Russell L

Russell L. White 307 South 4 Avenue, Sandpoint, ID 83864  Phone: 208-263-9508  Email: rlwdogs@VERIZON.NET th Portfolio Website: http://tinyurl.com/wflg Summary of Qualifications Creative professional with proven success in conceptualizing designs and assuring product/program execution through all phases of product development, technical design, vendor sourcing, quality reviews, and production monitoring.       Domestic and overseas market research, trend analysis (color, style, fabric, yarn, trim), design, product development, and technical design for men’s and women’s product lines including related separates, tailored clothing, knit tops, woven shirts, sweaters, active sportswear, swimwear, dresses, and outerwear. Expert in determining fit requirements; knowledge of construction standards and manufacturing methods; strong pattern making skills. Detailed oriented, strong communication, organization, analytical, and problem solving skills. Created product specific woven and knit yarn-dyes, prints, graphics and embroideries. Sourced, developed product, and monitored production in Asia, India, the Middle East, and Latin America. Trained, managed, and mentored designers, technical designers, pattern makers, and sample makers. Collaborated with factory managers and quality assurance staff. Professional Experience SR. TECHNICAL DESIGNER FOR WOMEN’S CUT-AND-SEW KNITS AND TAILORED PANT SUITS Coldwater Creek, Sandpoint, ID, 2007-2009  Executed garment styling and supervised design team in the development of all prototypes.  Collaborated with Product Development to build innovative product with signature construction and finishing details. Supported the team with technical product development and design knowledge and experience to ensure brand integrity.  Identified potential production, quality and costing issues at the conception of the product.  Managed and scheduled all category fit sessions. Evaluated the fit and construction of sample and production garments, and communicated detailed corrections and/or changes to the factories through written comments, photos, diagrams, as well as drafting sample and production patterns, when necessary.  Set up grading rules, conversion charts, garment specifications, and technical packages.  Partnered with vendors and their production staffs to streamline manufacturing, meet targeted costs, and review garment fit and construction.  Developed and built a knit block library and standardized construction details. Collaborated with other Sr. Technical Designers in cross-categorical analysis on fitting and grading applications.  Participated in the development and ownership of the company construction and fit manual.  Organized and coordinated technical and educational textile seminars.  Managed 3 people. MANAGER OF DESIGN AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Blair Corporation, Warren, PA, 2004-2006  Researched and shopped the market for seasonal and overall fashion trends for women’s, men’s, and home products. Conducted comparison-shopping surveys. Collaborated with fashion services to define market trends in relation to the customer's needs. Shopped fabric and yarn markets in Asia.  Updated the fabric library with fabric samples and yarn qualities.  Presented information and samples from shopping trips to Merchandising and Buying Teams. Developed and presented quarterly color/trend shows, produced seasonal marketing/trend reports for merchandising, advertising, sourcing, overseas offices, and executive teams.  Participated in the development of global sourcing strategies and procedures. Traveled to various vertical knit/woven manufacturers and contracting facilities in Asia and India for prototype garment development and research. Partnered with vendors in developing yarn-dye and print programs, sweaters, cut and sew knitwear, activewear, swimwear, coordinate sportswear, and outerwear programs. Supervised the design team in the development of all prototypes.  Developed merchandising timetables as well as time and action calendars to meet delivery and sales objectives. Negotiated garment costs with vendors, prepared initial cost sheets and line matrixes. Analyzed sales trends and strategies with store buyers.  Prepared departmental budgets and staff reviews.  Managed 7 people. Selected Projects/ Accomplishments:  Increased internal offshore product placement by 35% in the first year, which well exceeded the company goals, by designing new product and sourcing existing programs.  Introduced fashion/color trend reporting, pioneered the use of color stories, and communicated trends to overseas offices, resulting in a consistent fashion/color presence among all company lines.  Developed fabric training seminars for company staff.  Elevated the professional capabilities of designers and enabled them to interact more effectively with merchandising team members. Russell L. White page 2 SR. TECHNICAL DESIGNER FOR WOMEN’S WOVENS Coldwater Creek, Sandpoint, ID, 2001-2004  Executed garment styling and supervised design team in the development of all prototypes. Evaluated the fit and construction of sample and production garments, and communicated detailed corrections and/or changes to factories by writing comments as well as drafting sample and production patterns.  Analyzed lab testing for compliance with specifications and consistency in multi-vendor programs.  Set up grading rules, garment specifications, and technical packages.  Instituted production procedures and developed import, sourcing, manufacturing and QC manuals.  Partnered with vendors and their production staffs in devising ways to streamline manufacturing, meet targeted costs, and review garment fit and construction.  Organized and coordinated technical and educational textile seminars.  Reduced return rates from the low 30% to 11% within one year through improved quality, fit and consistency in all assigned product categories.  Managed 4 people. SR. TECHNICAL DESIGNER/COORDINATOR FOR WOMEN’S CUT-AND-SEW KNITS Limited/Express, Columbus, OH, 1999-2001  Served as technical coordinator for Express’ highest volume division (cut and sew knits).  Traveled to various vertical knit/woven manufacturers and contracting facilities, both domestic and overseas, for factory evaluations, prototype garment development, and production monitoring/approval.  Ensured proper execution of styles by setting up grade rules, garment specifications, and technical packages; evaluated the fit and construction of garments; communicated corrections via written comments and patterns. Collaborated with vendors in developing and implementing programs.  Managed 5 people. SOURCING DIRECTOR FOR MENSWEAR Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL, 1997-1999  Contributed to the development of global sourcing strategies and procedures for the start of the in-house sourcing function. Grew the vendor base to meet current and projected needs. Identified problem vendors, spearheading problem-solving activities or recommending vendor changes to meet deadlines, product specifications, and quality standards.  Offered design/technical expertise to contractors and production engineers in streamlining manufacturing and meeting targeted costs. Traveled to factories to arrange for production, spot check sewing quality, and address problem issues in collaboration with in-line supervisors.  Inspected and evaluated facilities to assure that they met company standards and practices. Partnered with factory and quality assurance managers in overseeing start-up processes for new production. Monitored programs from the approval process and AQL through delivery to distribution centers. Negotiated garment costs with vendors. Made initial fabric selections and placed commitments with mills and offshore vendors.  Shopped the fabric and yarn markets. Updated the fabric library with fabric samples and yarn qualities. Presented information and samples from research trips to Merchandising and Buying Teams. Analyzed sales trends with store buyers and revised production placement accordingly.  Alleviated quota situations and rescued a major jog suit program by monitoring quota fill rates, identified potential embargo problems, and orchestrated resolutions.  Opened new countries that included UAE and Pakistan.  Managed 2 people. MERCHANDISING AND SOURCING COORDINATOR Limited/Structure, Columbus, OH, 1996-1997  Developed, expanded, and managed vendor relationships, domestic and international for Structure’s highest volume division (cut and sew knits).  Organized the communication of product specifications and comments to factories. Approved lab dips for compliance with colors/shade bands and evaluated test results for adherence to fabric specifications.  Traveled to vendors for the purpose of evaluating facilities, overseeing production/program start-ups, checking sewing quality, and assisting factory managers with improving production processes.  Managed 5 people. SOURCING MANAGER/PRODUCT MANAGER Russell Corporation/The Game, Atlanta, GA, 1993-1996  Managed the development of licensed and branded sports apparel lines that included product for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and a Cross Creek PGA Tour program.  Collaborated with merchandising to create and execute the in-store presentation concept for the PGA Tour line; directed the design of components, packaging, hangtags, etc. to establish the brand image.  Served as Product Manager for The Game prior to its acquisition by Russell; handled global sourcing duties for Russell, traveled overseas to partner with vendors for the production of new styles.  Developed and coordinated fashion runway shows and print catalogs.  Managed 3 people. Russell L. White page 3 MENSWEAR MERCHANDISER AND DESIGNER Lavon Sportswear/Jason & Wooley, La Verne, CA, 1991-1993  Merchandised and designed a new line of men’s coordinated sportswear.  Researched and detected fashion/color trends; shopped the fabric and yarn markets in New York, Los Angeles, Europe and Asia; and created product designs.  Oversaw the execution of designs through communications with manufacturing facilities and traveled overseas for product development.  Managed 4 people. MENSWEAR MERCHANDISER AND DESIGNER Catalina Sportswear, Los Angeles, CA, 1989-1991  Designed men’s swimwear and sportswear for the Mark Spitz label and coordinate sportswear, activewear, swimwear, and outerwear for company lines. Created product specific prints, graphics and embroideries.  Translated fashion/color trends to the product line, devised merchandising-development-production timelines, guided the sourcing of products, and ensured adherence to design specifications. Researched the markets in Australia, Bali, South Seas Resorts, Hawaii, Brazil and Europe.  Oversaw the execution of designs through communications with manufacturing facilities and traveled overseas for product development.  Managed the design and sample departments.  Developed and coordinated fashion runway shows and print catalogs.  Managed 14 people. DESIGN DIRECTOR Balboa Sportswear, Los Angeles, CA, 1983-1989  Shopped the market, reviewed competitors’ offerings, and partnered with fashion services to define market trends. Shopped the fabric and yarn markets in New York, Los Angeles, Australia, Europe and Asia.  Designed all garment styling, prints, yarn-dyes, embroideries and graphics for menswear collections that included company labels Balboa and Trim as well as 15 licensed programs such as Pipeline, Beverly Hills Polo Club, and Australia Surfing.  Designed and managed the set-up of the M.A.G.I.C. Show trade booths.  Managed 24 people. MANAGER DESIGN DEPARTMENT/HEAD DESIGNER Keepers Industry, Woodland Hills, CA, 1981-1983  Conceptualized and executed designs for new Pipeline label and Jerry Lopez signature product lines of activewear and swimwear.  Managed 3 people. MENSWEAR DESIGNER Jantzen, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, 1979-1980  Created product designs and specifications for men’s sweaters, coordinate sportswear and golf collections. Traveled to facilities in the USA and the Caribbean for prototype garment development, research, and program execution. DESIGNER FOR DAVID HUNTER, PANATELA AND WILDFIRE LABELS Levi Strauss & Company, San Francisco, CA, 1976-1979  Produced designs for tailored clothing, sweaters, knit and woven tops, pants, coordinate sportswear, activewear, and outerwear.  Created the David Hunter line, which was the first complete collection of clothing for the main floor menswear customer in department stores. WOMEN’S SPORTSWEAR DESIGNER Pambee/Albee Sportswear Company, San Francisco, CA, 1972-1976  Designed Missy coordinate sportswear, knit and woven tops, and sweaters. Teaching Experience   INSTRUCTOR, Woodbury University, Burbank, CA, 1992-1993: Taught Fashion Illustration, Knit and Sweater Design and Swimwear Design. Participated as a judge in the student fashion show. INSTRUCTOR, Learning Tree University, Chatsworth, CA, 1989-1991: Taught Fashion Design 1 and Fashion Design 2. Education BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS, San Francisco State College, San Francisco, CA, 1971 ASSOCIATE OF ARTS, Modesto Junior College, Modesto, CA, 1970 Computer Skills Web PDM, Freeborders, Excel, Photoshop, Illustrator