How Collaborate With Brands

One of the most asked questions in my DMs is how to I get opportunities to collaborate with brands. Lemme start this off by saying that I say ‘no’ to way more brands than I say ‘yes’. I have to decline offers a lot of the time due to conflict of interests. Most of the brands that reach out to me are not sustainable or ethical and therefor I have no interest in working with them or helping them grow. But the ones that I do agree to are ones that are companies that I personally believe in and enjoy their actual line. I also want to say that most of the time the brands that I do end up working with, I actually reach out to them versus them reaching out to me. My favorite collaborations so far have been with brands that allow me to make the pieces they send me my own with props, photo style and outfits. They don’t put restrictions on how I style them, or what type of photo that they are looking for, and they answer back quickly whenever I have a question. 

The best way that I can explain how I get to collaborate with a brand is that I reach out constantly. There is literally no harm in shooting a message to a brand that you wish to work with and asking them if they’re willing to collaborate. I have been told no more times that I’d like to count but the times that I do get a yes, it has been with brands who I really love. Would you like an example of what I write? Here you go.

Hey (insert brand here),

My name is Addie Lee. I run a sustainable fashion instagram account under @addielee_hatfield. I found your page from (insert hashtag or influencer etc here) and I am so glad that I did. I love your (jewelry, clothing, basics, undergarments etc) and I would love to be considered for a collaboration. I especially love the (insert specific piece here) and think it would match my aesthetic perfectly. I would love to collaborate in a (insert your collaboration wish here i.e. giveaway, post for product, post for compensation). Feel free to get back to me with any questions that you have and thank you so much for your consideration! I look forward to hearing from you soon!!

Addie Lee

That is my basic message to all brands that I reach out to. I do occasionally add in (if I have any) any ideas I have specifically for a photo idea. Recently I reached out to an activewear brand that had a very certain aetstetic and I had happened upon an amazing playground here in Atlanta that would work perfectly as a backdrop for their line. I messaged them and sent them a photograph of that playground for their reference.

If they have a larger following, they occasionally reach back with an email account that they’d like you to reach out to and typically I send the same thing there. Sometimes they have an online form that you have to fill out for an opportunity as well and I always fill those out! I have a couple ambassadorships that I am so proud of that happened just because I reached out! Persistence is key, though I am always sure to be kind and not reach out to much too quickly as the brands are busy with other things and sometimes your message is just lost! Be sure to message at the beginning of the work week (never on weekends) and to always just be yourself. Don’t be afraid to message back if you get no response though I usually wait a couple months to do that as to not annoy anyone. Want to know some of the brands that I have worked with thus far? Minor History, Magda Made, Thinx, Hara, Conscious Step, and Ettitude to name a few!