More Information

Y O L A N D A c u r t i s
Fashion Design
PHONE:(714) 336-2617
EMAIL: yolandacurtis@gmail.com
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/yolanda-curtis/12/bbb/468

SKILLS & QUALITIES:

• Innovator, ahead of the times thinker, edgy and classy pieces
• Textile Colorist, Create Color combos, Color Merchandising
• Fashion Illustration / Sales Presentation, hand sketching, painting
• Confident Public Speaker with excellent written and verbal communication
• Fabric & trim selection, trend forecasting
• Strong knowledge of textile characteristics (knits/wovens)
• Production, Costing, Merchandising
• CAD & free-hand technical flats
• Graphic design direction, repeat prints, color story
• Proficient in Pattern Drafting and Draping
• Excellent understanding of garment construction
• Business Management, prioritizing multiple tasks
• Highly proficient in Technical Packages and Line Sheet preparation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Freelance Designer, Illustrator, Textile Designer – Los Angeles, CA
Current
• Contracted various design work for local LA Designers, or larger companies
• Fashion consulting including merchandising, line presentation, advertising, and sales
• Create technical packages to send to global vendors, fabric & trim sourcing
• Create mood boards, merchandise the line, styling for sets/conceptual

Jerry Leigh Entertainment Apparel - Los Angeles, CA
Illustrator / Designer May 2011 - June 2012
• Create full color (fabric rendered) CAD\'s using Illustrator and Photoshop for development / sales
• Merchandised product that directly contributed to increased orders with top buyers/sales
• Responsible for presenting collections to multi-million accounts like Target, Betsey Johnson & Hello Kitty by creating presentations for sales/new clientele using samples & illustrated boards
• Computer Render fabric wash, recreate prints, tie dye, sublimations, place art on bodies, create buy boards
• Trend forecasting for market key silhouettes, fabric & graphics, trend/sample shopping

Pacsun - Anaheim, CA
Freelance Designer May 2010-May 2011
• Create mood/trend boards to show buyers/merchandisers for important sales/corporate meetings
• Create technical packages to hand to Production for Tops team (outerwear, tops, sleeveless tops, fleece, dresses, swim, sweaters, denim and bottoms)
• Assist with color call-outs for Graphic Design department, sizing artwork, and coloring up CAD\'s for Design
• Research blogs to find current trends, trend shopping
• Approve lab-dips and comments on print samples from vendors using textile chips, pantones, fabric treatments etc.
• Styling merchandise on forms cohesively for presentations to CEO and domestic buyers for design collection meetings

Orange County, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA
Freelance Designer June 2009 - Current
• My aesthetic is edgy and classic, inspired by vintage/history/costume. I create fashion that has a soul, that cannot be found anywhere else and cannot be lived without. Classic pieces you can keep for a lifetime because they’re well made and are wardrobe favorites. Fashion with a sense of humor for someone who likes to stand out, be remembered and shine.
• Companies seek me for freelance to help out in development (print development/design, collection/construction development/ fashion consultant for business)
• Product Development, print/screen development, merchandising, fabric sourcing, graphic design, art direction, concept and color management, technology/trend research
• Styling, flat sketching/CADS, line sheets, tech packages, production, marketing
• Tech packages, CAD’s, line sheets, market & trend research, color story creation, inspiration boards
• Sample room coordination, fabric and trim sourcing, production, merchandising, costing
• Hand sketched prints, painting, hand-crafted details, screen printing, art placement and sizing

Silver Lining – Camarillo, CA
Senior Designer December 2007 - May 2009
• Conceived a high-end urban tech-inspired collection to be produced in the USA with sustainability
• Researched current trends through: competitive shopping, textile shows, trend services, tear sheets, magazines, trade journals and websites.
• Developed cost saving quality control friendly alternatives
• Illustrator flat-sketching for line sheets and tech packs, product presentations to team members
• Attend all fittings, partnered with tech designer to perfect sketches, specs and tech packs
• Prepare samples for photoshoot, coordinate styles and color picks for ad campaign.
• Engineered prints using Photoshop & Illustrator, fabric development/color ways

Self Esteem Clothing – Montebello, CA
Freelance Designer October 2007 – December 2007
• Contracted to design a 60 piece collection for a promotional launch of a new brand label.
• Created line sheets, CAD’s, print/color stories and technical packages.
• Supervised sample room and fittings: assistants, patternmakers, cutters, and seamstresses
• Presented inspiration boards to the CEO and Design Department for approval of complete line.

BCBG Max Azria Group – Vernon, CA
Freelance CAD Artist / Associate Designer August 2007 – November 2007
• Created thorough technical packages for overseas manufacturers, coordinating with designers and graphic department for correct construction detail, prints and color
• Completed tech sketches/CAD’s for line sheet & tech packs coordinating with designer/patternmaker
• Designed mood boards for sales meeting exhibiting designer’s vision & merchandising goals

O’Neill Clothing – Irvine, CA
Designer / Merchandiser August 2006 – June 2007
• Corresponded with overseas and domestic factories for sampling and production of styles
• Coordinate fittings, spec-sheets, samples, costing maintaining highest level of quality at great value
• Collaborated with graphic designers for art selection and building a balanced, cohesive color story
• Assembled technical packages and sourced vendors, communicating with international and domestic factories; meeting strict deadlines with excellent time management and organization
• Designed bags, wallets, and footwear to encompass into line consistent with trends and sales goals
• Attended tradeshows and sales meetings to maintain customer focus; trend shopping and sales reports.

Kevan Hall Designs –Los Angeles, CA
Internship – Design Assistant February 2006 - July 2006
• Modify pattern blocks in designer’s studio in Los Angeles according to line changes
• Research high end fabrics, trims, and embellishments and collect samples for designer
• Assist designer with celebrity fittings, line sheet updates and office management
• Shadowed the stylist collecting accessories for fashion week
• Liaison between designer and sample room to execute critical construction details

Jeremy Scott –Beverly Hills, CA
Internship – Design Assistant September 2005 - January 2005
• Technical Packages, Storyboards, Runway and Photoshoot Styling, Source Trims and Fabric
• Present at fittings, Cutting and Sewing Samples, Textile Prints in Illustrator, Global PR

Smashbox Studios –Culver City, CA
Wardrobe Assistant, Public Relations Assistant
January 2004 - December 2006
• Prepare fashion merchandise for Fashion Week and collect accessories for strong looks
• Select colors, prints, and style combos according to each model to best represent the line

EDUCATION & ACHIEVEMENTS

•Associate of Arts in Fashion Design, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles, CA – 2004-2006 Summa Cum Laude

•Designs selected to be showcased in a Wells Fargo Commercial Ad
•Fashion Croquis and CAD work selected for Pattern Software Advertisement

COMPUTER SKILLS
•Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop CS6
•Office Suite
•Applications: WebPDM, Filemaker, •Command of trend service websites, MAC and PC proficient