Sylwia Szymczyk's Linkedin Analytics

I don't want to build the best pattern-making tool I don't want to build a billion-dollar startup I don't want to automate boring tasks I want to CHANGE the fashion industry. Forever. And I know, I can't do it alone. I can have amazing tech. I can solve the real pain people feel. I can do it for a fraction of price others offer. But, without people excited about the change, I will keep it for myself and a few fashion tech enthusiasts. We've already seen it in fashion. There are already tech solutions that could make fashion: → sustainable → profitable → inclusive All at the same time. And still, there is a handful of us championing them. And yet, there are a lot of discussions around the topic. And, honestly, a lot of non-believers are right. Most of the tools are missing at least one of those 3 points: → easy to use and learn → easy to get immediate ROI → easy to implement into the workflow But almost ALL of them are missing the crucial one: People are not buying tech, they are buying → happy customers → an easier way to do their job → more time with their loved ones → more money earned from their clients It is impossible to make fashion better if it takes years to polish new skills. It is impossible to pretend that fashion brands can bet on a solution that completely disrupts their process, only to try it and achieve some ROI from it. It is impossible to get people on board, saying that everything they know no longer matters. That is the reason behind fashionINSTA. → Rely on skills people already have → Make their work faster and give them back time → Digitize the workflow that already exists, just make it better And this is HOW fashionINSTA will change fashion. From insiders to insiders. Together. For better. Join our waitlist and get on board! https://lnkd.in/dCGsgRSB

Coding in the sewing lab? DONE! Me and Gil Moreno had a great time this weekend working on fashionINSTA x Pattern Makers tool! Who said dev can't stitch? Who said dev can't draft a pattern? Who said dev can't learn how garments are made? Gil did, and he enjoyed the sneak peak :) And he totally gets now WHY this tool IS NEEDED! If you want to code it, you have to understand it! Do you want to try our beta? Check below or comment WAITLIST, and I will send you a link to subscribe so you can try it for FREE!

Business is business? 90% of entrepreneurs treat it like their child. And that's the biggest mistake you can make. A business exists to generate profit. Not to fulfill your dreams. Not to make you feel accomplished. When it doesn't work: → You move on → You pivot → You quit The same applies to employment. Getting attached to roles, tasks, or companies is a natural but potentially dangerous phenomenon. → Layoffs happen. → Roles get cancelled. → Companies change direction. It hurts, feels unfair, and crushes self-worth. But it's about business, not you. Your skills have value. Your experience matters. Someone else needs what you offer. Stay objective: If your job isn't right, change it. If your business isn't profitable, pivot. If the company isn't working, move on. What's holding you back from making necessary changes? How do you separate emotional attachment from business decisions? ----------- Hi! I am Sylwia Szymczyk, co-founder of FashionINSTA AI. Follow my journey from corporate worker to startupper on LinkedIn and subscribe to my Newsletter!

There's no such thing as a "standard" grade rule. I've worked with 40+ brands over the last 15 years. Every single one needed different grading. Global ones had different grading for each market. Why? Luxury brands often differ in their grading from fast fashion. Athletic wear needs different rules from formal wear. Every fabric choice impacts grading decisions. The truth? Your grading should be based on: → Your target market's body types → Price point expectations → Desired fit aesthetic → End-use requirements → Competitive positioning I once worked with a premium activewear brand that copied its competitor's grade rules... Their returns increased 47% in 3 months. Because their fabric had different stretch properties. One size chart doesn't fit all. The key is: → Understanding your market, → Testing your assumptions with clients → Willing to adjust based on customer feedback. If your customers feel valued, and you implement their feedback, they will be back for more. Tuesday, I will be shipping a newsletter about size, fit, and their consistency in fashion brands. If the topic seems interesting, subscribe to my newsletter to read it!

I'm building something exciting. And today, I can finally share it with you. New Masterclasses are LIVE And fashionINSTA Beta is almost here! fashionINSTA turns your sketches into production-ready patterns using AI. But it's more than just a tool... We're building a complete ecosystem: → Weekly AI & 3D masterclasses → Real production insights → My entire pattern archive → Custom tutorials on demand 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘆 23𝗿𝗱. The waitlist has officially surpassed 300 people! I’m excited to share what’s coming. Until then, here’s your backstage pass to the fashionINSTA Insiders community - where we’re already going full speed with AI, 3D, and real-world garment production tools. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗔 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿: → Early access to fashionINSTA tools - new features drop every 2 weeks → Weekly AI & 3D sessions - practical skills, no fluff → Insider insights - how big brands onboard tech and hire talent → Custom tutorials, on demand - you ask, I build → LinkedIn growth - we co-create and boost together → My personal pattern archive - 15 years of work, available to download starting June 1. Here’s a sneak peek at our upcoming masterclasses: 🗓 𝗠𝗮𝘆 6 — 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼𝘀? Learn how to use your 3D garment with AI models to create scroll-stopping fashion videos. → File to final video step-by-step → Tools for realism & speed → Showcase your designs like a pro 🗓 𝗠𝗮𝘆 13 — 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗮 3𝗗 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁… 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆? Discover how to turn 3D designs into physical garments — and when to skip samples. Learn the workflow that helped us cut samples at Timberland from 5 to 2 🗓 𝗠𝗮𝘆 20 — 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 I’ll walk you through the exact portfolio that got me hired at Timberland — and how to build your own. → Attract the right clients → Cut the clutter → Position your work with purpose 🗓 𝗠𝗮𝘆 27 — 𝗢𝗻-𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 — 𝗜𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲? Unlock new business with on-demand production — and say goodbye to MOQ nightmares. → Design smarter, source better, scale sustainably → Bonus: How AI fits into the puzzle This is the future of fashion tech. And we're just getting started! Feedback from our last Portfolio Masterclass was 🔥 Apparently, I’m not too bad at teaching 😉 Want in? Here’s how: 1️⃣ Join the fashionINSTA waitlist 2️⃣ Subscribe to the private community 3️⃣ Start attending masterclasses (or binge-watch the recordings)

Ever heard about Easter Eggs in video games? Hidden levels that only experts can find. Also fashion has its own secret language... Pattern makers embed subtle codes and messages that only industry insiders understand: → Notch markers that tell complex stories Notches can tell much more than you think about the garment's construction. For example, two notches in the back sleeve and just one on the front, or small ease between front and back sides length in jersey, to avoid darts. → Perfectly balanced trued pieces Truing deserves a whole separate post, but it is something that immediately showcases the pattern maker's expertise. → Hidden internal construction methods Some brands have their signature finishes, including cuts, binding, seam tapes on necklines, or stitches, which are often reflected in the pattern construction. But the real magic? How these technical details transform into brand language: • Custom binding techniques • Proprietary finishing methods • Unique internal architecture Just like gamers hunting for secret levels... The best pattern makers leave breadcrumbs of excellence throughout their work. Every fold. Every seam. Every hidden detail. Creating garments that speak to those who understand the craft. The true artistry isn't just in what customers see. It's in the secrets waiting to be discovered. Next time you examine a garment, look closer. There's always another layer of mastery hiding beneath the surface. The best part? Only those who truly understand the craft will ever know it's there, but the customer, even without technical knowledge, can note the difference! PS: Happy Easter to everyone!

AI is not a devil here. It can help you to get back your time. It's enough that you use it wisely. Today, it really can't replace the actual craft, and the human creativity. It can replace boring creators, it can replace folks who fake the craft. But it can't replace the real artists. What it can do today is get you back your time. What about spending 4 hours on the task that used to take you 8? And being paid the same per project rate you did before? The output is the same. It's simply optimizing your workflow. So, what would you do with the time you saved?

Ever bought a t-shirt in M that fits perfectly, only to buy another M from the same brand that feels completely different? You're not alone. Here's the truth about size vs. fit that nobody talks about... A slim-fit L can have the same measurements as a boxy S. Mind-blowing, right? But it gets worse: Even within the same brand, there is often little to no consistency between fits. That "regular fit M" t-shirt you love? The hoodie in the same size might fit completely differently. Why? Because size is just about measurements. Fit is about how the garment actually sits on your body. This is why some people who "should" wear M according to size charts: → Actually buy S → Or size up to L → And feel great in both The fashion industry's dirty secret: Standard sizing is necessary for mass production... But it's also highly imprecise. And in 2025, we're still using this broken system. PS: If you still haven't, subscribe to my Newsletter! Later this week, I'll be shipping an e-mail unpacking size, fit, and consistency in fashion brands!

Most fashion freelancers are severely undercharging. What I see over and over: "I'll charge $30/hour because that sounds fair" But they often forget about: → Training & development → Software licenses → Hardware costs → Insurance → Taxes → Office space → Client revisions → Business expenses And that's just the basics. A proper rate calculation needs to include: 1. Direct costs (time + tools) 2. Emergency fund buffer 3. Growth investment 4. Overhead Charging less isn't just hurting you... It's devaluing our entire industry. I've created a simple calculator that shows exactly what you should be charging based on your expertise and expenses. Drop "CALCULATOR" below and I'll share the link! PS. I am super proud - I made it on my own! I am a GitHub member now 😉

Is on-demand manufacturing at scale feasible? 3 Influencers launch their collections with fashionINSTA. The entire process, from idea to launch, takes 6 weeks. It takes that long because it's still a manual process. All of those garments will be produced on demand. → 𝗡𝗼 𝗠𝗢𝗤 → 𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 → 𝗡𝗼 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 A perfect start for someone who already has raving fans, is ready to buy, but lacks technical knowledge, and a budget. Yesterday I had a handover with one of the Influencers. And a great conversation started. To produce garments on demand, you have to: → Design them for on-demand → Develop them for on-demand → Source raw materials for on-demand → Find manufacturers taking on-demand → Organize your logistics for on-demand An example? A dress. A lot of gathering. Hard to stitch fabric. Sounds already expensive, right? Anastasia wanted to use 2 different fabrics, which most likely will need different thread types and tensions. Plus, she wanted garments in a range of colours. 1. The manufacturer would need to cut pieces and put fabric on the table twice. 2. Sourcing for deadstock fabrics that match colours would be a mess. 3. Stitching, changing threads, and adjusting tension will add time in production. To mention 3 seatbacks. She was surprised. In her mind, it was a slight change. It's just swapping one fabric with another. She claims it will add to the design. But, this garment could cost almost twice as much in production and will introduce numerous issues in sourcing. On-demand manufacturing is the future of fashion. Creators are the new fashion brands. I am completely sure about that. 𝗕𝘂𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱. Only this way it can work. Only this way we can cut overproduction. Only this way we can see indie brands thriving. 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 fashion𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗔 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀. If you want to: → Hear more examples from this project → Get some firsthand experience tips → Get the framework and checklist And later, share them with your clients so they can save budget and produce only what they sell (and invest money in their next collection - with you!) 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗔 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗅

Amazing startup looking for an early employee!

Can Tech Bros solve the fashion industry problems? At PI Apparel, there was a pitch session for startups. I always attend this session - there is so much value! Some startups deliver exciting solutions and solve industry problems in different and sometimes surprising ways. One of the presentations stands out this year. They mentioned in the pitch founders background: -> ex-Meta -> ex-Amazon -> ex-Google Quite impressive, right? It would be a golden ticket in Silicon Valley. But, I heard whispers from attendees: "They never worked in a fashion company" "They have no idea how garments are made" "They want to solve problems they don't understand" Is it true? Startups, before they start to build, should do extensive market research: -> Understand if pain exists -> Estimate if it is a pain or commodity -> Know how people are solving the problem now Anyway, it is not always the case. While working at Timberland, I had weekly calls from fashion tech startups. I interviewed 200+ in the last 3 years. 80% were developing solutions that nobody needs. Scratching your itches helps. Understanding the market helps. Having extensive knowledge about the industry helps. Knowing the processes in depth helps. Being an insider helps (a lot!). Being an ex-fashion company earns you trust. People know you've been there too. You speak the same language. You can connect right away. Is it necessary? I am not sure. If you have a game-changing tech, or you can create a great network, you don't need industry experience. But you need much more preparation at the initial stage. You can burn your opportunity by flexing the wrong things. Do you think in a fashion tech startup, the most important part is "fashion" or is it "tech"?

“Follow your passion.” An overrated advice. I’m passionate about fashion. And I followed this passion.. partially. As a kid, I wanted to be a fashion designer. But I had no money for fashion school. So, I started my business at 19. I was importing garments from Asia. Then, I started to produce them in Europe. I had no technical knowledge of garment construction or manufacturing. So, it was pretty easy to scam me. And I got scammed. I got the problem - I needed to learn. I moved to Italy to learn about fashion. I've spent years gaining knowledge: → design → pattern making → product development → manufacturing → sales Long, manual processes, often repetitive but necessary. Or the complexity, which does not make sense at all. There had to be a better way. So, I discovered 3D. And it leveled up the game. But it was still too complex to scale it. Then AI arrived, and it was the real change. I used to love creating garments - until the process made me hate it. I asked myself: Can I automate the very processes that made me quit making garments? Now I can. That’s what fashionINSTA does. It removes the burnout. And brings back the craft. Not sexy. Not viral. But deeply needed. And that’s what keeps me going. Forget passion. Follow the problem. Want to see what we’re building? Comment WAITLIST or check my comment below.

Sharing the knowledge is the only way to go. Without that, there is no growth and no change. This is why I often accept invitations to panel discussions or to speak at events at fashion schools. It takes time to prepare. It often requires traveling. It "steals" my time from growing my startup. But it is worth it. We have to create awareness. We have to show that it is possible We have to create a strong network. We have to understand the real pains. We have to answer the questions. We have to let them believe. We have to teach students. Only then we can see the change. This is why I have been quite busy the last two weeks, and now I am getting my bags ready for NY! And right after that, for Lake Maggiore! I want to thank: Karina Defelippe, for an invitation to speak at La Universidad del Sagrado Corazón - it was great to see how we can build bridges between Puerto Rico and Europe! Michael Ratcliffe for an invitation and a great panel discussion about digital color accuracy. The audience strongly appreciated this often overseen topic! Dorelle Mcpherson for a great panel discussion about AI and its impact on fashion at the IACDE event! Michael Ferraro for an invitation to DTech AI Symposium - I am so happy I'll be able to join you in person in NY to discuss and show students how AI is already changing the fashion industry! Monica Afonso for an invitation to two different panel discussions at PI Apparel Europe next week - we will touch both 3D and AI, so I can't wait to share my experience in those fields! And, of course, a big thank you to all the incredible fellow panelists - it's the exchange of experiences and ideas that makes these sessions so impactful. Together, we don't just add value - we multiply it. I'm genuinely happy to see growing interest in these topics and to witness how much people in the industry truly care. This collective commitment is exactly what will drive real change - together, we can make it happen! .

All garments you've ever worn have one thing in common - THE PATTERN. Garments may be designed by a designer, created from an existing garment, taken in white label. They may be made in natural or synthetic fiber be circular design or ready-to-trash quality. They may be fast fashion or sustainable and conscious brand. But ALL garments need the pattern before someone cuts and stitches them. And here, pattern makers come into play. Patterns may be created on paper, in moulage technique, using CAD software, or directly in 3D. It's funny how everyone is talking about AI for design, with all concerns about creativity and copyrights, and almost nobody is focusing on patterns. And there is a lot to do in this space. This is why fashionINSTA is the first AI tool to create garments, not just nice images. Our MVP can be a great help to any pattern maker - you can spend 50% less on your process and get back your time or onboard more clients :) Comment WAITLIST and try it!

Traditional pattern making is dying. AI will replace pattern makers, as it will do with designers. Is it? After 15 years in fashion, I've never seen anything more wrong. What's actually happening: Digital tools aren't replacing craftsmanship. They're amplifying it. They can help to learn the craft, They can help to make it faster, But they can't replace it. I've watched pattern makers: → Cut development time by 50% → Reduce material waste to almost zero → Test 10 variations in the time it took to make 1 It's like what's happening with coding... GitHub Copilot isn't replacing developers. It's making them 10x more efficient. The best digital pattern makers all started traditionally. The best AI-assisted developers all mastered coding first. Because you can't innovate what you don't understand. The future isn't digital OR traditional. It's both. And those who understand this are creating the incredible future of the fashion industry. If you want to see how AI can help you make your patterns faster so you can focus on your craft and not boring stuff, comment 𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧, and I'll send you a link to join the fashionINSTA x Pattern Makers beta testing cohort!

How are Fashion Schools teaching AI? Do they at all? Yesterday, I was privileged to participate in a panel discussion about AI in fashion at FIT. Students were curious and asked interesting questions! -> What about sustainability? -> How can they stand out in the AI era? -> Why should they learn skills if AI can do it faster? I was surprised to learn that students are afraid of AI. I was heartbroken hearing they see no future for themselves. I was happy to see how actively they participated. It is important, more than ever, to include AI in schools. Students have to understand why and how they can use those tools to leverage the craft they are learning. AI can be much faster and much more convenient. But human + AI is still unbeaten. So happy to see FIT and DTech lab are building this bridge for their students. Professors like Amy Sperber, Mikelle Pellum, and Kathlin Argiro show them that there is much more than just random images generated using art scrapped from the internet. I hope the discussion we had with Leanne Luce and Zehra Soysal brings to the students a different POV on what is happening in the AI fashion space and shows them there are still a million ways they can show how much they and their art are worth. Because they do! AI is here to take from us boring tasks and let us focus on what really matters! AI is here to unlock ODM manufacturing and make fashion more sustainable. AI is here to be a tool for helping companies, and fashion workers make garments that people want to buy and wear.

Right angles in pattern cutting aren't just a matter of mathematical perfection. They're the difference between a garment that fits like a dream and one that looks... off. After 15+ years in fashion, here's what I've learned: The magic happens at these points: → Armhole intersections → Center front neck → Center back neck → Hem alignments → Cuts But here's what most don't realize... While we typically work with 90° angles, the real secret is the 180° rule. Any two joining seams should add up to 180° for the garment to flow correctly. This is why some designers struggle with dropped shoulders or asymmetric designs. They focus on creativity but forget the mathematics. Think about it: A 1° misalignment at the neck can create a ripple effect throughout the entire garment. That's the beauty of pattern cutting. It's not just art. It's not just math. It's precision engineering in fabric form. I am building with fashionINSTA tool that will be able to do pattern truing with correct lengths and angles in one click. Join the waitlist if you want to try our beta! And - suprise! An exclusive INSIDER COMMUNITY! https://lnkd.in/dCGsgRSB

I worked as a pattern maker for years. Here are my best 3 tips to draft your patterns faster and make more $$$ out of them: 1. Create a database of patterns → Name and tag them so you can search them without opening a file. → Create a folder structure that is easy to search. → Change and update it as it grows. 2. Use blocks instead of creating from scratch → If it is not made-to-measure, it starts from block. → Grade your blocks so it will be easier to find the right one that matches your client size chart. → Update your blocks as you perfect "your signature" fit. 3. Make it modular → Your blocks should match (where it makes sense!). Armholes, waist, and collar measurements. → Create blocks for sleeves, pockets, collars, cuffs. → Mix and match, and… update! I had a great conversation with Rocío Evenett ✂️🧵🚀 about it last Friday, and I tell you… she got it to perfection with her system! I think all seasoned pattern makers work this way (or, at least, I hope for you!), but what about younger ones? Are you creating your database? Have you already set up your system? fashionINSTA is automating a part of this process for you. Comment or DM me and get into our WAITLIST if you want to try it! PS. I met Rocio when I was in California, and she was the sunshine on those rainy days - so much knowledge and kindness in one person 🥰

For those working in DPC, PI Apparel is a go-to event, For others in fashion, it should be! Yes, we are discussing a lot of niche-specific problems - digital color accuracy - lack of interoperability between tools - how much is enough to call 3D true-to-life But we also discuss a lot of broader problems the fashion industry has: - hype (and utility) around AI tools - overproduction - sustainability - data quality It's about innovation, not about 3D or AI. After all, no fashion company cares about fancy tech if it is not solving real-life problems. But if those issues are discussed in board rooms only, with no connection to reality and the bottom line solutions can't arrive. If you don't know what your people are struggling with, and you think that by cutting randomly costs, you will make your business profitable, 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. If you buy the tools after a brief online research or after a few conversations with sales folks who want to push their solution and not solve your business problems 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲. Get out there. See what others are doing. Connect with your product teams. This is the best part of PI and why I return every year. I am so happy to reconnect with some of my fellow innovators and to meet many new ones this year! Thanks to the PI team for organizing such a great event!