Christa Baker
Work experience

Levi Strauss & Company
Senior Women’s Tops Designer | 10/2021 - 02/2022
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Owned seasonal projects with a focus on Women’s knits, wovens, athleisure, sweatshirts, and sweater categories.
• Partnered with Design and executive leadership teams to build and develop a seasonal collection that best reflects brand language, market needs, achieved company direction and hit calendar deadlines.
• Prepared sketches and tech specifications for review with cross functional Teams.
• Utilized thorough understanding of garment construction to achieve desired design intent and fit direction.
• Successful execution of sketch updates, garment fit revisions, and organization of complete product adjustment details for seamless transfer to production manager during the sketch review and sampling stage.
• Managed uploading images to Bluescape and maintaining virtual sketch boards.
• Specialized in data systems (Flex PLM and Citrix) and processes.
• Utilized strong sketching abilities in Illustrator/Photoshop to ensure a cohesive line, technical accuracy, as well as brand aesthetic and style.
Royal Robbins
Men's Apparel and Textiles Designer | 03/2017 - 02/2020
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Responsible for original designs of woven/knit tops, bottoms, and outerwear that meet brief and margin requirements.
• Team with cross category partners to ensure a cohesive line and distinctive brand language.
• Continual research of seasonal trends in activity, silhouette, color, print, fabric and trims.
• Responsible for creation and management of accurate and detailed tech packs for knit and woven tops and bottoms and outerwear.
• Partner with technical fit team to determine and maintain fit direction for all new designs, ensuring they are market and trend relevant while still fully functional for performance.
• Attend fittings and actively participate with tech design team to ensure product execution matches design intent and quality standards.
• Manage selection of fabrics for outerwear and wovens in partnership with materials team.
• Design seasonal trims and provide detailed tech packs to trim developer for their
production.
• Collaborate with and provide creative direction to art team when there are trim art or graphics needs. Review trim submits for accuracy.
• Collaborate with creative team members on building seasonal color pallets.
• Create original textile designs, graphics and original print-ready artwork. Provide direction to print and textile suppliers as needed.
• Choose layouts and create pitches and color ways for all yarn-dye patterns.
• Collaborated with Lead Merchant to coordinate seasonal color palettes, print artwork, fabric silhouettes, outfit coordination and presentation boards.
Robert Talbott
Men's Apparel, Accessories and Textiles Sr. Designer | 07/2013 - 01/2017
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Design and develop luxury men’s apparel, textiles and accessories. This includes heritage menswear, neckwear, hosiery, men’s jewelry, small leather goods, and various furnishings.
• Technical understanding of textile coloration and weaving techniques/limitations, including fibers, yarns, dyeing, finishing, and coating.
• Apprenticed with technicians and colorists at top weaving/printing mills in Italy and the UK to master art of various types of traditional yarn dye weaving and printing techniques.
• Able to create the original graphic artwork in correct print-ready format.
• Utilize colorist skills to create various fabrications to achieve maximum color saturation that coordinates with seasonal color pallets.
• Prepare and present seasonal inspiration and collections to sales teams and key customers such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and celebrity clientele.
• Collaborate with textile mills and suppliers to create new products for global and regional markets.
• Serve as overseas production manager and liaison for negotiating pricing.
GOORIN BROS
Accessories Designer/Manager | 12/2010 - 01/2013
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Designed and developed headwear and various accessories lines for production.
• Expertly managed workloads, seasonal calendar, and budget while meeting strict
deadlines.
• Upheld quality standards by giving concise project direction to the production team.
• Utilized construction, fit evaluation, sewing, pattern making, and CAD skills in design
development.
• Responsible for launching and managing customizable accessories collection and shop.
Achievements:
• Designed and produced accessories lines while successfully launching and managing
company’s first custom accessories shop.
• Created first the collection of hand-made accessories featured by the company.
• Consistently exceeded projected revenues for product lines within the first month of debut.
Nordstrom
Retail Sales Men’s Furnishings & Sportswear | 12/2008 - 05/2010
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Successfully manage daily account growth, clientele correspondence and productivity.
• Successfully exceeded seasonal and annual sales projections.
Achievements:
• Exceeded sales goals in a declining market by utilizing creative skills and innovative marketing techniques.
• Ranked first in the region for overall sales and 20% revenue increase.
JLA Home / E&E Co. Ltd.
Designer/Account Manager | 08/2006 - 02/2008
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Managed the development process of diverse product lines competitive to current market trends.
• Created fresh and innovative design concepts and color/fabric direction for seasonal collections.
• Conducted extensive trend research, line direction, and textile/print development.
• Traveled overseas to manage line production, conduct project presentations and prepare showrooms for market week.
• Coordinated interaction between buyers, overseas production teams, sales teams and
merchandising departments.
• Received recognition for excellent team leadership and communication skills.
Achievements:
• Account Executive for Walmart - Led domestic/overseas teams to design and produce product lines.
• Created a soft goods line that was featured under Vera Wang label for Kohls.
• Designed soft goods product lines for a successful show for NYC Market Week for SS’08.
JERRY LEIGH OF CALIFORNIA
Associate Designer | 03/2004 - 08/2006
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Designed and developed activewear apparel lines for production.
• Responsible for collaborating with brand licensing clients to create vision, illustrate designs, and manage garment production while consistently meeting rigorous deadlines.
• Acquired extensive knowledge in production parameters, both domestic and import.
• Successfully developed original designs from concept to finished product including conducting fittings, sourcing materials, and creating technical design specs and BOMs for each garment.
Achievements:
• Commissioned to develop personal lines for various celebrity accounts such as will.i.am. from the Black Eyed Peas for i.am.clothing, Gwen Stefani for Harajuku Lovers, and Josie Natori for Natori.
• Designed and developed a successful activewear line picked up by Target as one of the highest unit/volume orders for Jerry Leigh Entertainment Apparel.
