NOT-SO-LINEAR EXPERIENCE

Skills

●  Research: Prototyping, Design Research, Global Supply Chain Management, Sourcing, Local Vendors and Community Events, Grant Writing, Marketing, Merchandising
● Design: Fashion Design & Product Development, Sourcing, Production, Manufacturing in USA, Intl.
●  Toolkit: Illustrator, InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, Slack, Zoom, Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, Loom, Dropbox, QuickBooks, Shopify, Square POS, Monday.com, SEO, CRM, Instagram, Facebook
●  Soft Skills: Agile Mindset, Leadership, Empathy, Communication, Attention to Detail, Curiosity, Collaboration, Adaptability, Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, Creativity, Motivation, Presentation Skills, User Advocacy, Time Management, Planning, Project Management, Sales

Teaching

University of Minnesota. Apparel Design Capstone Class Adjunct Professor. College of Design

Manufacturing : Product & Project Management — HBI Textiles Inc. In Person/ Remote. St. Paul, Minnesota

Led the development and execution of leather and soft goods from design & manufacturing to delivery. Maintained finish quality, color standard, and material alignment for bespoke to 200k unit production. Daily operations, production efficiency, QC / QA & packaging. Client sales, design, workflows, process improvements, supply chains & one-on-one interactions with our flexible, at-home, Hmong and Hispanic contract sewing network.

●  project load 500% increase in two years
●  1-12 products per client in multiple colorways and sizes
●  managed between 1 sample to a 200k production run
●  Clients include Shinola, Four Seasons, Allegiance Flag, Duke Cannon and many start ups.

Apparel and Allies · Freelance

●  Ilesovi - SV & SF Funded Start-up Tech Bag. Design, Tech Pack, Intl Sample & Manufacturing in USA, Vietnam, Turkey.
●  Hovden - Nordic Clothing and Accessories Brand Developer and Sales, USA, Norway, Spain
●  Target Cat at Jack - Cold Weather Knit Accessories, Assistant Designer
●  3M, Target Home + Holiday - Set Styling @capturefilmco.com, @haanddstudio.com, @ashleymary.com/projects
●  Illume Candles, Minnesota, Minneapolis St.Paul Magazine Home - Set Styling @haanddstudio.com @mickieclark.com

Small Business Owner — Union Market Mankato, LLC Mankato, MN

Launched and scaled a color-forward 4000 sq ft, modern retail boutique with 65+ wholesale and local artisans of apparel, apothecary, accessories, art, vintage, home, houseplants & more. ●  Curated finishes, visuals, and textures.
●  Drove monthly gross from $650 to $20K in 2 years.
●  Prioritized BIPOC representation and quality across multi-material product offerings and committed to the 15% Pledge

Business Operations & Logistics — Gina Marie, LLC Minneapolis, MN, Seattle, WA

●  Managed USPTO trademark filings (Class 25 & 42).
●  Defined and communicated business strategy, ensuring brand transparency and alignment with socially responsible goals.
●  Streamlined operations, improving efficiency and system structures.
●  Led content strategy and copywriting, enhancing user experience and market positioning.
●  Created and managed digital content, including product listings, web pages, editorials, blog posts,
●  newsletters & social media (IG: @House_GinaMarie, @Grasmarkmenswear | FB: @HouseOfGinaMarie).
●  Led college internship programs focused on in-person overseas sample making and product development.
●  Produced marketing materials, including lookbooks, linesheets, and videos.
●  Managed wholesale and consignment vendor outreach, securing partnerships and follow-through.
●  Fashion Design Sourcing and Production —Gina Marie, LLC Quang Nam, VietNam
●  Designed and branded men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections, seasonally updated core bodies. Approximately 240 new styles per year.
●  Conducted market research to identify trends, fabrics, and techniques.
●  Created design cards, line sheets, and seasonal overview boards.
●  Developed and met with cut-and-sew team on custom apparel, footwear, handbags, and accessories.
●  Sourced fabrics and trims for production and promotional samples.
●  Led sample-making for seasonal and capsule collections with globally sourced fabric and prints.
●  Managed sample making and sale to satisfy USPTO requirements for separates, dresses, swimwear, suiting in wovens, knits, leather goods, apparel, bags & footwear
●  Vietnam trips for SS / FW / Holiday

Education

Seattle Pacific University - Apparel Design
London AIU - Apparel Design
New York Fashion Academy - Mastery in women’s apparel