Abby Vail
Philadelphia,PA
Summary
Apparel designer with experience translating creative concepts into market-ready products. Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite, AI tools, and PLM systems, with hands-on knowledge of garment construction, CAD, and technical development. Detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects while supporting innovative design solutions.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Designer
Heartbreak Honey
Freelance
01.2026 - Current
- Design apparel and accessories across knitwear, fleece, tees, and loungewear, developing silhouettes, colorways, trims, graphics, and embroidery.
- Leverage generative AI, Adobe Creative Suite, and digital tools to rapidly develop, iterate, and visualize product concepts.
- Collaborate with the founder on seasonal creative direction, product concepts, fabrics, trims, and color to maintain a cohesive brand identity.
- Translate concepts into technical packages and communicate with vendors on fabrics, timelines, samples, and fit revisions through production.
Assistant Designer
Free People
Philadelphia, PA
10.2023 - Current
- Lead development from concept through production approval, ensuring alignment with seasonal trend direction and line plans.
- Create and execute detailed tech packs, construction specs, and CADs for factory development.
- Created and executed detailed tech packs, construction specs, and CADs to streamline factory development.
- Approve fabrics, trims, and lab dips to meet brand quality standards.
- Create detailed spec sheets and construction packages for production teams.
- Developed embroidery, embellishment, and textile artworks that enhanced brand aesthetics.
- Lead fit development across seamless and cut & sew categories.
- Sourced materials that aligned with seasonal creative direction.
- Translate trend research and color direction into commercially relevant silhouettes and updates.
- Created digital color & print cards for core team and factories.
- Collaborated with merchandising and production to align design vision with margin and delivery targets.
- Collaborated with merchandising and production teams to align design vision with margin and delivery targets.
Design Assistant
Free People
Philadelphia, PA
05.2022 - 10.2023
- Partnered in designing and executing seamless and intimates collections, ensuring timely delivery across multiple seasons.
- Executed technical sketches, CADs, color charts, and digital line sheets to enhance seasonal development process.
- Created mock-ups and physical samples for internal review meetings to facilitate design discussions.
- Sourced materials and trims, ensuring alignment with creative direction and adherence to cost targets.
- Contributed fit comments and construction updates for both seamless and cut & sew styles.
- Collaborated with merchandising and production teams to ensure product vision aligned with business objectives.
Fashion Design Intern
WE ARE HAH
Los Angeles, CA
05.2021 - 04.2022
- Analyzed trends, silhouettes, and fabrication innovations to enhance mood boards and influence development meetings.
- Assisted in garment sampling and prepared presentations that effectively communicated creative concepts supporting design objectives.
- Created digital campaign concepts and seasonal print/color cards that consistently reflected and strengthened brand vision.
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Apparel, Merchandising and Design
Iowa State University
Ames, IA, US05.2021
Apparel Design
London College of Fashion
London, England03.2020
Skills
- Technical design packages
- Fit analysis
- Textile artwork development
- Trend analysis
- Product line management
- Adobe Suite
- CAD & Procreate
- AI-Assisted Design Tools
- PLM Systems
- Fabric & Trim sourcing
- Project coordination
Awards
First Place: Evelyn & Richard Schibbs Alumni A&D 495 Scholarship, First Place: Sleepwear/Loungewear
Timeline
Designer
Heartbreak Honey
01.2026 - Current
Assistant Designer
Free People
10.2023 - Current
Design Assistant
Free People
05.2022 - 10.2023
Fashion Design Intern
WE ARE HAH
05.2021 - 04.2022
Apparel Design
London College of Fashion
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Apparel, Merchandising and Design
Iowa State University