QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Diverse experience in girls sportswear & special occasion
  • Successfully identifying gaps within the market
  • Delivering creative and strategic merchandising solutions that propel revenue growth and brand recognition
  • A solid manufacturing background, and ability to troubleshoot and re-tool operational process for speed to market
  • Hands-on organized individual with power to lead the product development process through to production including design, product management merchandising, line planning and staying on calendar
  • Works closely with the Sales team presenting the line to Buyers
  • Cultivated talent, coached and mentored staff in a highly fast paced, rapid growth cycle
  • Dedicated to empowering, motivating, and inspiring creative minds

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Current Centric Brands Sr. Designer Merchandiser - Under Armour Girls 2-6x New York, NY

  • Developed concepts based on market trends, supervised entire production design process
  • Responsible for managing and motivating team to meet all project deadlines

3/20 – 7/22 One Step Up/Kidz Concepts Sr. Design Merchandiser/Trend Director - Girls 2-6x to 7-16 New York, NY

  • Involved in all design aspects from start to finish for high profile lifestyle brands such as New Balance, bebe, bebe swim, One Step Up
  • Created concept, initial mood, print, and color direction at the beginning of each season
  • Actively shopped the market to create Key Silhouette /Color Print and Art Direction Trend Boards
  • Traveled overseas and research trend direction and market analysis for each line based on brand aesthetic
  • Sourced fabrications and trims for each delivery. Worked directly with oversees vendors to ensure fabrics we are sourcing are within budget and maintain cost of garment
  • Responsible for approving lab-dips, strike offs, samples, & day-to-day follow up with overseas factories to ensure production timeline is running smoothly and goods will be delivered on time

3/19 – 3/20 Garan, Btween, Kahn Lucas Sr. Designer/Merchandiser/Trend Director - Girls Toddler to 7-16 New York, NY

Traveled & presented both trends and line to Walmart, Target, Sam’s Club and many more. Maximized my design talent, taste level and industry expertise to provide design leadership. With an excellent eye for style, color, graphics, print and pattern; I originate and execute creative vision for new and existing kids brands, having fun along the way, driving creativity within teams.

3/16 – 3/19 H.I.S International Sr. Designer/Merchandiser - Girls 2-6x to 7-16 New York, NY

  • Developed concepts based on market trends, supervised entire production design process
  • Conducted fit sessions and responsible for production-ready presentation samples
  • Responsible for managing and motivating team to meet all project deadlines
  • Drove internal process, seasonal strategy, delivery planning, program development
  • Served as the creative lead for all license programs and private label apparel
  • Built comprehensive merchandising strategies equipped with recommended style level to maximize margin opportunities.
  • Travel internationally to oversees vendors to ensure development/production is running smoothly at all factories. Work directly with factory owners to improve our internal processes and ensure development samples are visually correct/ cost effective

11/10 – 3/16 Evy of California Sr. Designer/Merchandiser - Girls 2-6x Los Angeles, CA

  • Collaborated with licensed partners on all brand initiatives and roll out strategies for Sanrio, Disney, Mattel and others
  • Managed, mentored and cross trained a staff of 8 direct reports including designers, artists and pattern-makers to successfully curate innovative product lines of the highest quality that meet price-value criteria
  • Served as the creative lead Dept Store Hello Kitty, Disney, Cherokee Specialty Dresses and private label apparel.
  • Developed concepts based on market trends, supervises entire production design process
  • Conducted fit sessions and responsible for production-ready presentation samples
  • Provided recommendations on seasonal themes, line edits, and new concepts
  • Work consistently with Sales, Costing, and Production departments on a daily basis to ensure effective and correct flow of information
  • Ensured branding consistencies and tiers of distribution for licensed properties
  • Collaborated with sales and design team in all aspects of line development in keeping with the customer base, trend and price points

SKILLS:

Designing, Flat Sketching, Trend Forecasting, Mood Boards, Sewing, Pattern-making, Draping, Team Building, Decisive Leadership and Management Organizational Skills

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Proficient on Mac in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Microsoft Word, Teams, Miro, and Internal PLM FREELANCE EXPERIENCE: TJX, Target, Abercrombie, Disney, Juicy, Levi, Sears and many more

EDUCATION AND AWARDS:

  • Mass College of Art Computer Design Adjunct Instructor 8/00 - 5/03
  • Boston Fashion Visionary Award 2000
  • Fashion Institute of Technology, Fashion Design, BFA 1997