Afua McKinney

JC Penney's Foundry brand and Sam's Club Marker's Row - Boy's polos * Conduct market and competitor research for targets, and new and emerging trends help forecast new garment design trends, and categorize demands from potential customers * Arrange fabrics, color standards, trims, hangtags and retail samples packaged for artwork execution and garment construction in print and graphics proto sampling * Manage communications with overseas vendors including ongoing production, fabrication * Update trim, pattern design approvals, and fabric and color approvals to keep timelines and meet deadlines from client

MERCHANDISING GROUP Assistant Designer * Successfully created catalogues, line sheets, brand right designs that were featured and used as part of Macy's Greg Norman and Tasso Elba brands in Macy's stores * Generated concepts and made image recommendations for mood boards detailing color standards, patterns, fabrics, and trims on CAD, and arranged riggings for merchandisers, concept meetings and trend presentations * Conducted market research for new trends, seasonal influences and directions, themes, silhouettes, and techniques made recommendations on fabrications of yarn/denim (y/d) knits, color, stripe and argyle patterns for knit and woven attire * Organized and coordinated showrooms for buyer review assisted in designing, hanging and dressing mannequins in seasonal samples for VP merchandiser showcase * Worked closely with designers to design and prepare artwork and tech packs for seasonal collection, and knit and woven styles * Provided recommendations vendor first sample proto submissions and handlooms Afua McKinney afuamckinneycooper@gmail.com 347-243-1835

* Designed original styles and garments that were showcased and featured in 2008 Brooklyn Fashion Show * Led research, creation and image selection for mood boards, specs, and presentations for Krow Hill's men's line, and compiled concepts, colors, and fabrics on CAD and board presentations * Recommended fabrics, construction techniques and materials to meet design and market standards * Deconstructed mens' and womens' garments to identify construction issues, test garments fabric quality, create garment care labels and ensure garments meet design intent standards * Styled models and arranged women's line showroom and photoshoot to promote boutique * Monitored and maintained online inventory of available merchandise and discontinued styles * Researched and built relationships with new and potential clientele, and helped devise strategies to forecast for upcoming seasons and increase sales * Arranged on-floor merchandise throughout boutique, and resolved customer issues * Maintained thriving relationship with and provided SKU plan, color, and graphic concept design support to senior designer and CEO

* Hand sketched rough and detailed drawings of apparel and accessories, and wrote color scheme, construction, material specifications for each illustration * Assisted senior and technical designers to ensure proper construction and fit of designed garments, and cut and measured patterns for floor display * Attended New York and San Francisco merchandisers meetings to review colors, styles and fittings for seasonal sample designs * Created and organized line sheets, mood boards, fabric cards, and trims, and created CAD illustrations of men's woven tops & outerwear, and worked with denim wash technician to create outerwear technical finish, and assign resins and colors to seasonal silhouettes * Maintained PLM systems of product loggings, specs and manage schedules and status updates reviewed and monitored bills and materials' invoices * Assisted senior VP with concept and design of special edition styles including "RED" and "1969" denim and outerwear campaigns researched trims including shanks, rivets, stitch techniques for 1969, and researched design concepts, helped develop color-ways, graphic placement, and promotional styles for RED

* Help manage full garment production life-cycle including research, design, garment construction, prototype stage, and garment costing for private label menswear apparel * Obtain and manage costing strategies by building relationships and collaborating with alliance partners and high-net worth clients PGA, Bass Pro, Modells update and maintain all PLM systems and internal databases for clients * Recommend fabrics, patterns and construction techniques in design meetings * Develop and create CAD line sheets and style boards using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to showcase colors, pattern and full product illustrations for in-house labels, client and buyers including Asics, Avia, and Prince active wear * Conduct market and competitor research for targets, and new and emerging trends help forecast new garment design trends, and categorize demands from potential customers * Arrange riggings and samples for meetings, trend presentations and showrooms * Review materials, prototypes and samples from overseas vendors to test, and ensure quality assurance and garment construction standards * Arrange fabrics, color standards, trims, hangtags and retail samples packaged for artwork Afua McKinney afuamckinneycooper@gmail.com 347-243-1835

* Collaborated with designers, Product Line Managers, and Supply Chain to track garment materials, and ensure denim and knit products were delivered on schedule * Presented design ideas to senior designers * Designed private label woven & denim trousers and bottom * Created strong, collaborative relationships, and managed daily email and phone communication with overseas vendors to manage production schedules and quality control * Designed and arranged tech packs, line sheets, merchandising catalogues, and style boards to help market garments to potential buyers * Developed and created fabric and color patterns options on CAD * Used Adobe Illustrator CS5 to help conceptualize design illustrations * Addressed and resolved client issues concerning materials, construction, fit and cost * Reviewed samples for garment quality and ideal fit

* Manage full garment production life-cycle including research, design, garment construction, prototype stage, and garment costing for boy's activewear apparel * Develop and create CAD line sheets and style boards using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to showcase colors, pattern and full product illustrations, recommend fabrics, construction techniques in design meetings by building relationships and collaborating with alliance partners and high-net worth clients