Kaitlin Steffen Email & Phone Number

Greenville, Sc, United States

Leading and guiding a creative team, I oversee the design and development of seasonal lines across men's, women's, and youth departments. I maintain robust relationships with factories and mills, engaging in daily communication and weekly video conferencing to facilitate precise information exchange, troubleshoot development issues, and explore new fabrics, trims, and packaging options. Additionally, I meticulously review fabric and trim quality submissions, lab dips, strike offs, handlooms, and testing reports, upholding the brand's stringent quality and integrity standards. Collaborating seamlessly across technical design, merchandising, marketing, and production teams, I ensure the timely delivery of satisfactory goods. My active involvement extends to daily fit sessions, weekly executive leadership meetings, and semi-annual sales meetings, contributing to the holistic operational success.

Greenville, Sc, United States

Following a year of dedicated efforts, I earned a promotion to Senior Technical Designer. In this role, I held comprehensive responsibilities across the entire spectrum, from conceptualization and sourcing to crafting technical packages and supervising the ultimate production of their upscale men's retail line. I assumed leadership in orchestrating and leading sample fit sessions for the OOBE BRAND apparel line, providing specialized guidance to achieve the desired fit through meticulous measurement and precise pattern adjustments.

Greenville, Sc

Returning to the technical design realm within the apparel industry, I took on the role of Associate Technical Designer at Oobe Apparel Design Group. Alongside establishing a product line management system and loading over 300+ styles into their system, I collaborate with the Technical Design Director to refine the company's fit standards. My focus centered on broadening my expertise in pattern making and grade rules, channeling efforts into honing these skill sets.

Greenville, South Carolina

Upon my promotion from Associate Designer to Designer, my scope expanded to encompass multiple categories and increased responsibilities. In addition to men's woven shirts, I assumed ownership of men's woven bottoms, swimwear, outerwear, and women's woven shirts. Furthermore, I undertook the task of evaluating all lab dips across the entire spectrum of men's and women's lines in these categories.

Greenville, South Carolina Area

At Southern Tide, I leveraged my expertise from Storm Creek while delving into fresh challenges and gaining exposure to various facets of the industry. My primary focus centered on men's woven shirts, where I personally crafted each plaid and stripe pattern. While I had a grasp on one plaid-making system from my college days, I had to self-learn two new woven CAD software programs specific to Southern Tide's requirements. Additionally, I mastered their PLM system and assumed the role of administrator within a year.Similar to my approach at Storm Creek, I oversaw the entire product lifecycle. Following the meticulous pitching of each pattern, I guided the selection of fits and the creation of detailed tech packs. Daily liaison with overseas vendors, active participation in fit sessions, and delivering presentations at sales meetings were integral aspects of my role, vital in shepherding products from conception to finalization.

Hastings, Mn

As the sole designer at the company, I had the privilege of collaborating directly with the owner to craft two annual lines of men's and women's apparel. This involved a diverse range, from high-performance knit t-shirts to advanced 3-layer ski jackets. My role encompassed everything from initial technical CAD illustrations and tech pack development to achieving impeccable fits and grades for each garment.In addition to daily communication with our overseas vendors, I closely engaged with our internal sales and marketing teams while overseeing a design intern. One of my major undertakings at Storm Creek was overhauling their grade rules for womenswear. With the aim of moving away from a "one size fits all" approach, I partnered with a local pattern maker to meticulously reassess the grading of every piece, ensuring an ideal fit for each garment.