In the world of sewing and handmade businesses, the age-old mindset of competition often overshadows the power of collaboration. Yet, collaboration can unlock new opportunities, foster trust, and build lasting relationships that elevate everyone involved. As three creative women deeply rooted in the handmade business community, we’ve experienced firsthand how collaboration over competition can transform not just our businesses but also our friendships. Here, we share the insights, lessons, and practical advice that have shaped our collaborative journey.
Our collaboration began quite organically — over brunch, laughter, and candid conversations about our experiences in the sewing industry. We’ve known each other for years, supporting and cheering on one another’s brands from the very start. Our friendship blossomed when we were just starting out, and it only made sense to take the next step and create something together.
Each of us brings a unique strength to the table: I focus on design, Leticia and Naima teach, Tish specializes in technical design, and Naima runs her own business handling sales and everything in between. This diversity in skills and roles made collaboration a natural fit, allowing us to complement each other rather than compete.
Many creatives shy away from collaboration because they fear there isn’t enough to go around. But the truth is, there is enough opportunity for everyone. The mindset of scarcity often fuels unnecessary competition, but it simply doesn’t make sense. Collaboration allows us to come up together, share resources, and build trust — something that’s hard to achieve alone.
Trust, in particular, is the foundation of successful collaboration. Unlike some social media collaborations where the details and benefits are vague, our approach is transparent and intentional. We didn’t just decide to collaborate on a whim; we had open conversations and even formalized our partnership with contracts to protect both our friendship and our business interests.
Fear often holds people back from collaborating. What if the other person changes? What if money becomes a source of conflict? These are valid concerns. That’s why we emphasize the importance of contracts and clear agreements from the start. Having everything in writing helps prevent misunderstandings and preserves relationships.
Collaboration is a commitment — it requires meeting deadlines, communicating regularly, and sometimes having real conversations beyond texting or social media DMs. It’s not something you can do only when the mood strikes; it demands dedication, respect, and professionalism.
Not every collaboration is beneficial. One major red flag is when someone asks you to collaborate but doesn’t specify what they’re bringing to the table. Collaborations should be mutually beneficial — both parties should gain value. If it feels more like a sponsorship where you’re doing all the work or giving away your product for free without clear compensation, it’s important to reconsider.
Ask yourself: What does this person offer? How do our visions and values align? If you’re a sewing pattern designer, collaborating with a toy manufacturer might not make sense. Similarly, if your values don’t align, it’s unlikely you’ll reach the same goals together.
When reaching out to someone for collaboration, it’s important to think beyond “What’s in it for me?” Instead, approach with the mindset of “What can I offer?” Start your message by highlighting how you can help or complement their work. This approach fosters goodwill and opens the door for genuine partnerships.
Look carefully at your vision and whether it aligns with the other person’s. Also, consider your audiences: do they overlap or complement each other? For example, if you sell apparel patterns and the other person sells toys, a collaboration might not be relevant for either audience.
For those just starting out, clear communication about expectations and value exchange is key. Whether it’s teaching, speaking engagements, or product collaborations, be selective and make sure your time and effort are respected.
In today’s world, scams and dishonest offers are unfortunately common. We’ve all heard stories of people being taken advantage of in the name of “collaboration.” Always do your research and trust your instincts. If something feels off or if there’s pressure to work without clear terms, it’s best to walk away.
Most importantly, always get everything in writing. A solid contract is the backbone of any collaboration and can protect your friendship and your business if things don’t go as planned. Spell out expectations, deadlines, payment terms, and even exit clauses. Contracts stick — and they save relationships.
Collaboration over competition is more than a motto; it’s a practice that can transform your sewing or handmade business. When done right, collaboration builds community, expands opportunities, and nurtures creativity. But it requires trust, communication, and professionalism.
Remember to:
For more insights on overcoming fear and building your creative business with confidence, check out The fear of change, the fear of being uncomfortable or the fear of facing something you think is bigger than you. And if you’re looking to turn your sewing skills into a side hustle, explore how to start monetizing your new skills here.
Collaboration is a powerful tool in the sewing and handmade business world. When rooted in trust and shared vision, it helps us all grow together — sewing, sipping, and staying rooted.
Keep dreaming big and growing slow.
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Welcome to the Designers Plants and Coffee podcast, where we’re sewing, sipping, and staying rooted.
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We’re three creative women building handmade businesses and sharing real conversations about
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design, growth and what it really takes to make things that matter.
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So grab your coffee, pull up a project, and. And let’s grow together.
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Today we want to be talking about collaboration over competition.
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So we want to start it out by how we got started doing this podcast.
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So this is how we actually got started over brunch.
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Conversation, jokes, really, just discussing the collaboration and how we.
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How long we’ve been in this industry and the stories that we can tell and the lessons we’ve learned in our businesses.
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We’ve been fans, followers, and of each other’s brands and supporters.
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I mean, it goes back even farther than that.
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We’ve been each other’s cheerleaders for years.
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I mean, we were really, really kids when we created this friendship and this bond.
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So, I mean, it almost seems like a natural progression to turn to something that we can all do together.
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And all of us are in different areas of the business.
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So a collaboration really made sense. I mean, I design.
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Latisha and Naima both teach, but Tish is into technical design and Naima does it all.
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She sews, she has her own business.
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So it’s just like it made sense for us to get together and do this because in collaboration,
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you can also big up your people, you know, so it’s not just you doing it alone.
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Why do you think people are so, you know, competitive and don’t want to necessarily share. Share the space?
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I would say, I think because they think it’s not enough when it really is, it really is.
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If there’s enough, there’s enough businesses, there’s enough opportunities to go around.
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It doesn’t really make sense to me in my mind, doesn’t make sense to be competitive with someone.
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Like, I can collaborate with someone and we all can come up together.
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Also goes into trust. You know, we had something built into our friendship before we joined a collaboration.
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And now, you know, with social media and content creators and influencer, everything is like, let’s collaborate.
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But they don’t tell you what they’re doing for you.
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I see so many posts on social media, oh, hey, who’s a fashion designer that wants to dress me?
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Well, how much are you paying?
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You know, collaboration is more than just saying, hey, I’m a shout you out on social media,
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because we can do that for ourselves.
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You know, at this point, a lot of people are already established, so they really don’t Unless
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you are walking a red carpet as an A list celebrity, your shout out is not going to do more
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for me than what my own personal shout out is going to do.
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I really think it goes into who do you trust? How does collaboration work?
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Just like for us, we didn’t just come together, we really had to think about it and talk about it.
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And we’ll in full transparency contract for our designer’s plants and coffee brand right along
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with the rest of our businesses.
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This is a business for us too.
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So it’s not just our friendship.
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And we got together and said we’re going to have a good Kiki on camera.
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We said, hey, we’re going to make this a business and we’re going to sign contracts and we’re
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going to work at it together and get gas.
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I mean, you know, just, it really is a collaborative effort for us.
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And that brings me to like a question.
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Why do you think there’s so much fear in collaborating?
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I mean, I know Tish, you mentioned it a little bit, but I mean, why do you think there’s so much fear around it?
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The one thing people forget that this is a business and to have agreements and contracts signed
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in the beginning because the. Sometimes people change.
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If you don’t have a contract to go back to, then it can ruin relationships.
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Plus, if money, the love of money is so strong that it will make you do something that the other
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people that you’re collaborating with would not actually like, then, hey, is that in the contract?
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Did we, can we talk about that? And different things.
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Really?
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Yeah. You need to have a contract, need to have an understanding of what you.
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Will or will back on that and say, you gotta commit to something like this.
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You know, it’s not something, A collaboration is not something you can do when the mood hits you.
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You gotta meet deadlines, you gotta meet, you gotta talk, you gotta, you may.
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I know a lot of people want to text everything, but you might have to jump on the phone or jump
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on a, on a FaceTime.
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I mean, you know, it, it, it’s a, it’s a dedicated part of what you do.
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You can’t just say what we’re going to collaborate and then meet on the day of the event and
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say, okay, this is what we’re going to do because it’s going to fail.
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I think people don’t even realize the commitment involved with collaboration either.
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So what do you think are like red flags to look out for?
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Like if somebody wanted to do a collab with somebody, what would be like a red flag?
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To say, no, I don’t want to do it with someone.
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A lot of times people will ask you to collab, but they don’t tell you what they’re bringing to the table.
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It’s like, dress me, send me things, I’ll unbox it for you.
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What, what are you bringing to the table that’s going to make this a collab and not just a sponsorship?
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Because those are two very different things.
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And I mean, and just to piggyback off of that was that was going to be the next question is
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it’s like a collaboration is mutual beneficial.
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Basically both parties are getting something out of it.
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Now what you said, a sponsorship is when either you’re getting paid for something and you know,
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and that, that is the exchange, but the collaboration, both parties are gaining something from it.
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So if you were to go approach somebody about it, you can’t just think about what I’m getting out of it. You gotta approach it.
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Like, why would this person wanna collab with me?
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So on that note, how would you go about, you know, reaching out to somebody to collab with them?
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I would say for me, looking at what my vision is and what my vision for the future, the products
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that I have, looking at that and then looking at the other person to see if they actually match
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or do they complement each other? Because it really doesn’t.
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I mean, you have to think about it also in the terms of collaborating for, let’s say apparel and licenses.
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If you have an apparel line but you’re going to a shoe manufacturer, it’s like may not been the best collab.
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Why don’t you try in apparel manufacturer?
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So, so you really have to see do your visions complement each other really.
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Either your values, like I don’t want to collaborate and do something for a designer and I don’t
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agree with what their values are.
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And that’s not to say I’m better than them or that I am undervaluing them.
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It’s just that we don’t have the same set of values.
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So we are not going to probably want the same end goal or reach the same end goal because we
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don’t have that commonality that’s going to make this a successful collaboration.
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Yeah, and I would just add to that.
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It’s just especially online, you have to look at your audiences.
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So basically what customers do you serve?
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Because if I’m selling apparel patterns and someone else is selling toys, it doesn’t make sense.
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Like if someone was just getting started and they wanted to do a collaboration with like one
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of you what would you be looking for?
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What would make you want to collab.
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With someone for the aspect of education, since I’ve taught on university and college level,
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or also for 3D, someone that is actually getting into 3D and they’re trying to introduce it
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to their students or to their, to some of their companies, how 3D can be utilized in fashion.
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And for me, I think it just has to make sense.
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I think my time is valuable because I have so little of it.
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I like to joke with my students that, hey, you guys know I got 47 jobs, so if you send me an
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email, you gotta give me 24 hours, right?
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And so it will have to be something that A makes sense, B is not a waste of my time.
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But as, as Leticia was saying, I’m always ready to give back.
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I don’t consider that a collaboration.
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So if somebody asked me to come and speak to their kids at a career day about getting into fashion
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or something like that, I’m happy to do it if it fits in my schedule.
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Now, if you think that I’m going to come into your school system and teach a whole class for free, that’s not happening.
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That’s not a collaboration and that’s not a volunteerism. That’s a job.
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So you just really have to, especially in this world of scammers, full transparency.
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I was scammed in doing an event, you know, and to the point where I had to really dispute this
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claim and fight to get my money back.
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But, you know, you just, it’s just so easy to get caught up in something that is not right for
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you or is a scam.
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So you just, I would say, be very selective.
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So basically, I mean, just in conclusion of what we are talking about, it has to feel right for both sides.
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And the way that you reach out is basically with that in mind, you know, say I am so and so.
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Like say, for instance, you’re writing an email or, you know, a DM or something like that.
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You would start off with, you know, I can help you do this.
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You know, offer your services first.
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Don’t just say, oh, you can do.
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This for me, about, you know, Cause.
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That doesn’t make it. That doesn’t fit well.
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Because, I mean, if someone’s to approach me and say, well, can you do this?
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It’s like, no, that doesn’t really vibe, you know, it’s like, you know, what can we do for each other?
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And I think that’s how you should approach it.
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However that is through email, DM or phone call, whatever that is something beautiful.
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Can come out of a great collaboration.
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So any last words that you would.
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Like to say to the audience of anyone thinking about collaboration?
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Do your research.
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And I think the one thing that we did not touch on is get everything in right. Get a contract.
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For as long as we’ve known each other and as long as we’ve worked together, we have a rock solid
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contract that everybody has signed that will not hurt our friendship.
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Should we not want to collaborate anymore.
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So spell out everything you want.
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If you want to have an out clause, if you want to get paid to leave, or if you have to get all of that in writing. Contracts. Contracts matter. Contracts stick.
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Contracts are going to be what saves your collaboration and your friendship.
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Everybody has to be on the same page.
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I wouldn’t say everybody has to be happy, but everybody has to be content with the contract
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and going in and with positive attitude because otherwise it’s not going to work.
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Find yourself not being content anymore.
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That contract is going to be the way that you can leave it peacefully.
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Okay, that is it for us.
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I am Zaheer from COVID Machine along.
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With from Bailey’s Threads and Letitia of Keeping youg Stitches.
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See you in our next video.
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Thanks for hanging out with us on the Designers Plants and Coffee podcast.
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If you love this episode, please leave a review, share it with your creative friend, or tag us on Instagram.
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Until next time, keep dreaming big and growing slow.
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