Just a reminder, Reader, that CAD Chats is happening TONIGHT! 🎉 I'm going live with Megan Tou at 6:30PM ET on YouTube, and I cannot wait for this conversation. Megan is an apparel design and development consultant who spent years building product for brands like Tommy Hilfiger before launching her own business in 2023. Tonight she's going to pull back the curtain on what that journey looked like and how she actually works with emerging brands to get their collections production-ready. If you...

Hey Reader, This Thursday on CAD Chats, I'm sitting down with someone whose story I think a lot of us can learn from. Megan Tou spent years in the corporate fashion world developing apparel for globally recognized brands, including Tommy Hilfiger. She learned how to pair creativity with structure, lead teams, and build product that actually sells. And then in 2023, she walked away and founded her own apparel design and development consulting business. Now she works with purpose-driven brands...

It's Memorial Day, and it's a national holiday (at least in the US), so many of you are probably taking some much needed rest time. But, can I suggest a little something? Rest is restorative and should be part of your brand building. Period. Full stop. But . . . in the past, I've also, at least while I'm still working another job (which I know many of you are as you're building your brand), taken some time during the day to PRACTICE! When it's a day off, it hits a little different: you don't...

Hey Reader, If you've ever felt like the software isn't clicking, like you've taken the courses, watched the tutorials, and still can't quite get from your idea to something real, this week's video is for you. And spoiler: it's probably not the software that's the problem. In this week's YouTube video, I'm getting into what's actually missing for most designers who are trying to go digital and why no amount of tutorials will fix it if the real gap isn't addressed. I also share a little more...

Since launching 383 School Membership last week, Reader, I’ve gotten a handful of questions from people who are interested but not quite sure which direction to go. I want to answer the most common ones here. "What if I only need one course?" Then Single Course at $39/month is exactly right for you. You choose the course, work through it at your own pace, and cancel when you’re done. No pressure to upgrade, no courses you don’t need. "What if I cancel? Do I lose everything?" Not permanently....

Can I show you something, Reader? Here’s what it costs to buy three courses individually at 383 Digital Fashion Design Academy: Illustrator for Fashion Design: $149 Fashion Tech Pack: $249 CLO3D for Fashion Designers: $299 Total: $697 Here’s what it costs to get all of that, plus the Merchandising course, every course I add in the future, Tier 1 community access, free member resources, ongoing updates, and priority Q&A through All-Access membership: $99/month. Or $999/year. In month one,...

Hi Reader, It’s here. 383 Digital Fashion Design Academy Membership is officially LIVE. Here’s how to get in: Single Course: $39/month ($399/year) One course of your choice. Full access to updates while you’re active. Start with Illustrator, CLO3D, Tech Pack, or Merchandising. Your call. Two-Course: $69/month ($699/year) Any two courses, Priority Q&A, and Bonus resources. ** The most popular tier for designers who are actively building. ** All-Access: $99/month ($999/year) Every course, now...

Hey, hey, Reader, This is just a quick reminder: On Friday, May 15 (that's tomorrow!), 383 School Membership openes. Starting at $39/month for a single course, with All-Access available at $99/month. If you’ve been on the fence about learning Illustrator, CLO3D, or tech pack creation, or if you’ve been waiting to figure out where to start, tomorrow is your moment. I’ll send you the link in the morning. Mikelle

There are two kinds of designers, Reader. The one who's always working on something, learning, collecting tools, refining the vision, but never quite launching. And the one who actually BUILDS. In this week's YouTube video, I'm defining what separates those two designers. It's not talent. It's not experience. It's not even the tools they use. It's something more specific. And I'm giving it a name. This one is worth a watch, and if you make it to the end, there's something I've been building...

I've been restructuring 383 Digital Fashion School, Reader, and I'm not just updating courses. I'm actually rethinking how they work together. Because a designer building a brand doesn't just need one skill. They need a system. And I want whoever comes through our virtual (or physical) doors to walk away feeling like they truly have the tools, the skills, the know-how, and the support to do that confidently. I'll be sharing all the details soon, but just know that whether you're a current...