ANNIE GRAY
San Gabriel,CA
Summary
Highly motivated and devoted apparel Senior Technical Designer, with keen to details, demonstrated by 25 years of technical experience working in the garment industry. Enthusiastic about deliver the best fit and quality to customers. A perfectionist when it comes to technical design, sewing, fit, quality and grade rules.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Product Technician -Plus & Petite Divisions
Ross Stores, Inc.
02.2022 - Current
- Established pattern block and spec across Ross plus and petite divisions.
- Lead, supervised and grew a team of 2 associate product technicians.
- Mentoring and fostering their professional growth through training, and enhancing overall team performance.
- Coordinated with Product Technical Managers to align fit and quality objectives with overall business goals, ensuring a cohesive end-to-end product vision.
- Established best practices within the team, promoting consistency and adherence to established standards across all projects.
- Conduct vendor meetings efficiently in providing solutions to fit, quality on past, present and / or future production issues.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams and buyers to develop innovative technical solutions for complex technical problems.
- Served as the primary point of technical contact for vendors, addressing concerns on fit and quality issues.
- Streamlined the fit process for a more efficient workflow, resulting in faster feedback to completion times to vendors.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Used critical thinking to break down fit issues, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
Senior Technical Designer
RW Designs Inc
07.2021 - Current
- Developed basic blocks patterns and related specifications for swimwear.
- Created detailed tech packs from costing to production, include detailed BOM page, sewing construction page and initial specs.
- Conduct live-model fittings with designers and patternmaker to ensure desired fit for Walmart customer.
- Provide detailed fit comments to vendors, include detailed photos and pattern corrections, and issue graded specs for Walmart Missy and Plus customers.
- Check garments for any quality and sewing issues and inform QC and vendor.
- Worked successfully with diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our products and services.
- Worked closely with team members to deliver project requirements, develop solutions and meet deadlines.
- Prioritized and organized tasks to efficiently accomplish service goals.
Senior Technical Designer
Threads 4 Thought
09.2017 - 04.2021
- Established grade rules and library for all categories for all categories for kids (2T-18), Women’s (XS-XXL), Plus (1X-3X), Mens (XS – 3XL) and women’s specialty (petite, maternity, etc).
- Initiated pattern blocks library for all core bodies in reoccurring fabrics, streamlining fit process. Increase on reorders for new category styles outside of active / athleisure, such as dresses, sweaters, skirts.
- Assemble production tech packs in full package for all divisions.
- Create master branded labels and hangtags files for all categories and divisions.
- Managed and guide junior technical designers on any technical and fit issues.
- Lead fit sessions on live models with design director & designers.
- Provide detailed fit comments, fit photos and digital / paper pattern corrections to factories on timely manner.
- Identify and provide solutions of fit and quality issues to production manager.
- Approve bulk fabric, inspect and approve / reject PP and TOP samples.
Senior Technical Designer
Alo, LLC
06.2017 - 09.2017
- Attend fitting sessions on live models with technical designer director, product development and production teams, and take detailed notes and fit photos.
- Provide detailed fit comments to factories, using Adobe Illustrator for fit corrections and PLM system for spec and grade adjustments.
- Established graded rule and graded spec using PLM system.
- Inspect PP & TOP samples and issue comments to vendors on timely manner.
- Assist Technical Design Director to solve any technical / fit issues.
Senior Technical Designer
Threads 4 Thought
07.2014 - 05.2017
- Assemble production technical packages in full circle for women’s & men's casual, lounge, and active / performance lines.
- Manage and guide technical design assistants and oversee their work to make sure proper fit comments are issued to factories.
- Established block patterns, specs and grade rules in all categories.
- Lead fit sessions on live model or dress form with designers.
- Provide detailed fit comments & pattern corrections to vendors on timely manner.
- Identify and provide solutions of fit and quality issues to production manager.
- Approve lab dips, bulk fabric, print strike offs, trims and labels.
- Inspect PP and TOP samples and issue comments on timely manner.
Import Technical Designer
Crew Knitwear, Inc
06.2013 - 07.2014
- Measure and Inspect fit, pre-production, and TOP samples or all import styles
- Attended fittings with designer and pattern maker on fit models & dress forms.
- Provide detailed fit comments to vendors via digital images and sketches.
- Established grade rules and issue graded specs to vendors.
- Inspect private label TOP samples before sending to companies.
- Created basic blocks patterns and associated specs.
- Worked closely with designers, production and merchandising teams.
Women's Technical Designer
Just For Wraps / Wrapper
05.2012 - 04.2013
- Measured and Inspected fit, pre-production, and TOP samples for junior, missy contemporary lines and plus size styles.
- Managed and lead fit sessions on live models or dress forms with pattern makers and designers.
- Instructed pattern makers and spec writers on pattern and spec corrections
- Provide detailed fit comments and fit photo corrections on timely manner.
- Established grade rules and Issue graded specs to vendors.
- Collaborate and problem solve technical issues with designer & pattern makers
- Maintained fit consistency across all brand items.
Kids Technical Designer
Just For Wraps / Wrapper
06.2009 - 05.2010
- Measure and Inspect all girls samples from oversea vendors (fit, pre-production, and TOP samples).
- Conduct fit sessions on dress form with patternmaker and designers.
- Provide detailed fit comments to vendors in a timely manner, via pattern, sketch corrections or digital images.
- Establish grade rules and Issue graded specs to vendors.
- Ensure size and fit consistency across product categories and each size range (2T-4T, 4-6X, and 7-16).
Product Development Manager
MG Concepts, Inc
05.2007 - 05.2009
- Managed product development for contemporary women’s knits/sweaters.
- Assembled tech packs and BOMs.
- Set up cost sheets and track down costs, yarn dips, knit-down, trims and development samples with factories.
- Create, sets up, and update line-sheets per category every season.
- Assists Designer with yarn, trim, color, and inspiration boards.
- Increased sales by 30%.
Technical Designer
Kathy Ireland Apparel Line, Orioxi International Corporation
07.2005 - 05.2007
- Managed and assembled development and production tech packs for Kathy Ireland apparel line.
- Assist designer to create graphics and CADs on line-sheets, using adobe illustrator.
- Schedule and attend fit sessions with designer and product development manager.
- Issue fit comments and graded specs to overseas factories on timely manner.
- Organize and send out salesman samples.
Spec Writer
Swat Fame, Inc
12.2002 - 05.2004
- Create detailed specs and sewing constructions pages in the tech pack
- Measure girls samples and issue fit comments (1st fit to PP to TOP samples).
- Established grade rules and grade specs for girls size 2T-16 for Speechless.
- Assist production manager to problem solve fit issues and relate to factories.
Production Coordinator
BEPC Limited
07.2000 - 12.2002
- Liaison and daily email communication between Kids R Us and vendors.
- Follow up with factories on price negotiations, fabric development, lab dips, strike offs, bulk fabric, fit samples, Pre-production and TOP samples.
- Prepare price quotation sheets and time and action calendar to customers.
- Maintain organized filing system.
Associate Technical Designer
Chava International Corporation
05.1995 - 05.1999
- Manage product development for contemporary women’s knit and sweaters
- Prepare detailed technical packages (full-package).
- Measure samples, issue fit comments and graded specs.
- Track & follow up on samples with domestic factories and visits to mills.
- Prepare line-sheets for showroom sales people.
- Assist fabric and trim purchases.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Fashion Design
Parsons School of Design
New York, NY05.1995
High School Diploma - Fashion Design
Fashion Industries High School
New York, NY06.1991
Skills
- Garment product specialist, Quality Assurance
- Proactively trouble shoot and problem solve fit issues
- Detail-oriented, flexible and adaptable
- Collaborative team player, excellent work ethic
- Analytical and Critical Thinking
- Organization and Time Management
- Team Supervision
- Technical training
- Computer Skills, Microsoft Office
- Bilingual / Fluent in Mandarin Chinese
Sketching, Piano Playing, Singing.
I love sketch figure drawings and still live drawings. I also love to play piano and sing songs during my leisure time.
Languages
Chinese (Mandarin)
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Senior Product Technician -Plus & Petite Divisions
Ross Stores, Inc.
02.2022 - Current
Senior Technical Designer
RW Designs Inc
07.2021 - Current
Senior Technical Designer
Threads 4 Thought
09.2017 - 04.2021
Senior Technical Designer
Alo, LLC
06.2017 - 09.2017
Senior Technical Designer
Threads 4 Thought
07.2014 - 05.2017
Import Technical Designer
Crew Knitwear, Inc
06.2013 - 07.2014
Women's Technical Designer
Just For Wraps / Wrapper
05.2012 - 04.2013
Kids Technical Designer
Just For Wraps / Wrapper
06.2009 - 05.2010
Product Development Manager
MG Concepts, Inc
05.2007 - 05.2009
Technical Designer
Kathy Ireland Apparel Line, Orioxi International Corporation
07.2005 - 05.2007
Spec Writer
Swat Fame, Inc
12.2002 - 05.2004
Production Coordinator
BEPC Limited
07.2000 - 12.2002
Associate Technical Designer
Chava International Corporation
05.1995 - 05.1999
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Fashion Design
Parsons School of Design
High School Diploma - Fashion Design
Fashion Industries High School