Experience

Younique Presenter

• New Zealand
• Cosmetics
• 500 - 600 Employee

• White Status Presenter for Younique Cosmetics

  • Jan 2017 - Present

  Younique's mission is to uplift, empower, validate, and ultimately build self-esteem in women around the world through high-quality products that encourage both inner and outer beauty and spiritual enlightenment. Find out more at www.youniqueproducts.com/DonnaKaestner Younique's mission is to uplift, empower, validate, and ultimately build self-esteem in women around the world through high-quality products that encourage both inner and outer beauty and spiritual enlightenment. Find out more at www.youniqueproducts.com/DonnaKaestner



Du Monde Trading Inc.

• Senior Technical Designer

  • May 2011 - Present



DuMonde Trading Inc.

• 1407 Broadway, NY, NY

• Senior Technical Designer

  • May 2011 - Present

  Communicate daily with our China office through e-mail, or phone, if necessary. Work very closely with my design team to create costing specs and construction details for initial design proto samples. Responsible for measuring all fit samples, sending fit comments, pattern corrections and construction comments to our overseas factory. Follow through, evaluate and approve all pre-production and TOP samples. Manage 2 in house brands, in addition to over 25 private label customers, including Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Chico’s, Express, Ellie Tahari, Cache, Orvis, Seventh Avenue and Simply Vera. Coordinate with my production team and customers to create time and action calendars in order to meet customer deliveries. Evaluate and approve all fabric and garment testing reports for garment care labeling. Show less



G-III Apparel Group

• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Technical Designer - Women's Private Label - Outerwear

  • Nov 2005 - May 2011

  Communicate daily with G-III Hangzhou office and all off shore factories through e-mail or phone, if necessary. Create costing specs and construction details for initial design proto samples. Responsible for measuring all fit samples, sending fit comments, pattern corrections and construction comments using Web PDM. Evaluate and approve all pre-production and TOP samples. Manage 4 in house brands for several accounts, including Dress Barn, Burlington Coat Factory, Sears, Steinmart and Wilson’s Outlet. Also manage several private label accounts, including Cato, Christopher and Banks / CJ Banks, Coldwater Creek, White House/Black Market, Chico’s, NY & Co., Lane Bryant and Vineyard Vines. Work with my production team and customers to create time and action calendars in order to meet customer deliveries. Evaluate and approve all fabric and garment testing reports for garment care labeling. Show less



Women's Private Label

• Senior Technical Designer

  • Nov 2005 - May 2011

  Communicate daily with G-III Hangzhou office and all off shore factories through e-mail or phone, if necessary. Create costing specs and construction details for initial design proto samples. Responsible for measuring all fit samples, sending fit comments, pattern corrections and construction comments using Web PDM. Evaluate and approve all pre-production and TOP samples. Manage 4 in house brands for several accounts,; Also manage several private label accounts, including Cato, Christopher and Banks / CJ Banks, Coldwater Creek, White House/Black Market; Vines. Work with my production team and customers to create time and action calendars in order to meet customer deliveries. Evaluate and approve all fabric and garment testing reports for garment care labeling. Show less



Ralph Lauren

• United States
• Apparel & Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Product Development / Technical Designer

  • Jul 2003 - Sep 2005

  Managed the creative designer/illustrator to put into work all design styles, fabric, trim and construction details. Worked directly with V.P. and design team on initial design concept through final presentation. Utilized vintage garments to recreate attitudes, fabrics and washes requested by design. Attended all fittings to approve silhouette and attitude of styles and quality of all fabrics and trims. Sourced all fabrics and qualified vendor’s ability to deliver fabrics on time. Worked with trim department to source and develop trims. Created all initial Web PDM packages, created and maintained all fabric IC#’s, updated all design and cost pages. Promoted interaction with corporate R&D to provide acceptable wash criteria and communicated approval comments to factories. Improved cost efficiency by coordinating the tracking and usage of liability fabrics and trims for future seasons. Attended all design, merchandising and production meetings to update management on all concerns and schedules regarding quality, availability of materials, and shipments. Responsible for creating and updating seasonal proto charts with fabric and trim status to ensure precise production schedules and communicate all status reports on vendor quality specs, delivery schedules, acceptance levels and new product rollout hurdles. Communicated daily with our Singapore and Hong Kong offices, along with all of our off shore factories to ensure on time production, shipping and delivery schedules. Show less



Carole Hochman Design Group

• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Technical Designer - Knits and Wovens

  • Aug 2002 - Jul 2003

  Responsible for creating costing specs, garment fit and pattern corrections and finalization of production specs and sewing details. Researched the current market and created the grade rules for the start-up of Lauren Sleepwear. Evaluated pre-production and top of production samples for approval. Communicated daily with all off shore factories. Managed Lauren, Ralph Lauren, Ralph and Ralph Lauren sleepwear lines. Responsible for creating costing specs, garment fit and pattern corrections and finalization of production specs and sewing details. Researched the current market and created the grade rules for the start-up of Lauren Sleepwear. Evaluated pre-production and top of production samples for approval. Communicated daily with all off shore factories. Managed Lauren, Ralph Lauren, Ralph and Ralph Lauren sleepwear lines.



Jacques Moret Inc

• Technical Designer

  • Nov 2000 - Aug 2002

  Created cost estimate and production specifications for all Target and Mudd intimate styles. Prepared and managed fit sessions for all SBH lines, including Target, Mudd, Dollhouse and Private Label. Solely responsible for the fit approvals or corrections of all styles. Distributed and prioritized the workload for my staff, which includes two technical designers and 3 quality control personnel. Communicated daily with our off shore plants in Hong Kong to evaluate pre-production and production garments. Established a tracking report to advise the CEO and President of our weekly status. Instituted a production timeline to organize the workflow effectively throughout the division. Devised an in-house fit for each Junior, Missy, and Kids SBH line. Created basic spec blocks for all Kids, Junior, Missy and Plus size styles. Show less



Maidenform Worldwide

• Technical Designer

  • Jun 1999 - Nov 2000

  Responsible for measurement, fit and sewing evaluation of all Maidenform, Lilyette and Flexees pre-production samples. Communicated daily, by phone and e-mail, with all off-shore plants regarding the fit and construction of each style submitted. Created a universal tracking report to organize and track the status of all pre-production styles. Coordinated all new product testing and evaluation for all Maidenform divisions. Also was the point person for all communication between Quality/Product Development, the off-shore factories and our Fayetteville warehouse. Show less



Ralph Lauren Intimates

• Product Development Coordinator

  • Oct 1997 - Jun 1999

  Issued style summaries, labels, measurements and patterns for all styles using PDM. Created measurement sketches using Micrographics Designer. Assisted the technical designer by measuring garments to acquire a standard grade for the division. Developed and distributed in-house timelines and departmental timelines for all styles. Followed up with departments to ensure deadlines were not missed. Also was entrusted with the petty cash. Issued style summaries, labels, measurements and patterns for all styles using PDM. Created measurement sketches using Micrographics Designer. Assisted the technical designer by measuring garments to acquire a standard grade for the division. Developed and distributed in-house timelines and departmental timelines for all styles. Followed up with departments to ensure deadlines were not missed. Also was entrusted with the petty cash.



Maidenform Inc

• Cost Analyst

  • Oct 1996 - Oct 1997

  Calculated fabric and trim consumption of prototype garments for Oscar de la Renta, Self Expressions, and Dillard's accounts. Evaluated sewing methods and construction for production. Coordinated salesman samples for all Maidenform accounts. Trained to digitize pattern pieces using the Gerber System. Assisted the designers as a fit model. Calculated fabric and trim consumption of prototype garments for Oscar de la Renta, Self Expressions, and Dillard's accounts. Evaluated sewing methods and construction for production. Coordinated salesman samples for all Maidenform accounts. Trained to digitize pattern pieces using the Gerber System. Assisted the designers as a fit model.