SUMMARY:
Multi-Talented Apparel Designer seeks position utilizing all talents
INFORMATION:
About Me:
Multi-Talented Apparel Designer seeks position utilizing all talents
With over 19 years experience in the international apparel industry,
concerning Product branding, Fashion Design,(product design-Mens--Junior/European Contemporary, Boys,Men's/Young men's as well as Girls/ Junior to Missy),Tech design,and Production. As a designer,
I am proficient in many areas of the creative process concerning fashion. Having worked in many international markets as a designer, I bring a commercial viability to any product line, from an international aesthetic point of view. I am now looking for a "corporate home" to utilize my many talents I have cultivated abroad as a design professional. Being a designer in the industry, I have gained one single viewpoint, over all others. The apparel business is a business, my job is to bridge creativity and commerce, in doing so, creating exciting, commercially viable product for my company.
INFORMATION:
Darnell P. Nelson
1325 Lafayette Avenue, 1a
New York, New York 10032
cell: 347-490-5820
[email protected]Website:
http://www.wix.com/seakicreativeservice/designnow
http://seaki.wordpress.com/ (weekly updated fashion blog)
http://www.coroflot.com/fashionboy/portfolio
Qualification Summary :
I am a "Designer's designer",my creative skill set involves: Product Branding,Fashion Design (product design-
Urban/Urban Contemporary, Men's/Young men's as well as Junior to Missy), and Fashion
illustration. I am also a very well known Graphic designer here in the New York fashion
community. As you can see in my resume, I have freelanced or worked full time for companies such as Pepe Jeans, Marithe Francious Girbaud, Steelo, AST Sportswear (manufacturer of Miskeen , Johnny Blaze,Flame product
lines) Jitrois (Paris ), Alpha60 (Austrailia), to name only a few. My dynamic talent affords me the ability to maneuver within any company,working in any creative capacity, for the benefit of the company. I love the design process, and work very well with established design teams.
Experience:
Seaki Creative Services (freelance) 10/05-Present
Men’s / Woman and Contempary sportswear - Juniors - Childrens - Infants
Design Director/Founder
Below are the skills that I have utilized as a freelance designer with clients in London, Paris and USA.
*Proficient in trend forecasting concerning Men’s / young men’s- women's -juniors, girls,
and children's wear developing seasonal color ways, fabrications and trims for specific
lines/product.
*Develop/Implement effective overseas communication process that allows minimum “lag
time”. Helped small companies create productive relationships with overseas
manufacturing staff. This included:
*Sourcing domestic or international factories that met budget and manufacturing
requirements of each client.
*Creating and overseeing all Technical design and manufacturing protocols) that were
utilized to create product in a timely fashion. This involved Email or Telephone follow-up,
and or direct travel to factories.
International and domestic travel for purposes of QC (quality control) and investigations)
of factory capabilities and work conditions.
*Developed more focused \\\"tech\\\"package concerning production allowing less confusion
during production.
*Develop all Corporate Branding for companies, (logos, slogans, etc.) helping small
companies register their intellectual
properties with the US trademark office, overall assisting each company create a legal
identity for their respective brand.
*Worked with each company to create a competent and involved sales team as per issue
of each product line. This involved:
*Sourcing and hiring of sales professionals pertaining to experience and account standards
for each Product line.
*Conducting articulate meetings and materials that further informed and involved each
sales professional with that product line, its particular sales needs, territories to be
covered, and expectations of each delivery
*SCS was closely involved with sales staff at such sales/social trade shows as Bread and
Butter and MAGIC,overseeing overall sales and account performance.
*Helped certain Sales staff / Product lines develop meaningful commercial accounts with
key retailers.
*Took on PR responsibility for some start-ups utilizing advantageous marketing avenues,
dealt with all magazines, etc. to assure a marketable , but highly desired image for each
and every start-up that needed such assistance.
*Develop innovative marketing strategies for each start-up to further align product lines
(start-ups) with projected
demographic, such as community outreach programs , fashion shows , etc,*Trend forecasting
concerning developing seasonal color ways, fabrications and trims for specific
lines/product.
*Develop/Implement effective overseas communication process that allows minimum “lag
time”
*Sourcing domestic or international factories that met budget and manufacturing
requirements of each client.
Jitrois Contempary Women /Bridge-Designer collections
4/08 / 6/09 Paris
* Created all in-house presentational mediums that were to be presented to Mr.Jitrois, executive staff
* Head fashion illustrator - reported directly to Mr Jitrois, interpreting his hand sketches and dialogue into
CADS or formal fashion illustrations for Press, Periodicals, etc.
Alpha60 Contempary Women-Men /Bridge-Designer collections
12/06- 4/08 Victoria, Australia
* Design Men's/Women's wovens
* Textile Design
Limedrop Contempary Women-Men /Bridge-Designer collections
1/06-12/06 Victoria, Australia
* Design Men's/Women's wovens
* Worked with both designers to create presentations for sales staff
* Worked with production professionals to create first samples onsite.
* Created and established more refined communication with sales and designers to create broader
demographic.
* Designed and implemented overseas manufacturing protocal as needed.
* Responsible for all in-house presentational mediums concerning design and trendforecasting.
* Fabric / Print design
AST Sportswear Source Magazine clothing collection, Johnny Blaze collection, WWE, DIVA
clothing 03/03-11/05 New York, NY
Men’s Urban Contempary wear
Senior Designer/Merchandiser
* Design Men’s active wear including all accessories such as caps, backpacks, etc.
* Proficient in trend forecasting concerning Men’s / young men’s developing seasonal color
ways, fabrications and trims for specific
lines/product.
* Develop/Implement effective overseas communication process that allows minimum
“lag time”
* Developed more focused tech package concerning production allowing less confusion
during production.
* Work closely with all Sales reps concerning U.S. territories allowing open communication
concerning potential product. Developed much
needed communication with all newly appointed European territories.
* International travel to China manufacturers for purposes concerning quality control ,
“stream-lining”or “trouble-shooting” for all washingdying
facilities pertaining to all denim product.
* Took on responsibility for all marketing avenues,dealt with all magazines,etc. to assure a
new “clean-urban-sophisticated” image that was now
important for newly developed product line .
And 1 Active Wear License (division of Hot Boys, Happy Kids) 11/01-10/02
Boys Active Wear (4-7,8-20)
Head Designer
* Design boys active wear including all accessories such as caps, backpacks, etc.
* Proficient in trend forecasting concerning young men’s/ boys market, developing seasonal
color ways, fabrications and trims for specific
lines/product.
* Develop/Implement effective overseas communication process that allows minimum “lag
time”
* Developed more focused tech package concerning production allowing less confusion
during production.
* Work closely with Lead Sales reps concerning U.S. territories allowing open dialogue
concerning potential product.
* During employment at AND1 (Happy Kids),Sales force had a better knowledge of ALL
overall product
* Line , therefore, Happy Kids established numerous new relationships concerning Accessories,
* (Belts , Socks, Baseball Hats, Back packs, etc.) During my tenure at Happy Kids (AND1)
Kids Headquarters (Division of Wear Me Apparel) 11/98-10/01
Boys Generic Development (4-7,8-20)
Associate Designer
* Designed boys wear (active wear/sets) responsible for all private label designs.
* Implemented/designed all artwork for product
* Supervised sample room: Patternmaker, Sewers, and Cutters.
* Sourced trims
* Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop & Adobe Illustrator, Freehand.
Zinka Clothing Company (Better-Bridge Urban Sportswear) 04/96-11/98
Young Men’s/ Boys Urban Wear
Assistant Designer
* Assisted in design, production of premiere collection
* Designed and constructed presentation boards
* Shopped market for trends
* Designed small denim program for Wal-Mart.
Dimitri Uomo/Donna of New York (Designer/Bridge) summer 94-96
Men’s Suiting & Shirts (woven/knit), Private Clients
Assistant Designer
* Worked directly with Merchandiser/Sales Staff
* Designed all presentation mediums for Japanese Licensees
* Shopped trends/Researched themes for each season, fabrications
* Organized Fabric/Trim Library
* Assisted in house tailors, sample makers
Freelance: (seasonal clients)
Marithe Francois Girbaud, Enyce, Kids Headquarters, American Eagle, Trash (LA), Bebe (LA), etc
Perry Ellis (woven / knits contempary men’s) . Graphic Design/CAD Design Damani Dada:
CAD Design/Graphic Design/Shopping Trends, Shopping
Trends/Assistant Designer (Denim) Graphic designer (Screened Tees)
Education:
Parson’s School of Design (BFA Degree)
Fashion Design
New york , N.Y.
Qualifications:
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PhotoShop, Freehand, Quark, Flash (Macromedia)
