Resumé

I am a Creative and Technical Designer with vast experience in Buying, Merchandising, Design, Visual Merchandising and Management. I recently just acquired international retail business experience working overseas in China. I am searching for a creative home with other talented individuals, or a consulting opportunity for an established company or start-ups.

Experience:

Careismatic Brands, October 2022 - Present Los Angeles, California

Vice President of Design & Product Development

* Manage medical division in the following brands: Infinity, Form, Healing Hands, Med Couture & Medelita

* Oversee a team of design director, senior designers, designers, product developers, and colorist

* Partner with CFT’s to update processes, calendar deliverables, and new PLM updates

* Launch several collections within the main brands: GNR8 (Infinity), Kinetic (Infinity), AMP (Med C), and Quest (HH)

* Attend and approve all fit sessions

* Approve all lab dips: fabric and trims

* Develop seasonal colors, silhouettes, and fabric technologies

JJ Apparel Inc, March 2021 – October 2022 Los Angeles, California

Design Director – Brands: Naked Zebra, Lost April, and 1250C

· Create seasonal trend direction to bring to market for 3 brands: Naked Zebra, Lost April & 1250C

· Oversee all pre-production and production approvals to maintain delivery

· Partner with the owner in buying, merchandising and assorting products for the stores

· Work with marketing/e-commerce/sales in producing effective advertising and maintain brand identity

· Collaborate with IT department in creating a Product Lifecycle Management System to track the life cycle of each product

INDUS3 Designs, June 2019 – March 2021 Los Angeles, California

Design Director – Apparel & Print/Graphics

· Directed, developed & created tech packs for women's and men’s wear collection of knits & wovens

· Created 2D & 3D technical renderings for preview of patterns and styles

· Managed production processes/calendar, negotiate prices, & track/approve pre-production/ production samples

· Researched current silhouettes, color, prints, and trends

· Collaborated & communicated with oversea factories to fulfill collection preparations

bebe - Longgoal Holdings LTD, October 2017 – May 2019 Shanghai, China

Creative/Design Director - Apparel Design, Marketing and Visual Merchandising Departments

· Managed 1 Design Director, 2 Senior Designer, 3 Junior Designers, 3 Assistant Designer, 6 Pattern Makers, & 10 Sample Room Sewers

· Created Trend Reports, Style Out Presentations, Catalog Styling, and Story/Color/Print development

· Directed Marketing Packets, Fashion Shows, Look book Shoots, Visual Merchandising, & Store Visual Operations

· Contributed in creating monthly themes/stories/deliveries for Main Line & Outlet Stores

· Strategized department budgets and allocations

· Traveled to New York, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Europe and Canada for trade shows, seasonal development and comparative shopping.

bebe, Inc., August 2013 – June 2016 Los Angeles, California

Senior Design Manager – Knits Tops, Sweater Tops/Dresses, Seamless/Tubular, bebe Logo, bebe Sport and Outlet

· Managed 1 Design Director, 1 Senior Designer, 5 Designers, 2 Junior Designers, 1 Associate Designer, & 1 Assistant Designer

· Created Trend Reports, Style Out Presentations, Catalog Styling, and Story/Color/Print development

· Contributed in creating monthly themes/stories/deliveries for Main Line

· Approved all fit sessions and lab dips

· Strategized department budgets and allocations

· Traveled to Asia, Europe and Canada for trade shows, seasonal development and comparative shopping.

bebe, Inc., September 2009 – August 2012 Los Angeles, California

Senior Designer – Accessories, Knits & Sweaters (Managed Woven Tops and Tubular)

· Managed 2 Associate Designers & 1 Designer

· Researched and designed all Accessories, Cut & Sew Knits and Sweaters

· Comp’d +146% in Cut & Sew Knits within 6 months

· Attended and approved all fit sessions

· Approved all lab dips and production styles

· Communicated and traveled to China (Hong Kong & Mainland) and Europe for all research, development and production

Costa Blanca, a division of Clothing for Modern Times (Canadian Retail), Los Angeles, California

March 2008 – September 2009

Head Designer

· Directed trend, silhouette and color

· Analyzed OTB in order to merchandise and buy for the store

· Managed 2 Designer, 2 Technical Designer and 4 Fit Technicians

· Communicated and traveled to Asian factories in regards to product development, pricing and production issues

· Shopped domestic and international markets for research and development

· Approved all lab dips, production and shipment samples

Arden B., a division of Wet Seal Inc., January 2007 – March 2008 Irvine, California

Senior Designer – Knits and Sweaters

· Categories include: Cut & Sew Knits (Tops), Sweaters (Tops & Dresses), Handbags, Belts and Shoes

· Designed for 60% to total company (Knit Tops 30%, Sweaters 20%, & Accessories 10%)

· Traveled to Europe, Canada, Asia, and New York for research/shopping

· Coordinated designs and measurements with Asian offices and sample rooms

· Collaborated with Planners to determine how many styles to design per month

· Worked with print houses to execute prints on Knit Tops and Accessories (Handbags and Scarves)

Andari Fashion, February 2003 – December 2006 El Monte, California

Designer to Senior Designer– Knits & Sweaters

· Created and Supervised 4 lines (Les Coquettes, Sandrine, Si’en, and Em*El)

· Handled private label business with brands such as Arden B., Guess, Marciano, Bebe, Urban Outfitters, and Nordstroms

· Increased vendor base and revenue by 60% because of the recruitment of vendors and products

· Managed 1 designer, 1 associate designer, 1 assistant designer, and 6 production coordinators

· Communicated with our oversea factories regarding production with private labels and with our in house designs

Arden B., a division of Wet Seal Inc., June 2000 – February 2003 Irvine, California

Asst. Buyer to Assoc. Designer – Apparel Sportswear (Specializing in Sweaters, and Cut & Sew Knits)

· Designed and produced specifications of contemporary styles for domestic and overseas production

· Coordinated fittings in order to produce correct measurements for production

· Helped create and develop color and theme stories on different trends for different seasons

· Aided in purchasing sportswear with concentration on Sweaters

· Collaborate with Planners/Distributors on Open-to-Buys (Budgets), Assortment Planning, & Flows of Goods

Rampage, a division of Charlotte Russe Inc., March 1999 – June 2000 Los Angeles, California

Asst. Buyer - Knit Tops & Bottoms

· Shopped the fashion markets, including stores, shows, and periodicals, for current styles and trends

· Strategize with Divisional Merchandise Managers on forecasting and planning

· Worked with various vendors on Product Development and Promotional Programs

Education:

· University of California, Los Angeles – BS, Biology

· Fashion Institute of Design/Merchandising, Los Angeles – AA, Design & Merchandising

Computer Skills:

· Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, CLO 3D, Marvelous Designer, InDesign, & WebPDM