Crystalyn Kae Brennan Email & Phone Number

Seattle, Washington, United States

• Led and supervised creative team through all phases of the handbag lifecycle, from concept development (market research, mood boards) to small-batch production both in-house and with outside sewing contractors in New York City and Seattle WA.• Implemented lean manufacturing principles to streamline the design and production process, minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency. • Established a Kanban system for production with sewing contractors in NYC and Seattle, allowing for better visibility of workflow and flexible production capacity based on real-time demand.• Optimized the production flow by collaborating with contractors to implement 5S techniques in their workspaces. • Sourced materials, hardware, and packaging, negotiating with vendors to secure cost-effective and high-quality options, aligning with lean principles.• Create displays for retail shows, set-up fixtures, merchandise product assortments and sell at retail markets & trade shows• Style photo shoots, write product descriptions, give art direction for catalogs, ecommerce merchandising strategy for website, and look books for wholesale marketing.

Puyallup, Washington, United States

Taught classes at Sew Expo for aspiring entrepreneurs and intermediate-level sewists:How to Make a Fabric & Leather Flower PinHow to Upcycle a Vintage Coat into a Purse10 things NOT to do when preparing to vend at a Craft show

Brooklyn, New York

Selected as a resident entrepreneur at Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator: dedicated to ethical, sustainable and innovative design. Contributing to public events and educational programs for the greater community that explore the future of production, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and technology, engaging leaders and change agents across industries and communities of practice in the co-creation of new knowledge and critical ideas.

San Miniato, Tuscany, Italy

Selected as special artisan to Tuscany's Consortium for Genuine Italian Vegetable-Tanned Leather program "Craft the Leather" training project. Developed and hand-crafted a three piece collection of personal accessories, starting from the base of the simple, natural veg-tanned leather, using its unique characteristics as the inspiration for design. These designs will become a part of the permanent collection of the Consortium and exhibited at Lineapelle shows in Tokyo, Florence, and New York City.

New York, New York, United States

Greater Seattle Area

• selected local designers & vendors to create a cohesive shopping experience• created floor plans and window displays, monthly merchandising arrangement• hosted trunk shows & events featuring local designers and artists

Seattle, Washington

Woodinville, Wa

• Plan retail stores & custom branded merchandise for Boeing, Delta Airlines, Eli Lily• Managed the design process for apparel, soft goods, home and desk accessories: from conception through production. • Build costing spreadsheets, create and oversee tech pack development to communicate specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types • Traveled monthly to retail locations to assess store floorsets, address sell-thru issues, and markdowns• Merchandised product lines for 4 seasonal collections per year for hard-copy catalog publications and e-commerce• Assessed sales samples and led product presentation meetings with clients & salespeople

Puyallup, Washington

• Instructed Business Administration courses with focus on Entrepreneurship, Management, and Marketing at Pierce College.• Taught Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, Powerpoint, and Marketing 101 to students.• Developed engaging curriculum to enhance students' understanding and practical skills in business concepts.

Tacoma, Wa

• Select merchandise assortments appropriate for client base and price points• work with private label vendors to fill in seasonal small buys• create floor merchandise plans – follow visual standards and work with team daily to implement & re-stock• maintained a high level of customer service, product knowledge and basic operational procedures• interview, hire and train employees, schedule shifts, and set sales goals

London, United Kingdom

Managed merchandise assortments on sales floor and led seasonal sales team trainings on new products and brands. Visited designer studios with buying team to coach designers on market-ready product development. Attended London Fashion Week fashion presentations as a stand-in for head buyer.

London, United Kingdom

In my role as a Personal Shopper at Selfridges in London, I excelled in creating tailored garment selections for clients, ensuring a seamless shopping experience. I collaborated with team members to drive new product awareness and boost sales productivity, while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality with private celebrities and clients.

Ba, Apparel Merchandising Design And Textiles

Studied Apparel, Merchandising, Design & Textiles - earned a BA

Master Series - Hot Topics, Fashion/Apparel Design

entrepreneurial classes and accessories design

Internship, Fashion Design