MacKenzie Blue Tapia

Designed and launched the new 1901 "preppy" women's brand 1901. Succeeded in developing fun, blogger-worthy styles on a tight timeline and with a tiny team. Built the brand DNA alongside the Design Director from the ground up, with a focus on classic silhouettes with a quirky twist, and eye catching yarn dyes and prints.

Designed for NPG's largest brand, Halogen. Designed wovens and knits with a focus on more modern, feminine product for "desk to drink" looks. Successfully developed the Holiday line, playing up velvet, shine, and fun seasonal pieces. Established new, trend driven bodies for woven tops, and initiated fresh ideas and fabrications for tweed capsules.

Wovens and knits designer for Encore brands with a focus on wovens. Oversees research and design development of all wovens categories including jackets, tops, bottoms, and dresses, reporting directly to Design Director. Drives fabric and silhouette choices, and works closely with Product Developer and Technical Designer to ensure great execution and fit.

Researched, designed, and detailed entire Topline line in collaboration with design director, executing seasonal vision in accordance with company trend forecasting. Oversaw spec completion and took part in various trips overseas to survey the making of prototype and sales samples. The Topline line is the main line which all private label customers buy from (Express, Forever 21, Lane Bryant, Aeropostale, Belks, Ross, DSW, Payless, etc), and while pushing the line to be more trend driven and elevated, enabled the Topline division to take on higher end customers such as Cole Haan, NPG, and Bass. Managed small team of designers and sketchers to complete customer requests and tight deadlines. Collaborated closely with the NPG Footwear team to design and launch the Tildon footwear line, to great success.

Focused on working with specific customers Pacific Sunwear, Tom's, and the beach category. Learned first-hand the particulars of women's footwear, from sketching to detailing, constructions, correcting prototypes, and using relevant materials. Was promoted to lead designer on the PacSun account and effectively built their footwear line.

Chosen as part of a small team to launch the Sejour plus size brand. Responsible for researching and developing, organizing, and maintaining all fabric, color, and artwork for all categories. Assisted in sketching, designing, and handing off the line for each season, with a focus on wovens and knits. Other titles held: Print Technician, Colorist, and Fabric Coordinator Responsible for assisting all POV women's better design teams including Semantiks, Halogen, and Caslon in various aspects of product development, while working closely with the vendors and manufacturers. Supervised development, colorways, and execution of artworks for Studio, Narrative, and Encore brands.

Prepared all print and fabric swatches for sales and display, assisted in print research and sourcing, acted as sales representative to various NY area designers, produced displays and fabric boards for print shows, and helped with general office assistance.

Completed projects for the design and production teams including color matching and dying fabrics, fabric sourcing, pattern drafting and cutting, delivering and retrieving fabrics and samples, organizing seasonal swatch libraries, and sewing.