Rachel Erickson
Leading the Sustainability in Apparel Processes’ Movement · Unmarked Street
United States, CO
In My Own Words
82% of Fashion Businesses fail after just 2 years due to cash flow problems.
Why? 👇🏼
🚩 Lack of available information 🚩 Adding more products 🚩 Selling to too many people
So the question is: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙?
After spending 20 years in Corporate Apparel, I was welcomed into the “inner circle” and learned the secrets.
I was invited to sit at the executive tables, and the truth behind the biggest, BILLION-DOLLAR brands was exactly the opposite of what I thought it was:
✅ Remove products ✅ Have 1 target customer ✅ Build a perfect process
👋🏼 I’m a Technical Designer and Product Manager turned 🔀 Owner & CEO of a best in class consulting agency. I am now serving as your go-to online educator for all you need to know about the Fashion Industry, including:
▷ Leadership in apparel development ▷ SKU Rationalization processes ▷ Executive-level line plan management ▷ Process and timeline building & 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦!
You’ll learn tons of helpful info from my free content.
But if you’re eager to fast-track your success… and GET RESULTS by kick-starting your business growth…
⬇️ NEEDLE-MOVING RESOURCES + SUPPORT ⬇️
🏆 THE BUSINESS OF APPAREL ONLINE COURSE ⇨ Learn proven strategies to set up your brand’s standards, line plan like a pro, and perform executive processes that only the best companies in our industry perform every year.
⚡️ LIVE WEEKLY OFFICE HOURS ⇨ Join Rachel for 1-hour every week to get accountability-driven support, strategic advice, and a supportive coach to advance your business at max speed.
💎 EXECUTIVE-LEVEL SUPPORT *WE JOIN YOUR TEAM and do the work FOR YOU* ⇨ Imagine NEVER having to answer another vendor email, run another fitting, update another tech pack or update your line sheet ever again. We can cover any (or ALL) of the following departments for your brand:
👚 Design 👚 Development 👚 Technical Design 👚 Product Management 👚 Project Management 👚 Business Leadership
🪩 BRAND AUDITS ⇨ Get your 5-year Business Plan on paper ⇨ Review the last 3-years of your business ⇨ Use your review of the past to catapult your business into the future
🪩 CREATE YOUR OWN SERVICES PACKAGE ⇨ Hire us to do a few tasks from time to time:
👚 Professional Tech Packs 👚 Prototype Fit Sessions 👚 Body Size Charts 👚 Grade Rule Charts 👚 So much more!!
Grab my 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 10-in-1 Download for Garment Fitting Mastery 💫 🚀⤵ thebusinessofapparel.com/ten
Scroll up to my featured section 👆🏼 to apply for open client slots, grab our free resources and more!
Work Experience
Owner
Unmarked Street2021 – Present
After spending twenty years in the corporate apparel world, I started Unmarked Street as a way to offer my varied talents and experiences to smaller brands who need seasoned professionals on their teams. Serving a dozen clients since starting Unmarked Street, my team and I have been able to turn businesses around from struggling to thriving.
With proper timelines, processes and development techniques now embedded within their companies, they get to focus on growth and future plans. We take all of the daily work off of their plate, ensuring that their products are manufactured at the highest possible quality.
We continue to reach out to brands who might need our help, and continuously have a list of amazing developers, technical designers and production managers ready to take on more work.
Senior Product Manager of Inline and Custom Apparel
Specialized Bicycle Components2020 – 2021
Overseeing the entire Apparel Product Line across all categories, including Lifestyle Apparel and Road, Trail, Gravity, Adventure and Gravel Cycling Apparel. Owning all line planning, revenue planning, product briefs, and line strategy to ensure that our multiple Apparel platforms and sales channels are aligned in putting the right products in our riders' hands. We strive to make the best Cycling Apparel in the world, and continuously work toward making technical Apparel that truly gives our rider a benefit in comfort and performance on every ride.
Apparel Project/Product Manager
Specialized Bicycle Components2019 – 2020
Product Manager for Road, MTB and Lifestyle Apparel lines. Working closely with Supply Chain, Marketing, Merchandising, Design, Development and Executive Teams to execute apparel that follows the brand direction. Also continue to have involvement with Vendor partners over-seas, relaying business forecasts and timelines to all teams involved. As Project Manager for the team, I am creating timelines, schedules and process plans for all seasons and Collections for Apparel, Gloves, Bags and Accessories.
PMP Certification acquired in February, 2020.
Apparel Development Manager
Specialized Bicycle Components2017 – 2019
Head of the Apparel Development Department, managing all members of the Development and Prototyping team. Responsible for driving all apparel product to be delivered on time, while also reaching all margin goals.
Apparel Technical Design Manager
Specialized Bicycle Components2016 – 2017
Head of Specialized Apparel Technical Design Department and Prototyping Lab. Responsible for all fit and pattern engineering for the apparel line across both genders and all categories. Manage our Prototype Developer workload and priorities for prototyping and mock-up creation for all styles as well.
Product Developer II
Pearl Izumi2014 – 2016
Product Developer for men’s cycling jerseys, all genders run tops and mountain bike jerseys from Spring 2016 to Spring 2018 seasons. Mentor other team members on women’s cycling jerseys, run bottoms and mountain bike bottoms for the same seasons. Main focus has been on improving the fit and feel of our men’s cycling jerseys while our rider is on the bike. Along with key team members, developed newer standards and techniques for the company to follow while fitting cycling jerseys, and eventually helped to create similar standards for women’s jerseys. Started all tech pack work in Yunique PLM system in 2014. Then worked with the team to transition into Centric for all information throughout the year of 2015. Work closely with design and merchandising team to create product that helps our company meet material MOQs, advance our design language and create an ideal experience for our consumer. Also manage all costing for managed styles, working toward set margin goals and negotiating in detail with each factory.
Technical Designer / Product Developer
Miller International Inc.2012 – 2014
Technical designer and product coordinator for Cruel and Southern Thread western-wear brands. Initially negotiated costs, and worked with managers to determine the best placement for each style. Built full tech packs in Gallery Web, developing spec sheets and construction details for each style. Saw each style through to production with multiple fit stages, working with vendors to correct and improve the garments at each stage. Also worked on the denim product category by assisting with fittings, patterns and tech packs. Helped to grow the Cruel Athletic-wear category by developing block fits, patterns and specs. Trained new product coordinators and technical design assistants as the team grew.
Technical Designer
Fossil, Inc.2010 – 2012
Apparel Technical Designer, responsible for managing the workload and daily priorities for both Men’s and Women’s product lines. Worked with new freelancers and interns, training them in their roles to help the technical team. Delegated work amongst a small, rotating team to continue to meet deadlines for each season. Had a big focus on improving the denim product line for Fossil Apparel stores, ensuring that all denim fits are comfortable, while also looking modern and flattering. Drafted patterns from scratch, employing various fit techniques to develop a unique fit for our customers. Worked through the fit process in mock-up form and ultimately with vendor fit samples.
Technical Designer
Abercrombie & Fitch2007 – 2010
Technical Designer, responsible for the technical development of Women’s Outerwear within the Abercrombie & Fitch core brand, from Fall 2008 season to Spring 2011 season. Worked on pattern blocks and corrections by hand as well as on Gerber Accumark computer system. Updated tech packs in Web PDM while revising sketches in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Prepped all fit samples by reviewing garment construction and measuring all details and garment specs. Built tech packs from hand drawn sketches received from Design team members, often creating a pattern block for each initial tech pack.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Design
University of Cincinnati2002 – 2007
College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP)
Degree included 18 months of internship experience: 6 months as a Graphics Developer at Briefly Stated, Inc. in New York City; 6 months in the Disney Cruise Line Merchandising Department in Orlando, Florida; 6 months as a Technical Design Assistant and Design Assistant at Abercromie & Fitch in Columbus, Ohio.
