everything is done remotely via Zoom and email so location is never a barrier.
Can you help with activewear and sportswear design specifically? Yes, activewear and sportswear are a significant area of my design work and I have specialist experience in this category, having designed for major brands including Gymshark and Everlast. Performance fabrics, technical construction, specialist seam types and the specific requirements of activewear manufacturing all need to be understood at the design stage, and I bring that technical knowledge to every activewear project I work on.
Ready to Design Your
Fashion Collection?
If you're looking for a freelance fashion designer for your clothing brand, then let's see if we would be a great fit.
Book a complimentary 20-minute call to chat about your design requirements and how I can help.
No icky sales pitch, just a relaxed call with a trusted fashion industry professional.
Prefer to email for a design quote?
If you'd like a quote for your design project then you can send me your design brief, and full requirements for your freelance fashion design project by dropping me an email here.
Just let me know an outline of the scope of work involved, timeframes, any information about your brand and visuals you have to help convey your desired vision and inspiration.
