Isabel Castañeda Email & Phone Number

New York, United States

New York, New York, US

New York, NY, US

Jersey City, NJ, US

Technical Designer Manager at Komar

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US

• Lingerie designer with specialization in shapewear. Created many brand right styles which were adopted and successfully sold in main department stores as well as MASS markets. Collaborate with merchandising teams.
• Mainly work on shapewear lines for Maidenform, DKI, DKNY brands & MASS market accounts.
• Shapewear collection, “Sleek Stripes” launched Summer 2013 have been in the best sellers list for all latest financial reviews.
• Knowledge in pads development, molding and fusing techniques
• Great understanding in seamless construction, garment knitting practices & fitting.
• Created “Tech Pack” document to better communicate style changes/updates to factories, in addition to keep the history of each style.

San Francisco, California, US

• Assisted the Gap Body department in all areas: Foundations, Underwear, Daywear, Sleepwear and Sports
• Participated & conducted fittings sessions with design & production teams for all above areas.
• Communicated fit comments directly to factory & vendors making sure the deadlines were being met.
• Created PLM tech pack for vendors review for the developing of first protos.
• Reviewed, updated & approved PLM tech packs before sending to the vendors making sure grade rules are according to style & brand requirements.

• Managed the K-Mart account, all Intimate Apparel lines Joe Boxer, Passion & Pink K
• Conducted fitting sessions for all styles from development to bulk approval.
• Communicated fit comments to HK office & factories making sure deadlines were being met.
• Created tech packs templates to better communicate with the offices / factories overseas.
• Reviewed & created grade rules templates to better maintain and standardize the customer grade rules.
• Assisted partner TD to better communicate, a better manage her workload.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US

• Performed all TD duties for fit approval process making sure styles were approved on a timely manner.
• Worked under the mentorship of a senior bra designer with whom I was able to improve my bra fitting techniques.
• Communicate directly with vendors and/or factories overseas on a daily basis.
• Developed first protos for DKNY, Target and Costco with direction from merchandising teams.

New York, US

• Managed the fit approval process from design to bulk production making sure deadlines were being met.
• Worked on the RLX Tennis, Roughwear & Outerwear lines from design to production
• Supported the Black Label teams with the Outerwear line
• Assisted identifying & completing grade rules for RLX & Black labels working along Knits & Sports technical designers

• Managed the fit approval process for all styles from prototype stage to final bulk approval achieving high “On Time Bulk Approval results for 3 consecutive years. Participated in R&D shopping trips and elements of my.
• Assisted global fit manager reviewing block patterns, grade rules, construction standards and vendor manual
• Visited factories in all regions to work with pattern-makers initiating a sloper pattern process
• Supported the IDC (International Design Center) in the UK as they were building their technical design team.
• Specially worked with denim factories & denim finishing facilities in China, Mexico & Guatemala
• Assisted with the induction of WEB PLM making sure this was relevant to the Timberland apparel business

Columbus, Ohio, US

• Technical design position where I had the ownership of “Cotton Collection” styles fit approval. Worked closely with design and merchandise teams making sure to achieve the desire fit. Managed the fit process from.
• Victoria’s Secret implemented the PDM /Gerber system to managed the whole fit and approval process-- Liaison between VSS and global production offices with the new system-- Assisted the VSS technical designers with.
• Upon approval of each style, I assisted each production office reviewing the grading and construction details.
• Responsible of any technical and/or quality issues before and during production.
• Reviewed TOP samples alerting the factories immediately if any problems arise
• Personally managed the fit process through bulk approval for the cotton Logo Panty program for two new factories: Intipor / Portugal & Linea / Maldives

• Completed development of all designs; Line and private label including the research of all fabrics and trims
• Worked directly with merchandiser in the selection of line colors and styles.
• Development of all first patterns, fittings, corrections and final pattern ready for grading
• Instrumental in acquiring new accounts such as Victoria’s Secret Stores, Cacique & JC Penney, Petrie & Bradlees
• Worked specifically on two projects for Victoria’s Secret Catalogue, which resulted in orders for Spring and Holiday catalogues
• Created a line of brassieres to coordinate with panties, soft cup and under-wire bras

Helped with the grading for bottoms and body-briefers for ProductionAssisted in the correction of patterns after fittingStarted developing first patterns for brassieresPrepared patterns for production. Transferring all these from paper to plastic

Develop first patterns by draping or flat pattern from designer’s sketchAssisted on the design for private label Sleepwear incorporating various fabrics and lacesManaged Sample room workload & the work of 3 sample-makersSupervised sample room in the sewing and the fitting of all samplesBalance design room work load of originals and duplicates to meet.

Associate'S Degree, Fashion/Apparel Design

Education record