Amber Stefaniak
Design and Sourcing Manager at The Apparel Agency- Claim this Profile
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Topline Score
Bio
Natalee Rogers
Amber is an asset every design team dreams to have. Not only does she have a keen eye for trends, color and textiles; but she has the foresight needed to successfully produce a quality garment. She is able to think beyond the aesthetics of her designs and deliver both fashion and function. Until meeting Amber I had yet to experience someone so dedicated to their work and pursuit towards continued growth and education. Amber's motivation and drive continues to inspire and push me to be my very best as a fellow teammate. I am fortunate to work alongside her.
Kaitlyn Kwak
Amber is a multifaceted designer with a depth of experience across design categories. She has the ability to manage multiple projects at once, and create cohesive collections while hitting project deadlines. Amber also has a unique talent to inspire her design team, pushing them to create their best work and drive sales.
Natalee Rogers
Amber is an asset every design team dreams to have. Not only does she have a keen eye for trends, color and textiles; but she has the foresight needed to successfully produce a quality garment. She is able to think beyond the aesthetics of her designs and deliver both fashion and function. Until meeting Amber I had yet to experience someone so dedicated to their work and pursuit towards continued growth and education. Amber's motivation and drive continues to inspire and push me to be my very best as a fellow teammate. I am fortunate to work alongside her.
Kaitlyn Kwak
Amber is a multifaceted designer with a depth of experience across design categories. She has the ability to manage multiple projects at once, and create cohesive collections while hitting project deadlines. Amber also has a unique talent to inspire her design team, pushing them to create their best work and drive sales.
Natalee Rogers
Amber is an asset every design team dreams to have. Not only does she have a keen eye for trends, color and textiles; but she has the foresight needed to successfully produce a quality garment. She is able to think beyond the aesthetics of her designs and deliver both fashion and function. Until meeting Amber I had yet to experience someone so dedicated to their work and pursuit towards continued growth and education. Amber's motivation and drive continues to inspire and push me to be my very best as a fellow teammate. I am fortunate to work alongside her.
Kaitlyn Kwak
Amber is a multifaceted designer with a depth of experience across design categories. She has the ability to manage multiple projects at once, and create cohesive collections while hitting project deadlines. Amber also has a unique talent to inspire her design team, pushing them to create their best work and drive sales.
Natalee Rogers
Amber is an asset every design team dreams to have. Not only does she have a keen eye for trends, color and textiles; but she has the foresight needed to successfully produce a quality garment. She is able to think beyond the aesthetics of her designs and deliver both fashion and function. Until meeting Amber I had yet to experience someone so dedicated to their work and pursuit towards continued growth and education. Amber's motivation and drive continues to inspire and push me to be my very best as a fellow teammate. I am fortunate to work alongside her.
Kaitlyn Kwak
Amber is a multifaceted designer with a depth of experience across design categories. She has the ability to manage multiple projects at once, and create cohesive collections while hitting project deadlines. Amber also has a unique talent to inspire her design team, pushing them to create their best work and drive sales.
Credentials
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VStitcher 201 Certificate of Completion
BrowzwearDec, 2020- Nov, 2024 -
Certificate of Completion in VStitcher 101 Foundations
BrowzwearNov, 2020- Nov, 2024
Experience
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The Apparel Agency
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United States
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Retail Apparel and Fashion
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1 - 100 Employee
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Design and Sourcing Manager
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Jul 2018 - Present
* Collaborate with stakeholders and merchandise planners to create seasonal concepts for each brand/collection.* Partner with sourcing to research the best fabrics, trims, and hardware for each product.* Ensure each product falls into the correct price point for its corresponding brand.* Create technical flats, design specifications, POM’s, and rendered line sheets.* Develop custom trim, finishes, hardware, labels, and placement prints for each brand.* Update technical sketches, BOM’s, and tech packs throughout pre-production.* Attend fit and design review for new development, pre-production, and fit samples.* Provide fit comments, work with technical, and pattern to troubleshoot design issues.* Handle dye and wash programs, lab dips, and prepare shrinkage reports.* Daily correspondence with overseas and domestic factories.* Manage multiple projects, timelines, and team members.
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Design Manager
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May 2017 - Jul 2018
* Managed the workflow for the design and technical team for all women’s categories * Implement process improvement & efficiency within a cross-functional team* Responsible for daily communication with overseas + domestic manufacturers * Partner with sourcing to research the best fabrics, trims, and hardware for each product.* Create technical flats, design specifications, POM’s, and rendered line sheets.* Develop custom trim, finishes, hardware, labels, and placement prints for each brand.* Update technical sketches, BOM’s, and tech packs throughout pre-production.* Attend fit and design review for new development, pre-production, and fit samples.* Provide fit comments, work with technical, and pattern to troubleshoot design issues.* Handle dye and wash programs, lab dips, and prepare shrinkage reports.
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Lead Apparel Designer
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Oct 2015 - May 2017
* Research to define seasonal direction for concept, silhouette, print, pattern, and color* Design for women’s categories including Dresses, Tops, Activewear, Athleisure, and Swim* Consult with clients, evaluate design needs, develop concepts and designs* Partnered with R&D to research fabric qualities for each season and client* Manage strike offs, lab dips, and quality samples from factory partners* Layout and design of logos, branding, screen printing, and dye-sublimation
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ENA Apparel
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Greater Chicago Area
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Apparel Designer
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Jan 2017 - Jun 2018
*Prepared product presentations and sketches for women’s active/athleisure styles. *Attended fittings and collaborated with tech to resolve fit/performance issues. *Partnered with R&D to source quality materials, hardware, and trims. *Worked with the domestic production team to ensure design and quality standards were met *Created and checked POM’s for all samples.. *Helped with creative services such as content creation and photo editing. *Prepared product presentations and sketches for women’s active/athleisure styles. *Attended fittings and collaborated with tech to resolve fit/performance issues. *Partnered with R&D to source quality materials, hardware, and trims. *Worked with the domestic production team to ensure design and quality standards were met *Created and checked POM’s for all samples.. *Helped with creative services such as content creation and photo editing.
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Harley-Davidson Motor Company
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United States
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Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Assistant Apparel Designer
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Jul 2015 - Oct 2015
*Research and development concepts for each season. *Creation of initial sketches, color ups, design specifications, and the bill of materials. *Communicated updates with domestic and overseas factory partners. *Review of fabric qualities, trims, prints, embroideries, embellishments, and lab dips. *Kept the digital fabric library and the bill of materials up to date in Flex PLM. *Research and development concepts for each season. *Creation of initial sketches, color ups, design specifications, and the bill of materials. *Communicated updates with domestic and overseas factory partners. *Review of fabric qualities, trims, prints, embroideries, embellishments, and lab dips. *Kept the digital fabric library and the bill of materials up to date in Flex PLM.
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Kohl's
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United States
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Retail
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700 & Above Employee
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Associate Apparel Designer
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Oct 2014 - Jun 2015
*Seasonal brand-specific research and sketch development for design review. *Creation and updates of design specifications, BOM’s, tech packs, and trim sheets. *Responsible for color ups, line sheets, and upkeep of the presentation boards. *Seasonal brand-specific research and sketch development for design review. *Creation and updates of design specifications, BOM’s, tech packs, and trim sheets. *Responsible for color ups, line sheets, and upkeep of the presentation boards.
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Hervé Léger
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United States
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Retail Apparel and Fashion
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1 - 100 Employee
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Associate Designer
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Sep 2012 - Jul 2013
*Illustrated tech sketches for essentials, fashion, swim, outerwear, and runway collections.Assisted 1st prototype fittings, styling, photo-shoots, and attended fashion week.*Created and maintained line sheets, sketches, design cards, tech packs, and design boards.*Developed new fabric manipulations, treatments, and embellishments.*Composed layouts for jacquards, embroidery and beading.*Responsible for seasonal color palettes, lab dips, ombres, and future color trend research.*Delivered tech packs and communicated design updates to overseas vendors.
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Design Assistant
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Dec 2011 - Sep 2012
* Tracking of all proto, duplicate, and library samples* Paid invoices, shipped samples and the general organization of the design room* Maintained line sheets, sketches, and design boards* Created BOM's in WebPDM and was on top of all updates* Manage knit downs, jacquard, lab dips, and prototype samples* Shipped samples to PR and showrooms.
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Design Intern
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Aug 2011 - Dec 2011
* Created CAD Flats for review.* Helped maintain and update the CAD library.* Rendered color ups for all sketches.* Organized the design and trim room.* Overall Design Team Support.
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Education
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2006 - 2011
Academy of Art University
Fashion/Apparel Design
Community
