6 Steps To Overcome Frustration As A Fashion Entrepreneur

As rewarding and beautiful as entrepreneurship can be, it still comes with its own measure of frustration. Frustration comes in many different shades and styles and when it comes, quitting sometimes looks like a good option.

Last week, we reviewed a video by Ronke Lawal on what to do if your fashion business goes viral. This week, we reviewed a video by Ada-Uju on what to do when you are frustrated with sewing and want to quit. In it, she shares her experience of being frustrated with sewing and how she overcame it.

This video aims to help fashion entrepreneurs that have gotten frustrated with sewing know what to do to overcome it. It seeks to help fashion entrepreneurs stick to their dream and not quite on it.

This video review covers; 

• useful points fashion entrepreneurs can learn from,
• important points missed out,
• the relevance of the information provided to fashion entrepreneurs.

How to Overcome Frustratiom with Sewing

As a fashion entrepreneur, there comes a time when frustration kicks in and you want to give up. You want to go but you don’t want to go at the same time. This happens to fashion entrepreneurs in different niches.

Sometimes, frustration kicks in because things might just not be going the way you planned them to. For example, if you want to gain 10 new customers in 3 months and it doesn’t happen or if you want clients in a certain financial class and they are not coming, frustration can set in. Sometimes, it might be because you ruined a style or you’re not getting styles right and you feel bad and frustrated about it.

Read More: Not Earning Enough Money To Afford Sewing Supplies? Here Are 5 Ways To Buy Them On A Low Income

When this frustration comes;

1. Take a Break

Stay away from sewing or doing anything that might increase your frustration and make you feel like a failure. When you take the break, you will begin to feel less burdened and even liberated.

So, if you feel like quitting sewing and you don’t want to go on anymore, take a break. Not a one or two days break, but one that will be long enough for you to sort yourself out. If you need a month month-long, take it.

During this break, you will miss sewing, especially since it’s something you love. However, this break gives you the chance to sit and ask yourself what is making you frustrated. For the first one week of your break, take your mind off sewing and do other things that make you happy.

2. Point Out Your Source of Frustration

After this one week, sit and ask yourself why you are feeling frustrated. Find out what is wrong with you and why you are feeling the way you are. Don’t just jump into the solution, but sit and get to the bottom of your feelings.

Don’t just say you’re not happy, actually find out why. If you don’t attack the root of the problem, you would not get out of the frustration. Ask yourself why you are unhappy, angry, or frustrated and get answers to them.

As you answer this question, write your answer down. Whatever it might be, be it money issues, lack of growth, ruining a style, not getting enough customers, or any other thing, just write it down. Pinpoint all the things that are not making you happy even if they’re not related to sewing.

Read Also: Wondering Why Clients Aren’t Coming Back? Here Are 7 Sewing Habits That Are Affecting Your Income And Growth

3. Look for Solutions to Your Problems

Now that you have highlighted the things that made you frustrated, look for solutions to them. Ask yourself what you can do to solve these problems. Look for solutions to each of the problems you have pinpointed.

If you are having issues with getting customers, ask yourself how you can get to people and convince them to patrons your brand. Find out if you need to take a course, ask people for help, or actively wear your designs. If it’s issues with running a style, point out your confusions in the style and find out how to correct it.

“Being a fashion entrepreneur can be really frustrating. I have been frustrated with sewing many times before. To overcome frustration, especially when it comes to not getting a style right, I practice it. Many times, ruining a style happens because I have not practised it enough so I take it upon myself to practice.

Another thing I do is outsource whatever I know I cannot handle. It is better to learn not to take on more than you can handle as a fashion entrepreneur, so, I outsource sewing when I can.”

Bukola akindele, Creative director, Romi & rire

4. Strategise how to Solve Your Problems

The next thing to do is the plotting stage. Sit and decide how you are going to solve your problems using the solutions you have come up with. If you’re having issues with sewing advanced styles, buy fabrics and find ways to sew those styles. It could be by asking for help from others, going on YouTube to learn them, or trying to figure them out for yourself.

Just strategies on ways to solve your problems with the solutions you have come up with. If you push it aside and decide to do business as usual, you will keep getting frustrated. No matter what it is, figure out ways to sort out your issues.

5. Go Fabric Shopping

Next, go fabric shopping. For many fashion designers, going fabric shopping is a way to sort out your frustrations. Seeing fabrics can bring ideas to your mind and make you eager to go back to sewing.

Since you’ve been away from your machine for a while and you now have fabrics and ideas, you will be eager to want to jump back to work. Having figured out your frustrations and found out ways to solve them, you will feel better about going back to work.

Dressmaking is easy but difficult at the same time. When you put your mind to it, you will be able to overcome any issue that arises. Telling yourself you can sew any style motivates you to figure out how to do it since others can. Having that easy mindset motivates you to sort out every challenge and problem with a positive mindset.

Other Points Missed Out

6. Surround Yourself with a Strong Support System

Having a strong support system around you can greatly help you when frustration sets in. Family, friends, mentors, or a business coach can give you the encouragement you need to go on. They are the best people to air your frustrations out to if you need to talk.

They can also help you figure out possible solutions to the frustrations you feel and give you the advice you need. In times of frustration, don’t isolate yourself.

The Usefulness of the Information to Fashion Entrepreneurs

Every fashion entrepreneur goes through that phase of frustration in their entrepreneurial journey. This video gives practical steps on how to overcome this frustration and get back on track with a bang. It highlights the best ways for fashion entrepreneurs to handle their frustrations in a nontoxic manner.

I recommend that every fashion entrepreneur take these steps for handling the frustration they have in going business. Steps from the video can also be other aspects of life outside of your fashion business.