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About
Award-winning Apparel + Soft Goods Product Designer with 13 years industry experience. Foundations built working for a high-end tailor, mastering a discerning eye for quality and perfection. Extensive experience in factory communication and working with overseas factories on site. Has overseen thousand's of projects creating a well-rounded knowledge of product design, development and production.
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Education
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BFA Fine Arts StudioMinneapolis College of Art and Design2003 - 2007Printmaking, Photography and Sculpture
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AAS Apparel Design & ServicesMinneapolis Community and Technical College2001 - 2003
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Experience
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Development & Production ManagerNew York City, NYJun 2014 - Apr 2016 (1 year 10 months)Worked directly under CEO & VP/Creative Director simultaneously managing all projects within design, development and production.
• Generated a history of flawless, on-time launches including maintaining a perfect record of “pass” product test results for Walmart Canada’s Direct Import Program through identifying internal strategies and closely working with overseas teams to streamline the process.
• Led ideation and design of products and presentations with a high success rate of purchase orders due ability to hit price points & buyer/customer needs.
• Traveled overseas 3x/year to maintain vendor relationships, review prototypes and monitor production including halting production in order to maintain a high standard of quality. -
Creative DirectorMinneapolis, MNMay 2003 - Feb 2015 (11 years 9 months)Brand visionary; initiated market and trend research as well as concept and development of multiple womenswear collections per year.
• Recipient of over a dozen awards including pieces purchased for permanent collections at the Goldstein Museum of Design and Minnesota History Center.
• Guest lecturer and taught workshops for over a dozen events including a 900 guest artwear workshop at the Walker Art Center. -
Freelance Accessories Designer/Technical DesignerMinneapolis, MNApr 2014 - Jul 2014 (3 months)• Conducted market and trend research and designed a new collection of sun-protective hats.
• Re-developed and improved fit, style and colorways for their existing collection of hats. -
Development Department ManagerSaint Paul, MNOct 2013 - Jun 2014 (8 months)Promoted to manage 6 member development team. Initiated weekly department meetings and provided monthly performance evaluations for upper management review.
• Supported company growth of 100% per year through recognizing strategic issues concerning organization and environment to maximize efficiency.
• Reduced production quality mistakes through hosting informative hand offs between Development & Production departments identifying potential production issues. -
Apparel & Product Designer/Technical DesignerSaint Paul, MNSep 2010 - Jun 2014 (3 years 9 months)Design/technical design of hundreds of apparel/soft line product.
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Prototype ManagerSaint Paul, MNSep 2012 - Sep 2013 (1 year)Promoted to manage transition of product from development to production departments including management of all prototype activity & quality.
• Developed protocols and best practice methods for sample cutting, sewing, overall quality, tech packs, sample photography, sample ling and shipping.
• Created a full service client experience by communicating progress updates through entire development cycle and delivery of consistent, quality product. -
Apparel Development Project ManagerSaint Paul, MNSep 2010 - Aug 2012 (1 year 11 months)Managed and facilitated all aspects of a project from client communication and project quoting to product development and prototyping.
• Responsible for 35% of clients with a high success rate of customer satisfaction/sales due to concise communication and education of the process including construction consulting and finding solutions for product to stay within cost. -
Assistant TailorStevie Custom TailoringMinneapolis, MNSep 2003 - Aug 2010 (6 years 11 months)• Assisted Master Tailor with machine and hand sewing of high-end bespoke, big and tall men’s suits. Long time clients include Kevin Garnett (NBA) and music producer Jimmy Jam Harris.
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Awards
2015
• MN Fashion Awards Semi-Finalist “Best Designer”
2014
• MN Fashion Awards Finalist “Best Designer”
• Named one of Vita.MN’s “Top 9 Local Fashion Designers”
2013
• Apparel Magazine Top Innovator Award for employer Clothier Design Source
2012
• Stitches Magazine “Design of the Year: Artistic, Fashion,”
• Stitches Magazine “Design of the Year: Technical, Fashion”
• Stitches Magazine “Stitches Editor’s Pick”
2011
• Named one of City Pages “100 Creatives”
2010 + 2011
• Vita.MN “Voted #1 Local Fashion Designer”
2009
• Scion’s Fashion Feud - Grand Prize Winner
• ArtBistro Couture Challenge - National Finalist
• L’etoile Magazine’s Best of 2009 list for Suffocate S/S 2009; Best Solo Show
2008
• Minnesota Historical Society - Purchase Award of Excellence
• Voltage Fashion Amplified - Voted “Crowd Favorite”
2007
• Niche Student Awards - Artwear National Finalist
2005
• Wearable Art Midwest - Artwear Devotee Award
• Goldstein Museum of Design - Collector’s Purchase Award
2004
• Minnesota Historical Society - Purchase Award of Excellence
2003-2007
• Friends of MCAD Portfolio Scholarship -
Affiliations
Textile Center Minnesota;
ASDP- Association of Sewing and Design Professionals -
Skills
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot@laurafulk, member since 2016
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Following 2
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