* Transferred to FIDM
Relevant Coursework:
	- Textile and Fabric Science		- Industry Print Making
	- Honors Art History			- Advanced Art

Fashion

Lifestyle

Outdoor

Streetwear

Fashion design

Travel

New technology

Product development

Technical design

Making jewelry

Motorcycles

Design - Apparel

Sr. Manager Pre-Pro & Product Development

Engineering & Production

At 2253 Apparel, Inc., my role as the Sr Manager of Pre-Production & Production Development combines a wonder for fashion with a commitment to efficiency and quality. Having advanced the manufacturing process, I've established a track record in garment construction and process improvement. With a solid foundation in product development, my expertise extends to crafting detailed tech packs and managing cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and seamless production.

My approach is rooted in innovation, utilizing tools like Adobe Illustrator, administrator for our company's PLM maintenance and inclusion, while maintaining rigorous communication with overseas factories. The introduction of a development WIP template underlines my dedication to process optimization, supporting the company's mission to deliver fashion that is not only stylish but also meticulously crafted. Our team’s collaborative efforts have been pivotal in maintaining a consistent and quality-driven product pipeline, poised to meet the evolving demands of the fashion industry.

-Create & maintain company T&A calendar
-Establish SOPs for development to production hand-off 
-Train global office on all HQ office processes (Wuxi, China) team in person
-Collaborate with department heads to align teams to ensure that everyone is clear with their itinerary and procedures.
-Administrator and point contact for Lectra PLM for all divisions for contract, troubleshooting, & usability.
-Coordinate cross-functional meetings to ensure departments deadlines are understandable and feasible
-Establish guides and templates for company garment construction standards
-Identify cost reduction of styles before production through construction, fabric, and other factors based off experience and research of new industry capabilities
-Daily communication through multiple platforms with overseas vendors for style follow-up and tracking
- Manage the development WIP through Time Reaction as well as work with its developers when troubleshooting is needed
-Attend and participate in style hand-off meetings

Senior Manager Pre-Production and Production Development

- Trained the global office, located in Wuxi, China, in person for all processes being used in the HQ office.
- Created & maintains the company T&A calendar
- Strategize and execute processes with the VP of Production, Design Directors, and VP of Merchanding to align the design team, production team, technical design team, sourcing, and overseas China team on the same itinerary.
- Daily communication with overseas factories and correspondents
- Create and submit development sample requests in full detail to vendors
- Utilize Adobe Illustrator to illustrate technical sketches that are used in both line sheets as well as construction references.
- Introduced a development WIP template that is used daily on the team to both track samples, as well as sent to vendors for initial costing.
- Advanced progression of sample tracking & factory communication into a new application platform previously only used by the production team for the development / design teams
- Manage internal & vendor access, troubleshooting and admin duties for Yunqiue PLM for entire company
- Submit and update initial cost request from factories on all development
- Source new fabrications and trims needed for each of the multiple lines
- Oversea and organize a development timeline for all department categories that is aligned w/ the company T&A
- Work with sales to make sure that all trends and new silhouettes are put into work in a cost-efficient manner appropriate to each client
- BrowZwear utilization of their program Vstitcher to create 3D CAD renders of our line.
- Manage the pre-production department associates, workflow, and deadline achievements.

Dev. Technical Design & PD Manager

Occasional freelance technical design from sketches,  CADs,  and complete tech packs offering full measurements and other important information required to execute a style via the designer / director's vision.

Freelance Technical Designer

- Specializing in developing product for every meeting for Target (Wild Fable, Cat & Jack, Art Class, and Ava & Viv), JOLT bottoms misc. categories, and JCPENNEY (Rewind).
- Create and submit sample requests to vendors based off full tech packs put together in great detail
- Sketch both technical and design CADs for use across the board for clear construction details and aesthetic.
- Maintain steady communication with overseas factories on a daily basis via email and WeChat.
- Setup FileMaker for the entire JOLT bottoms team / Target bottoms working closely with the IT & infrastructure management teams.
- Upkeep a database inventory within the FileMaker software housing style specifications, WIPs, costing, etc.
- Hold weekly touch bases with the team to help facilitate workloads and schedules where needed.
- Create production design packs that are then submitted to the production team as a tool to communicate with our factories to correctly execute styles.
- Create the initial costing tech packs and submitting them while working with factories to ensure targeted IMUs are hit.
- CAD line plans and road maps for presentations to clients
- Research and put together detailed fit analysis packets for each season including new fits and bodies to look for in upcoming seasons while maintaining target costing.
- Track and upkeep a development WIP for all denim styles and customers under the bottoms umbrella.
- Attend, lead, and / or assist with fittings from development to production.
- Train and work with new and current team members on processes and strategy for better success.
- Work with senior designer and fit models for each category to create new blocks for each season.
- Stay up to date on new construction and fabrication trends and techniques.
- Work with the factories to implement new and sustainable technology and finishes for development.
- Update and communicate w/ Target teams for all divisions via Spark and Concept Board

Product Developer & Pre-Production Associate

- Maintains and updates current developmental specs, BOMs, and sketches in Web PLM.
- Keeps an updated block pattern and specs for all divisions
- Develop and works with product from developmental stage to TOP.
- Work closely with the Designers and Merchandisers to ensure desired aesthetics / fit are acquired
- Guide / train technical designers with problem solving and appropriate strategy for action
- In charge of checking in and out samples and maintaining an accurate log of location / whereabouts
- Work with the production team for multiple departments to better the fit of samples
- Ensure that in fittings that helpful suggestions are being implemented in submits
- Grade styles for sampling in accordance with grade rules as needed
- Work with multiple oversea and local factories to push out different lines for different clients
- Upkeep sketches for each style so that it is production ready (i.e., stitch / seam terminology & codes)
- In charge of imputing styles in the database that is used for tagging every style
- Organized / developed the line sheet and made sure everyone on the team had an updated version
- Assists the Designer with following up with design/cut sheets that were being developed in-house
- Attend weekly production meetings and conference calls with our China design team to ensure timelines and KIRs are up to date and correct.

Senior Technical Designer

- Create tech packs for production styles
- Grade specs in accordance to client specifications
- Conduct fittings with the Designer / Merchandising Director / Patternmaker / Product Managers / VP of Design
- Keep and updated WIP report of current samples in the works
- Communicate updates and fit comments to factories
- Accurately spec every garment that arrives from development through production
- Revise technical sketches as needed
- Maintain an up to date block library for reference of previous styles for new bodies and re-orders

Technical Designer

- Work with different departments to maintain specific fit for each account, category, and size scale (missy, junior plus size, missy plus size, juniors, contemporary, and kids)
- Maintain accurate measurement, sket h, sewing instructions, and BOM for each garment.
-Create accurate tech packs according to account/designer direction
- Efficiently spec garments and compare to block standards and production standards
- Communicate with overseas factories & US factories in regards to fit comments and revisions made in fittings
- Work closely with different designers/merchandisers to execute the aesthetics desired
- Sketch/update detailed technical flats / CADs
- Maintain a block library according to new fit requirements per department and account
- Suggest more cost efficient techniques for sewing and construction
- Work with the production team in execution of styles going into the production/order level
-Update the fabric log as needed with acquired fabric information from FDS sheets from the fabric mills
- Circulate and update everyone with ETA sample dates from multple factories for development styles and provide meeting dates

- Managed the technical/liaison team to ensure advancement and productivity
- Assisted digitizing garments and patterns into the PAD system for the 1st pattern makers
- Attended fittings and offer corrections with the pattern makers and designers
- Checked & confirmed that pattern cards are correct and match up w/ pattern pieces
- Approved trim packets & color standards sent out overseas
- Pitched colors fabric CADs for design
- Issued and revise style body numbers
- Communicated with the first pattern makers and designers to execute the look and feel of a garment's inspired appearance
- Created production art packs for each garment w/ full detail CADs
- Worked with the sweater design/technical designer when needed
- Processed and pass HFCs from sales
- Trained / supported department all areas needed
- Communicate & correspond w/ other department Heads / Managers to link the teams together as a fully functioning company
- Was in charge of setting up an FTP site for factories overseas and the Import Department
- Assisted in setting up a new style number/coding system for company wide use

Technical Design Manager

-Assist Senior Technical Designer with checking face cards and matching P.O.s when in production
-Sourced fabrics in China
-Created "Production Art Packets" to go with the tech packs
-Use Garment Base Pro to assign new fabrics and trims new codes
-Organize fabrics and check in new fabrics from vendors
-Liaison duties acquired from the Technical Designer

- Design apparel for the juniors market that is current
- Trend shopping with the owners & other designers
- Design for the domestic department if help is needed
- Source fabrics with vendors for new techniques and prints
- Fit comments
- Communicate with factories with spec sheets and comments

Import Designer

- In charge of specs, tech packs, and executing follow-thru on three
   new categories (I.e. layette, reusable diapers/sets, and couture
   diaper bags).
- Meets with designers to go over products when they arrive from the factories to see if revisions need to be done.
- Creates tech packs for different divisions of the company
- Keeps an organized binder of generic specs/fabrics/trims
- Updates / hands off samples to the sales department
- Creates mock-up samples of items if they haven't arrived for shows
   and/or important meetings
- Specs new product inspiration / ideas
- Helps to create company catalogs for upcoming product shows
- Keeps consistent communication with factories.

-Works in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to create patterns for fabrics in different collections.
- Assist main designers in all aspects needed.
- Maintain design room and sample room.
- Creates mock-ups of packaging to send as examples to companies.
- Helps create the catalog pages.

* Promoted to Technical Design Assistant on October 25, 2010.

Design Assistant

- Designing garments to send over seas for production
- Checking specs from different samples in different areas development
- Fit comments
- Follow thru w/ fabric and trim vendors to ensure execution of goods
- Worked w/ owners, pattern maker, and designer in fittings for fit perfection
- Organized trims/designs for different POs
- Communicating styles / designs with owners

Designer for Import Division

Tiffany Heiss is a Sr. Manager Pre-Pro & Product Development at 2253 Apparel, Inc. in Buena Park, CA.

Tiffany Heiss

Tiffany Heiss

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