True story. That time I was told my designs kinda sucked…
Updated for 2025: This story still hits hard even though I wrote it years ago. I hope it helps you. -Jane
If you make and sell a product of any kind – apparel, accessories, home goods, food, jewelry – you’re bound to hear negative comments about your work. And this is particularly tough for those of us design the products and then are responsible for getting sales too.
Sometimes hearing comments is merely annoying, and sometimes negative feedback can really sting.
Years ago when I owned my clothing line, I was looking for a different New York showroom to rep my apparel line. I was selling to Bloomingdale’s, Saks, and hundreds of boutiques at the time so things were going pretty well.
However, I’ll never forget what happened and how one particular rep had the courage—the nerve!—to tell me the truth when I showed them the product hoping they’d rep me.
It went like this…
What the Sales Rep Said...
“Jane, the best thing about your line is you. You’re easy to work with and very professional.”
Sounds great, this is promising…
She continued, “I talked to my main salespeople about your clothes.”
Great, she’s really working it for me…
“And they told me they can’t sell it. They said it’s ‘nice,’ but it lacks a certain, weeeeellllll, coolness factor that they need.”
Ummmmm, what?
I was crushed. And a tad humiliated. I mean, I’m cool, right? Like a cucumber. Like an ice-cold beer in a frosty mug.
But my product wasn’t special enough for her to want to rep it in her showroom.
The worst part was that I knew, deep in my core, that she was right. The collection was nice. It was good. But it wasn’t GREAT. It wasn’t for the cool kids and my designs were just OK.
Ouch.
While I didn’t like hearing her truthful criticism, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I redoubled my efforts, and my next collection was much, much better. In the end, that rep did me a huge favor!
Instead of telling yourself, “I failed. I’m a loser“…
Part of being GREAT at what you do is being able to recover from difficult times and harsh criticism. I like the perspective from this psychiatrist/entrepreneur…
“Instead of telling yourself, ‘I failed…I’m a loser,’ look at the data from a different perspective:
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Life is a constant process of trial and error. Don’t exaggerate the experience.” —Michael A. Freeman
Tips to Handle Criticism
Here are some strategies to help you manage tough feedback:
1. Don’t Take It Personally
I know this is hard because you designed the pieces yourself. However, you must find a way to separate yourself from the product and focus on business. If you’re too emotionally attached, everything becomes harder. Believe me, I’ve been there.
2. Distinguish Between Feedback and Insult
It’s possible that people aren’t actually criticizing you—they just disagree with you. In many ways, we’re conditioned to think we’re right, so we treat feedback as criticism every single time. Try to keep an open mind.
3. Accept That Criticism Comes With the Territory
When you take a risk—like running a fashion business, showing your product line, or putting yourself out there—stuff’s gonna happen. Period.
People will say things.
All kids of things. Social media comments, for sure, and if you sell at in-person markets you reeeeallllyyyy know what I’m talkin’ bout. Some of the things they say will be, ahem, silly. Or ridiculous.
But some feedback is incredibly useful.
Criticism won’t kill you, even when it’s harsh or unwarranted. I’m not saying it doesn’t sting or make you want to curl up in the corner and cry – ask me how I know. But it doesn’t have to stop you! You can learn to deal with it.
The more success you have, the more criticism you’ll hear.
Success = Criticism.
“I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. – Brené Brown
Listen for grains of truth in the that can help you grow and let the rest roll off. Stay focused on your business and you’ll do just fine.
You got this.
xo – Jane
About the Author
Jane Hamill is the founder of Fashion Brain Academy, offering online courses on the BUSINESS side of things for clothing and accessories designers. You can find her here.
