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EDUCATION

Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, December 2001
Associate in Applied Science Degree, May 1999
Fashion Design Major, Specialization- Sportswear
Dean’s List, Associate & Bachelor degree (GPA 3.8/4.0)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

December 2014 – March 2015 Meryl Diamond Ltd, Inc. New York, NY
Freelance Sweater Designer

Daily communications on yarn sourcing and product development for Contemporary private label accounts.
Created and updated Tech Packs using Web PDM for development and production.
Ensured product developed with established fit, yarn quality and cost specifications.

June 2012 – December 2014 Kohl’s; Jennifer Lopez Collection, Princess Vera Wang, Candie’s. NY, NY
Freelance Sportswear Designer

Worked closely with Design Director and Senior Designer to achieve brand vision and aesthetic.
Prioritized and managed workload with multiple deadlines.
Researched and identified trend direction to bring forth new ideas for sweaters, knit tops, dresses and jackets.
Daily correspondence with offshore and domestic vendors, on development status, project management and design outlines.
Executed a development process through tech packs, detail sheets, line sheets and color CADS.
Approved lab dips, trims, & Knitdowns (Stripes, Stitches, Jacquards, Intarsias, Yarn Quality, etc.,)

April 2012 – June 2012 NYC Knitwear Inc. New York, NY
Freelance Senior Sweater Designer

Trained and mentored design assistant, CAD designer and interns.
Worked in partnership with private label clients to develop junior sweater line that fits their customer.
Communicated daily with overseas factories regarding sample execution and fit correction.
Ensured product designed with in cost parameters.
Presented line concepts and initial designs to VP of Design and sales team.
Created and updated tech packs for development and production.
Researched market for fashion trends, color, print techniques, stitches and silhouette direction.
Prepared concept boards, trend reports and contributed to company trend reviews to inspire and lead creative direction in trend.

April 2010 – January 2012 Takeout Inc. New York, NY
Senior Sweater Designer

Designed sweater collection for junior market.
Approved jacquards, intarsias, stripes, prints and all materials from design development to bulk order.
Collaborated, developed, and directed, technical designer with initial specs for each style.
Created inspiration boards, yarn research, stitch direction and finishes base on Trend Analysis & Best Sellers.
Oversaw fittings with technical designer and sales team, to ensure perfect fit for each customer category.
Partnered with Sales and Merchandising Teams to create seasonal line plan and assortment.
Worked closely with Production Team to develop and adhere to Time & Action Calendar.
Helped to increased annual sweater sales by 11M for Junior, Plus Size and Missy accounts; Macy’s, JC Penny, Bloomingdales(Aqua-line), Kohl’s, Forever21, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Dressbarn, Maurices, etc.,
Shopped, researched and analyzed domestic and international retail market to target key items and relevant trends in color, silhouette and fabrication for each category and/or brand.
Attended domestic and international trade shows to source trends, yarns, stitches and fabric inspiration.
Recruited and trained staff for junior design team.
Traveled to Hong Kong and China to monitor new development process.
Daily correspondence with offshore and domestic vendors, on development status, project management and design outlines.

January 2002 – April 2010 Golden Touch Group Inc. New York, NY
Senior Sweater Designer

Responsible for daily correspondence with offshore and domestic vendors, development status, project management and designs outlines.
Executed a development process through tech packs, detail sheets and color CADS.
Prepared existing and emerging concepts of trends, based on market research, as inspiration for yarn quality, color and silhouette.
Developed presentation boards for private labels through communication with sale personnel of Federated accounts.
Lead workgroup projects, meetings, and communications pertaining to new design concepts.
Traveled to overseas factories for product development & trim research.

OBJECTIVE

Self-motivated and meticulous individual seeking a design position in a fast pace and creative environment.

SKILLS

Computer Skills: Proficient in the use of the following programs on PC and MAC computer systems:

Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, Adobe Illustrator Creative Cloud, Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud, Colour-Matters, Lectra Gallery, Outlook, WebPDM, Word & Excel.