Product developer & Garment technician - Men's and Women's Apparel

• Jun 2019 - Present

Role & Responsibilities at ReligionManaging accounts- Creating custom specifications and communicating client requirements to the team sample rooms and factories- Communicating with clients and keeping them up to date- Setting critical paths for sampling processes to ensure delivery at a timely standard- Being clear about the achievability of core deadlines with customers- Ordering, checking and arranging delivery of all core samplesCollaborations- Quality control and functional design over collaboration collections with Instagram influencers- Attending fit sessions with influencers and making sure they test wear for functionality.- Creating production grading specs and communicating and approving requirements to the factoriesReligion Mainlines- Creating the critical paths, ensuring timelines from Design, fittings, sample receipt, photoshoots and selling periods are clearly stated.- Checking every sample that arrives and flagging any quality issues - Arranging fit sessions and fitting every sample that arrives and communicating all changes, fit and quality control issues to the factory and approving to next sample stage or to production- Creating and approving all production specs and approving any technical changes with the factories.- Performing quality control bulk inspections on goods received. - Listening to customer feedback and applying it to future design and fits- Collaborating with the Womenswear and Menswear designers to ensure clothing is designed with best quality and functionality achievable within target cost.- Finding ways within cost to make products more sustainable and remove methods that can’t be made more sustainable, key example is removing glitter from printing techniques as suppliers couldn’t find a biodegradable alternative.- Liaising with Selling agents, Factories and the warehouse to ensure any client requests are not missed.- Creating all technical packs and specs in collaboration with the Designers.

Product Developer

• Jul 2018 - Mar 2019

I joined Noni B Group as Product developer in July 2018. Noni B Group in Australia is a holding company of many retail brands. I worked on the Rockmans brand mainly across Jersey, shorts, true knitwear, and all categories of the sub label Table 8. My main responsibility was as garment technician to my key areas, however expanded to providing assistance to the Production Manager wherever able. My reason for leaving was that my partner was relocated to London. Role & Responsibilities at Noni B GroupWorking with the buyers to create new rangesCreating all tech packs and advising any and all changes to the Graphics teams for CAD and look book updatesCreating all technical packs and specs for all my product areas and assisting other developers with their workloadsPlanning and attending all fit sessions with buyers for both local and offshore suppliersFitting all samples from off-shore suppliers, communicating changes and updated specs and CADs were neededProblem solving any upcoming issues - including design changes due to cost or fit issues, sourcing replacements options for trims and working with suppliers to problem solve during fits.Maintaining a log book of all styles and when they were fit along with changes to inshore dates.Assisting suppliers with any enquiries regarding labelling and packagingAdvising buyers and planners of any possible delaysAttending critical path meetings with suppliers to ensure styles are on track for on time delivery into storeDaily communication with suppliers in China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan

Product Developer

• Oct 2017 - May 2018

As product developer for Stitch, my job was to work with the design to team to bring CADs to life, provide design assistance to the design team, create style sheets and liaise with the factory to minimise the sampling process. In my time at Stitch I designed the outerwear and linen capsules for winter 2018 and assisting the product development manager in sending out sample requests, creating initial measurement specs for all first samples, checking in all first samples and managing their handover to the garment tech team. Key responsibilitiesDeveloping outerwear capsules, including design and fabrications. Designing updates for best selling styles, including sourcing new fabric and trim optionsDesigning the linen capsulesCreating tech packs and style sheets to send to factory, Coordinating with designers to ensure appropriate fabrics and trims are used per style that also come into cost. Training other team members on Knitwear and Denim design specifications and tech packs Sending out style requests to factories, including strike off and placement print requests. Sourcing fabrics and trimsInternal approvals of strike offs before sending to buyersCreating initial Spec measurements for first samplesChecking all first samples received against style requests before handing over to garment techsWorking with garment techs to solve construction issuesTrend research including keeping track of leading Instagram influencersReason for leaving - Redundancy

Designer

• Apr 2014 - Oct 2017

Global Fashion and Footwear is a provider of design and production services with worldwide offices servicing the big names in the fast fashion industry. In my role, I perform all trend research, design and client presentations and pitches across all areas of Women's, Men's, & Footwear. Based in the Sydney office; I manage the design, research and presentations for the Australian Market. I also assist the US and UK offices, providing specs and design for international clients and assisting the set up of all design / technical libraries and resources.My primary roles & responsibilities consist of - In depth Trend analysis, taking trend research a step further and tailoring which specific trends are most relevant for our client bases- Attending briefings and presenting design responses including creating and presenting new range designs across categories per season/brand- Computer Aided Design of Women's and Men's wear (including wovens, knits and denim) as well as footwear and bags across Men's and Women's - Compilation of technical packs for production which collate overall design, trims, branding, ticketing, specification sheets and other relevant details for factory production.- Yardage Print design (Men's and Women's)- embellishment design ( Men's Women's and Footwear)- Working closely with Merchandisers to best cater to our client's needs and to develop high volume products across categories- Managing the Design team to best achieve all design outcomes.- Working as a part of a team to brainstorm and problem solve.Additional tasks include- Branding design for clients (including labeling and Packaging)- Assisting production where needed, measuring garments and approving lab dips strike offs - Providing overall support to the team, outside of my main role, to assist in turnoverDue to the nature of fast fashion I am used to designing for quick turn over and high volume product and am used to the pressure that comes with these responsibilities.

Head designer/patternmaker

• Jul 2013 - Jan 2014

Youth Designer- Knitwear and Woven's.I began at YST during its beginning. Initially I was hired as a pattern maker however it became more cost effective to do this offshore and I progressed into a design role. My key responsibility was designing developing and selling the in house label and working closely with the sales manager to fulfill production requirements for our clients.my key responsibilities includeTrend research and forcastingCompilation of mood boards and colour boardsDesign - youth including wovens, knits and stretch Design sheets and spec sheetsFabric prints - both repeat yardage prints and placement printsContacting buyers and agentsManaging youth label from initial conception through to contacting agentsPatternmaking and constructionOrganizing and coordinating photo shootsRepresenting the company at fashion trade shows

Intern

• Feb 2013 - Oct 2013

Unpacking clothes from buying trips and issuing style numbersAssisting with spec sheetsQuality controlCreating spread sheets for sales team and editing photos for sales pitchesEditing fabric artwork for clientsTaking photos for websiteOrganizing swatch and garment librariesAssisting with set up for salesPreparing packages for dispatch to clientsSeparating packs for dispatch to agentsChecking packs to ensure they are packed correctlyCataloging the arrival and approval/request for new samples for all styles on a weekly basisSearching the database for records on past and current styles to check/update statusChecking stick intake and comparing to orders to ensure order arrive in full

Freelance fashion designer

• Jan 2010 - Jun 2013

Freelance tutor

• Jan 2010 - Feb 2013

Ghost editor - Contract

• May 2013 - May 2013

Photo editing and creation of ghost mannequins for the new online website prior to its launchAssisting with customers in showroomAssisting with packing of goods for trade showsAssisting with garment preparation for photoshootProblem solving for garments which were difficult to photographAssisting with studio and lighting set up