Ijeoma Okenwa

Apparel & Technical Design Consultant

Los Angeles | United States

Skills

No information

Interests

No information

Industries

Creative Agencies

Fashion

Lifestyle

Music

Run

Skate

View all

Home Summary Activity Projects Work experience Education history Connections Companies

In my own words

— Ijeoma

Nde-ewo! > Welcome!

Apparel design is more than a job to me. It is a lifestyle and an expression. Fashion will never end, it will never falter and it will continually produce a need for groundbreaking designs that inspire greatness.

Ijeoma O! > Safe Journey!

Trajectory

Oct 2012 — Now

Apparel & Technical Design Consultant · Ijeoma O! Designs

• Partners with firms on diversity campaigns to further identify and engage underrepresented consumers in the apparel market. • Composes vegan streetwear projects for clients using multiple resources including social + market research & trend analysis. • Utilizes 2D technical sketches showcasing CAD illustrations, color ways, and concept boards following clients inspiration. • Manages projects in Illustrator & Excel while working closely with Project Managers & Design. • Creates, updates, and maintains tech packs, BOMs, product specifications and measures all production fit samples. • Actively communicates design fit adjustments in fit sessions and revises production tech packs. • Designed, constructed & patterned custom made-to-order pieces & repaired Gore-Tex® and Poly-Carbon garments. • Clients: The S-Group, JLD-Studios, MSR-FSR, and Custom Design Partners for made-to-order pieces. • Fun Fact: Designed for the NFL, Collegiate teams, and various Private Label brands.

Jul 2019 — Jul 2019

Toy Designer · Petco

• Assisted in product development at all stages under guidance of Senior Toy Designer/Design Manager for Marvel Comic categories. • Provided support to Sr Toy Designer/Director during design driven meetings. • Adhered to seasonal timeline calendar to meet deliverables.

Jan 2018 — Sep 2018

Urban Apparel Designer · Columbia Sportswear

• Developed & nurtured meaningful, long-lasting relationships with key opinion leaders to obtain feedback and development guidance. • Designed & developed 1,760 garments shipped globally to 4 continents through the Apparel Product Development cycle. • Urban Designer for Columbia Sportswear x Opening Ceremony Collaboration Projects & Men’s Outerwear Eco Projects. • Managed projects in Adobe Illustrator while working closely with Merchandisers, Product Engineers, Fit Engineers, and Technical Designers. • Created innovative concepts & collaborated with technical designers & fit engineers to ensure garments were executed correctly.

Nov 2014 — Sep 2018

Material Researcher · Columbia Sportswear

• Oversaw 1000+ Print & Yarn-Dye developments for all Performance, Lifestyle Sportswear, and Accessories categories. • Traveled abroad to learn, build relationships, and ensure delivery of materials with liaisons & factories. • Inspired cross functional partners with season-less material visions. • Fun Fact: Flown to Asia in October 2017 to source materials for all categories @ Intertextiles & gain factory knowledge.

Mar 2012 — Apr 2012

Backstage Manager | Apparel Designer · Youth Junk 2 Fashion Funk

• http://youthjunkfashionfunk.wix.com/home#!featured-designers • Managed, trained & choreographed 25 youth models, 15 youth dressers, and 22 designers for a fundraising event for homeless youth. • Designed fabric manipulated vegan garments inspired by Nigerian Hip-Hop & one Roxy Athletix piece. • Techniques used: heat-manipulated fabric graphics, screen prints, hand painting, and appliqués.

Oct 2011 — Dec 2011

Surface Design Intern · Spoogi

• Conceptualized a surf-wear project for Quiksilver/Roxy, SWELL, PacSun, Matix, Volcom & Billabong • Executed & created various graphics, stencils, appliqués, dyes, and various textile printing styles • Fun Fact: My uncanny eye for detail and heat-manipulated textiles design landed me this role

May 2006 — Nov 2007

Assistant Manager · Vitamin World

• Trained, motivated, and oversaw new employees • Operated the register, outlined daily goals and filed and mailed paperwork • Opened/closed store and recorded the previous day’s sales