Courtney Rafter
Contract Designer at House of Wu- Claim this Profile
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Topline Score
Bio
Natalie Payne
I worked with Courtney for several semesters when I managed youth programs at Moore College of Art & Design. Courtney was a great youth programs faculty member. Dependable and innovative. Her students loved her classes and the work was superb.
Kirsten Dickerson
Courtney is a very talented fashion designer with a strong work ethic. It was a pleasure to collaborate with her on 2 seasons of collections for Raven + Lily, ranging from apparel to jewelry to leather bags. She has an eye for creating very unique and beautiful designs that reflect a modern bohemian style. I have seen her tackle very difficult design challenges and successfully deliver our seasonal collections on time while working with a variety of materials and artisans producers. She's truly a talent who adapts well to new environments and is a pleasure to work with.
Natalie Payne
I worked with Courtney for several semesters when I managed youth programs at Moore College of Art & Design. Courtney was a great youth programs faculty member. Dependable and innovative. Her students loved her classes and the work was superb.
Kirsten Dickerson
Courtney is a very talented fashion designer with a strong work ethic. It was a pleasure to collaborate with her on 2 seasons of collections for Raven + Lily, ranging from apparel to jewelry to leather bags. She has an eye for creating very unique and beautiful designs that reflect a modern bohemian style. I have seen her tackle very difficult design challenges and successfully deliver our seasonal collections on time while working with a variety of materials and artisans producers. She's truly a talent who adapts well to new environments and is a pleasure to work with.
Natalie Payne
I worked with Courtney for several semesters when I managed youth programs at Moore College of Art & Design. Courtney was a great youth programs faculty member. Dependable and innovative. Her students loved her classes and the work was superb.
Kirsten Dickerson
Courtney is a very talented fashion designer with a strong work ethic. It was a pleasure to collaborate with her on 2 seasons of collections for Raven + Lily, ranging from apparel to jewelry to leather bags. She has an eye for creating very unique and beautiful designs that reflect a modern bohemian style. I have seen her tackle very difficult design challenges and successfully deliver our seasonal collections on time while working with a variety of materials and artisans producers. She's truly a talent who adapts well to new environments and is a pleasure to work with.
Natalie Payne
I worked with Courtney for several semesters when I managed youth programs at Moore College of Art & Design. Courtney was a great youth programs faculty member. Dependable and innovative. Her students loved her classes and the work was superb.
Kirsten Dickerson
Courtney is a very talented fashion designer with a strong work ethic. It was a pleasure to collaborate with her on 2 seasons of collections for Raven + Lily, ranging from apparel to jewelry to leather bags. She has an eye for creating very unique and beautiful designs that reflect a modern bohemian style. I have seen her tackle very difficult design challenges and successfully deliver our seasonal collections on time while working with a variety of materials and artisans producers. She's truly a talent who adapts well to new environments and is a pleasure to work with.
Experience
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House of Wu
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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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Contract Designer
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Jul 2022 - Present
Creative, Technical Design + Product Developer for Plus + Missy sized Prom, Homecoming and Social Occasion Dresses managing the development of 300+ styles/year across 8 factories. Creative, Technical Design + Product Developer for Plus + Missy sized Prom, Homecoming and Social Occasion Dresses managing the development of 300+ styles/year across 8 factories.
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Courtney Rafter
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United States
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Retail Apparel and Fashion
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Founder + Designer
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Mar 2020 - Jul 2022
Made to order future heirloom apparel + accessories, utilizing vintage, recycled, and locally sourced materials. Available at courtneyrafter.com. Made to order future heirloom apparel + accessories, utilizing vintage, recycled, and locally sourced materials. Available at courtneyrafter.com.
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David's Bridal
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United States
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Retail
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700 & Above Employee
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Designer
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Jul 2017 - Jul 2020
Worked from initial concept to final delivery directing in house CAD, raw materials, and technical teams in the development of woven dresses, sets and jumpsuits from intricate bridal gowns to simple clean + modern silhouettes for DB Studio LWD, Social, Core Maids, Flower Girl, and the White by Vera Wang label with a strong focus on Plus size. Worked from initial concept to final delivery directing in house CAD, raw materials, and technical teams in the development of woven dresses, sets and jumpsuits from intricate bridal gowns to simple clean + modern silhouettes for DB Studio LWD, Social, Core Maids, Flower Girl, and the White by Vera Wang label with a strong focus on Plus size.
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Love Sam
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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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Senior Designer
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Dec 2016 - Jun 2017
Senior designer of soft wovens, knits, sweaters + structured styles for Love Sam’s wholesale apparel collection, managing a team of 4 from initial print + color concept to final delivery. Traveled to Shanghai, Hong Kong + New Delhi working directly with factories to develop fabrics, fit + cost engineer styles; traveled to PV Paris to source and discover new fabrics. Senior designer of soft wovens, knits, sweaters + structured styles for Love Sam’s wholesale apparel collection, managing a team of 4 from initial print + color concept to final delivery. Traveled to Shanghai, Hong Kong + New Delhi working directly with factories to develop fabrics, fit + cost engineer styles; traveled to PV Paris to source and discover new fabrics.
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Free People
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United States
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Retail Apparel and Fashion
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700 & Above Employee
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Dress Designer
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May 2014 - Dec 2016
Designer for Free People's top selling dress collection. Deep experience traveling throughout Asia for sourcing, style design + development work to fill the business needs of FP to the beat of a fast paced calendar. Highly skilled at partnering and communicating with a large number of overseas factories with the goal of creating the most coveted yet cost effective product possible. Designer for Free People's top selling dress collection. Deep experience traveling throughout Asia for sourcing, style design + development work to fill the business needs of FP to the beat of a fast paced calendar. Highly skilled at partnering and communicating with a large number of overseas factories with the goal of creating the most coveted yet cost effective product possible.
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Raven + Lily
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United States
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Apparel & Fashion
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1 - 100 Employee
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Lead Designer / Head of Production
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Jul 2013 - May 2014
Lead Designer/Head of Production of fair-trade, artisan made apparel + accessories. Traveled overseas to Cambodia, India + Guatemala to work directly with artisans in their homes and workshops to develop designs, problem solve costing and execution/production challenges. Managed a team of interns in addition to contracted technical, print + graphic designers. Lead Designer/Head of Production of fair-trade, artisan made apparel + accessories. Traveled overseas to Cambodia, India + Guatemala to work directly with artisans in their homes and workshops to develop designs, problem solve costing and execution/production challenges. Managed a team of interns in addition to contracted technical, print + graphic designers.
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Free People
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United States
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Retail Apparel and Fashion
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700 & Above Employee
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Designer
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Jun 2008 - Jul 2013
Designer of wovens + knits for FP’s wholesale, retail + direct collections. Deep experience traveling throughout Asia for sourcing, style design + development work to fill the business needs of FP to the beat of a fast paced calendar. Highly skilled at partnering and communicating with a large number of overseas factories with the goal of creating the most coveted yet cost effective product possible. Designer of wovens + knits for FP’s wholesale, retail + direct collections. Deep experience traveling throughout Asia for sourcing, style design + development work to fill the business needs of FP to the beat of a fast paced calendar. Highly skilled at partnering and communicating with a large number of overseas factories with the goal of creating the most coveted yet cost effective product possible.
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Moore College of Art and Design
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United States
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Higher Education
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100 - 200 Employee
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Young Artists' Workshop Fashion Design Instructor
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Feb 2011 - Apr 2012
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Anthropologie
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United States
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Retail Apparel and Fashion
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700 & Above Employee
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Print & Color Design Intern
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Jan 2008 - May 2008
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Betsey Johnson
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Retail Apparel and Fashion
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1 - 100 Employee
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Dress Design Intern
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May 2007 - Aug 2007
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Education
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2004 - 2008
Philadelphia University
Bachelor's of Science, Fashion Design -
2007 - 2007
New York University
Summer Session, Costume Design -
2007 - 2007
The American University of Rome
Study Abroad, Arts & Culture
Community
