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Merchandising and Design Director

Top Management

Polo Ralph Lauren American Living Collection

Freelance Men’s Outerwear and Denim Designer for the new American Living brand, reporting to the Design Director and managing an assistant.  Working in conjunction with concept design team, production team and merchandise team to initiate product design and new model development through to line adoption. Elemental in development and roll out of new PLM system.
Highlights:
• Designs personally selected as the official tour apparel of Rascal Flatts music band.
• Designs twice recognized by Ralph Lauren himself as being exceptional.

Edinger Apparel

Edinger Fall / Cruise 2015

Kenneth Cole Productions

CAD Designer for men's Sportswear Outerwear, Wovens and Suit Separates reporting to the Senior Designer. Focusing on Line Plans, Design and Artwork from concept to preproduction in outerwear, wovens, and suit separates. Assisting with new and unique style design, presentation artwork, color pitching artwork, detail sketch artwork, color palette manipulation and composition and balance of style for presentation.
Highlights:
• Enhanced and streamlined the seasonal style system for greater visibility and referencing speed across all archived and current designs.
• Standardized the design template for easy downstream manipulation and factory comprehension, as well as automation of input data for line sheet presentations and seasonal assortment.

Hanes Champion C9 Mens

Hanes Champion C9 Womens

Weatherproof Womens Outerwear

Piston Denim

Glovely Gloves

Dani Daniels Lingerie

Dani Daniels Wedding dress

SourceEasy

Leading the New York Design team in execution for creating and guiding the design and developmental vision of multiple clients across multiple and diverse product categories, while working cross functionally with the coding team in developing the foundational framework for proprietary ERP SAP Program. Hands on designing and creation of tech packages, line plans, while researching, reporting and presenting design packages with trend direction for successful product execution and production. Effective teamwork and communication with sales, marketing, and production executives, domestic and overseas vendors and factories, and key account managers for successful product development.
Highlights:
• Effectively managed the simultaneous design team work flow for 18+ brands.   
• Created and maintained the Works In Progress (WIPs) management system to track and adhere to delivery calendars, ensuring budget effectiveness.
• Ensure that appropriate decisions are made to align sourcing strategies with design integrity, timeline, quality, and financial objectives. 

Samsonite Collection for Hawke & Co

Chado Ralph Rucci Couture Collection

<p><p>Innovative professional with over 20 years of experience in design, merchandising, retail and consumer product development. Passionate about bringing ideas to life through transformative, breakthrough concepts, strategically driving brand culture, and creating a better world.</p></p>

Creative Director, Designer, Merchandiser, Sales Director and Owner of mens designer apparel and swimwear brand. Managing Creative Direction for design teams, production teams, marketing teams, for print and internet advertising, sales activities and other resources while overseeing international and domestic sourcing for domestic production and order fulfillment as well as initiating and managing all wholesale sales accounts. 
Highlights:
• Create and lead seasonal product launches from concept through production.
• Recognized for 2015 menswear collection at NYFW:Men’s inaugural presentation by Brazil GQ and La Palme Magazines.    
• Featured guest on American Fashion Pod Cast discussing hot emerging brands & Made in America fashion design.
Skills: Manufacturing Process Improvement · Finance · Presentation Skills · Sales Management · Branding & Identity · SAP ERP · Analytical Skills · Financial Planning · Marketing Strategy · SAP Materials Management (SAP MM) · Product Development · Customer Satisfaction · SAP Products · Social Media Marketing · Teamwork · Sales · Sales and Marketing · Problem Solving · Microsoft Office · Account Management · Financial Analysis · Demand Planning · Budgeting · Interpersonal Skills · Branding · Communication · Microsoft Excel · Design · Production Management · Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Founder, Merchandising, Design and Production Director

Consulting as branding and design & development strategist, working directly with the owner to define concepts and planning the collection line plan for innovative lingerie product story. Responsible for directing the design team in creating and executing the developmental vision that fulfills merchandising strategies, business objectives and customer expectations. Ensuring product aesthetic is consistent with brand image across the organization and aligned with target customers by delivering product that adheres to budget and organizational calendar.
Skills: Manufacturing Process Improvement · Presentation Skills · Branding & Identity · SAP ERP · Analytical Skills · Financial Planning · Marketing Strategy · SAP Materials Management (SAP MM) · Product Development · Customer Satisfaction · Social Media Marketing · Teamwork · Sales and Marketing · Problem Solving · Microsoft Office · Account Management · Demand Planning · Press Releases · Budgeting · Interpersonal Skills · Communication · Microsoft Excel · Design · Production Management · Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Brand Consultant for Design and Development

Class Description: Fashion Design: From Concept to Production (Westerly Campus) - Spring 2018 Semester.
Description:  
Creating an apparel collection, whether for a streetwear start-up or an activewear or sportswear brand, requires a method for communicating the design with factories and holding the information for each designed style in an easy-to-use, understandable format. This workshop guides the designer through the parts, steps and functions of using a working tech pack. Students will create their own tech pack to explore the logic and processes of fabric selection, trim selection, and brand collateral creation such as hangtags and main labels, and will learn how to input the specific data into a working tech pack for handoff to a factory for sample creation and production. We'll also explore the role of the tech pack in garment costing and projected piece consumption for purchasing and retail pricing. Mastery of the tech pack is essential in the work of designers and apparel production, making this course an ideal starting point.
This course was held at the Westerly Education Center.
Highlights:
• Created and taught “Fashion Design from Concept Through Production” for the continuing Education Department of Rhode Island School of Design.   
• Achieved in excess of 90th percentile on instructor / course evaluations. 
• Achieved highest enrollment turnout to date at the Westerly Campus.
Skills: Financial Planning · Product Development · Problem Solving · Branding · Microsoft Excel · Production Management

Adjunct Faculty Instructor / Single Class for Extended Learning Program

Menswear sales associate and merchandiser working with the Owner and Manager learning procedural and operational duties from the retail perspective. Responsible for daily sales and merchandising and planning of the denim wall, and also the creation and curation of the new online store, with all of its various categories and products. Daily direct communication with all of the vendors, restocking depleted inventory, planing out delivery schedules, and working with the vendors timeline and our budget to keep the store merchandise stocked and moving. Focusing on merchandising, buying, tracking, order processing, inventory management, sales goals, daily operations, brand management, customer relations, and vendor relations including trade shows, markets, and sales meetings.
Highlights:
• Assisted in seasonal style purchase during NYC Buyers market at PremierVision .
• Assist with inventory management for online drop sales.
• Recognized for highest sales volume to date.
• Creation and curation of product for the online store.
Skills: Vendor Communication · Retail Math · Merchandising · Sales Management · Branding & Identity · SAP ERP · Planning · Financial Planning · Buying · Customer Satisfaction · SAP Products · Social Media Marketing · Teamwork · Sales · Sales and Marketing · Problem Solving · Microsoft Office · Account Management · Financial Analysis · Demand Planning · Budgeting · Interpersonal Skills · Branding · Communication · Microsoft Excel · Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Menswear Sales / Merchandiser

Leading the New York Design team in execution for creating and guiding the design and developmental vision of multiple clients across multiple and diverse product categories, while working cross functionally with the coding team in developing the foundational framework for proprietary ERP SAP Program. Hands on designing and creation of tech packages, line plans, while researching, reporting and presenting design packages with trend direction for successful product execution and production. Effective teamwork and communication with sales, marketing, and production executives, domestic and overseas vendors and factories, and key account managers for successful product development.
Highlights:
• Effectively managed the simultaneous design team work flow for 18+ brands.   
• Created and maintained the Works In Progress (WIPs) management system to track and adhere to delivery calendars, ensuring budget effectiveness.
• Ensure that appropriate decisions are made to align sourcing strategies with design integrity, timeline, quality, and financial objectives. 
Skills: Manufacturing Process Improvement · SAP ERP · Analytical Skills · SAP Materials Management (SAP MM) · Product Development · SAP Products · Teamwork · Problem Solving · Microsoft Office · Account Management · Press Releases · Budgeting · Interpersonal Skills · Branding · Communication · Microsoft Excel · Production Management · Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Director of Design and Production

Directing the design & developmental vision for multiple clients across diverse product categories with hands on designing, presenting brand packages for successful product execution and production. Effective teamwork and communication with sales, marketing, and production executives, domestic and overseas vendors and factories, and key account managers for successful product development. 
Highlights:
• Received prestigious window display positioning and top of elevator placement for innovative technical puffer designs at Macy’s NYC Herald Square Store.
• Recognized as instrumental member of wholesale sales team and regularly traveled and participated in high level sales meetings.
Skills: Manufacturing Process Improvement · Presentation Skills · Branding & Identity · Analytical Skills · Marketing Strategy · Product Development · Customer Satisfaction · Teamwork · Sales and Marketing · Problem Solving · Microsoft Office · Press Releases · Budgeting · Branding · Communication · Microsoft Excel · Design · Production Management · Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Head of Design

CAD Designer for men's Sportswear Outerwear, Wovens and Suit Separates reporting to the Senior Designer. Focusing on Line Plans, Design and Artwork from concept to preproduction in outerwear, wovens, and suit separates. Assisting with new and unique style design, presentation artwork, color pitching artwork, detail sketch artwork, color palette manipulation and composition and balance of style for presentation.
Highlights:
• Enhanced and streamlined the seasonal style system for greater visibility and referencing speed across all archived and current designs.
• Standardized the design template for easy downstream manipulation and factory comprehension, as well as automation of input data for line sheet presentations and seasonal assortment.
Skills: Presentation Skills · Branding & Identity · Analytical Skills · Customer Satisfaction · Teamwork · Problem Solving · Microsoft Office · Press Releases · Branding · Communication · Microsoft Excel · Design

Apparel Designer / Cad Designer

• Freelance Men’s Outerwear and Denim Designer for the new American Living brand, reporting to the Design Director and managing an assistant.  Working in conjunction with concept design team, production team and merchandise team to initiate product design and new model development through to line adoption. Elemental in development and roll out of new PLM system.
• Freelance designer for new C9 Outdoor collection, reporting to the Sr. Outerwear Designer.  Responsible for creation and execution of Men’s, Women's, Boys and Girls outerwear collection.
• Freelance designer for Women’s Outerwear collection, reporting to the Executive Vice President of Merchandising, Women's Division.  Responsible for creation and execution of women's outerwear collection from conception and creative design through technical package to final hand off as well as the design and production for all artwork, branding and trims for women's line.
Highlights:
• Polo Ralph Lauren designs personally selected as the official tour apparel of Rascal Flatts music band.
• Polo Ralph Lauren designs twice recognized by Ralph Lauren himself as being exceptional.
• Weatherproof designs featured on the front cover of Outerwear Magazine.
• Extensive experience designing and building apparel collections while
reinvigorating existing collections and enhancing brand value.
• Proven track record of meeting objectives and achieving brand voice.
• Adaptable, solution-based problem solving and creativity with hands-on
design knowledge.

Freelance Outerwear Designer,

Men’s outerwear Associate Designer, reporting directly to the Design Director and the owner.  Focusing on Op license and active groups, as well as all graphics and artwork for men’s and boy’s collections with collaboration with boys, children and women’s design.
Highlights:
• Designs featured on the front cover of GQ Magazine
Skills: Presentation Skills · Branding & Identity · Product Development · Customer Satisfaction · Teamwork · Problem Solving · Microsoft Office · Branding · Communication · Microsoft Excel · Design

Associate Designer

2003 - 2004
Design Assistant reporting to the Men's Design Director, with a focus on design, production, detail sheets, sketching and follow through on multiple men's outerwear lines as well as assisting in women's.
Skills: Presentation Skills · Branding & Identity · Product Development · Customer Satisfaction · Teamwork · Problem Solving · Microsoft Office · Branding · Microsoft Excel · Design

Assistant Designer


Assisted with general duties in the design studio for the couture house of the first American couture designer to show in the Paris Couture Fashion shows since 1923.
Skills: Branding & Identity · Customer Satisfaction · Problem Solving · Branding · Design

Couture Design Assistant

Erik Nelson is a Merchandising and Design Director at DD Fashion LLC. in Costa Mesa, CA.

Erik Nelson

Erik Nelson

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