Professional Profile

DESIGN DIRECTOR OF MEN’S - UNDERWEAR, LOUNGE, SLEEP, EVERACTIVE, OUTDOORS BY LUKE BRYAN
Jockey International, INC, Kenosha, WI
Aug 2022 - Mar 2024
• Lead, inspired and fostered creativity within a team of six designers and technical designers, based in both Kenosha and New York offices.
• Coached, mentored, and promoted two direct reports over the last six months.
• Partnered with Design Director of Women’s, based in New York, to create a Jockey Seasonal Palette for all categories of business in the US and International Markets.
• Developed seasonal design vision and big ideas while keeping the Men's Jockey customer top of mind.
• Traveled to New York seasonally to strengthen relationships with the NY design team, as well as inspirational shopping, research, and development.
• Built dynamic, collaborative cross functional partnerships across global vendors and internal leadership teams.
• Set the design direction for Jockey Outdoors, in partnership with Country Star Luke Bryan, insuring that the collection was true to his core customer.
• Relaunched Active line as EverActive with an updated design vision and brand aesthetic to differentiate it from the market and establish a unique brand position.
• Created and launched a fully domestic t-shirt line, ‘Made In America’ produced in LA.
 

SENIOR DESIGNER - MEN’S CLASSIC BRANDS (SONOMA AND CROFT & BARROW) WOVENS, KNITS, SWEATERS, OUTERWEAR, BOTTOMS/SHORTS, SWIM
Kohls Corporation, Menomonee Falls, WI
Feb 2012 - Aug 2022
• Head design lead for Men’s Classic Brands: all categories and size ranges ($500M Total)
• Continually grew total Classic Brands sales 3-5% year over year, leading to them being in the top five businesses consistently.
• Managed and coached a team of eight designers while helping to grow their careers from entry level to Design level positions.
• Established seasonal design direction for color, pattern, fabric, and all category big ideas for the Men’s Classic Brand customers.
• Consistently maintained trusting cross functional partnerships within design, technical design, product development, and merchant teams.
• Lead all seasonal senior leadership milestone presentations.
• Developed and helped influence corporate sustainability initiatives for all design divisions.
• Successfully navigated my design team's transition from in-office to remote to hybrid working during Covid and beyond.
• Utilized both international & domestic travel to establish seasonal research and development classic brands.
• Maintained role in the following committees: Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion, Leadership Circles.

 
SENIOR DESIGNER - MEN’S WOVEN TOPS, WOVEN BOTTOMS, SWIM
Black Brown 1826 (Lord & Taylor), New York, NY
May 2011 - Feb 2012
• Designed and oversaw all development for Sportshirts, Denim & Non-Denim Bottoms, Swim, and Blazers.
• Relaunched the Black Brown 1826 denim line, by creating a range of core washes in both Classic Fit and Slim Fit.
• Organized, rigged, and presented showroom for all seasonal line openings.
• Managed one assistant designer to ensure all deadlines were consistently met.
• Traveled internationally to work with overseas vendors to ensure proper product execution.​


MENSWEAR DESIGNER - WOVEN TOPS, WOVEN BOTTOMS, SWIM, OUTERWEAR
Converse One Star (Target Exclusive), New York, NY
Jan 2007 - May 2011
• Created the initial brand identity and built the menswear line to become a $55M business.
• During the first few years of the start-up was responsible for multiple roles, designing, fabric and trim development since the team was lean.
• Partnered with Design Director to create conceptual design direction for each season.
• Designed, sketched, and created tech packs for all woven categories (shirts, bottoms, shorts, outerwear, and swim).​
 
 
ASSOCIATE DESIGNER - MEN’S KNIT TOPS & KNIT BOTTOMS
Martin + Osa (American Eagle), New York, NY
Mar 2005 - Jan 2007
• Worked on initial development of Martin + Osa start-up concept, from design direction to final product.
• Established the core fabrics that would be used to build the Martin + Osa brand.
• Designed all the core silhouettes and signature details for the knit assortment.
• Traveled to Hong Kong to work directly with our factories, in order to standardize our Knit wash directions.​
 
 
ASSISTANT DESIGNER - MEN’S KNIT ACTIVE BOTTOMS & TEES
Abercrombie & Fitch, Columbus, OH
Feb 2004 - March 2005
• Designed all details and colors for A&F Men’s Active Pants, Shorts, and Graphic Tees.
• Solely responsible for the entire design process, from establishing design direction to approving the final garment before it sets in store.
• Partnered with Merchant Team to establish SKU count for the season & designed into each package to create impactful presentations for each season.
• Researched and shopped industry to develop new graphic techniques.
• Created detailed tech packs in order to execute our product vision.
 
 
ASSISTANT DESIGNER - MEN’S BLUE LABEL SPORTSWEAR KNITS & GRAPHIC TEES
Polo Ralph Lauren, New York, NY
Jun 2002 – Feb 2004
• Assisted in the coordination of in-house presentations for Ralph Lauren, Jerry Lauren, Merchandising, Sales, and Product Development/ Production Teams.
• Prepared all information necessary for fabric, trim, and sketch hand-off to appropriate teams.​
• Studied vintage garment details to help interpret them into relevant collections pieces.
• Responsible for working with internal graphic artist and external vendors to create vintage inspired tees.
• Sketched and created tech packs for style handoffs to product development team.