Nathaly Meristil
New York,USA
Summary
Highly communicative Design Director proudly offering many years' experience analyzing each project stage to ensure achievement of strategic objectives. Highly astute in implementing process improvements and building lucrative partnerships. Offering great workflow management and branding skills.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Design Director
Kensie and Siena Dresses
New York, USA
10.2022 - Current
- Spearhead conceptual direction for each season, adjusting per shifting strategic needs of the business
- Lead the design team through the design process, providing clear direction and feedback for concepts, designs, layers, techniques, colors and print placements, in close partnership with the VP
- Create trend forecast to be used by both design and merchandising
- Demonstrate ability to affect key decisions within the Cross-Functional teams
- Manage the budget for Prints and Sample development
- Source and develop new fabrics and yarns, stitch constructions, and trims while remaining conscience of price point
- Ensure that product is of high quality, cohesively designed and consistent with market trends, as well as business strategy
- Attend production fittings and sales meetings regularly
- Partner with each department at different touch points
- Demonstrate strong awareness of apparel retail and fashion landscape
- Missy and Plus Size [Established February 2023]
Senior Designer
Guess Dresses Division
New York, USA
08.2022 - 10.2022
- Contributed to seasonal trend research working closely with the VP
- Leading design team in the absence of Design director
- Building Trend, Color story and Design boards
- Delegating styles to assistant designers for sketching and submitting developments to garment factories per season
- Scheduling showroom models for line review meetings to showcase new collections per season
- Kept developments on schedule to avoid overlap w/ market meetings
- Submitting development charts to garment factories to maintain flow of sample requests/stay on schedule
- Manage and update design changes throughout the season
- Draping and fitting proto samples before proceeding to SMS
- Developing development samples with local sample makers
- Sourcing trims/embellishments and fabrics
- Working closely with Production team regarding each style’s breakdown [fabric cost, trim cost, etc]
- Negotiating fabric and trim prices with mills suitable for production
- Attending and leading in fittings for production styles
- Reviewing lab dips, strike offs, and shipping samples submitted by fabric mills
Associate Designer
Guess Dresses
New York, USA
08.2016 - 08.2022
- Support the development of seasonal women's outerwear collections.
- Research and analyze fashion trends to anticipate market demands and customer preferences.
- Partner with teams and suppliers on style development and product improvements.
- Coordinate with technical design and production teams to ensure design integrity throughout development.
- Attend and document fit sessions, implementing necessary design modifications.
- Monitor style performance and maintain seasonal line plans.
- Contribute to merchandising strategies and product presentations.
- Assess colorways and provide detailed feedback on lab dips and strike-offs.
- Create technical packages for development and production styles
- Facilitate the proto and sample approval process.
- Meet critical path deadlines within the product development calendar.
- Responsible for approval of sales samples to ensure garment is production ready.
- Responsible for staying within the time and action calendar.
- Maintain clear communication channels across design, sales, merchandise, and production teams
- Sending collection to Guess LA headquarters for style approvals
Associate Designer
Marciano Dresses
New York, USA
10.2018 - 06.2019
- Collaborated with the Design Director
- Sketched and submitted developments to garment factories per season
- Submitting development charts to garment factories to maintain flow of sample requests/stay on schedule
- Draping and fitting proto samples before proceeding to SMS
- Sourcing trims/embellishments and fabrics for development samples
- Brainstorming and developing artworks/print placements after purchased for the line
- Submitting costing chart every season to all garment factories, to aide production team with allocation before styles are cut
- Working closely with Production team regarding each style’s breakdown [fabric cost, trim cost, etc]
- Creating line sheets for Sales team
- Merchandising the collection with the VP of sales and Design Director prior to Market week
- Developing and submitting techpacks to garment factories
- Reviewing lab dips, strike offs, and shipping samples submitted by fabric mills
- Ensuring SMS are suitable for professional photoshoot regarding e-commerce
- Multitasked between additional projects such as developing ‘Shrugs’ and ‘Sneaker/Casual Dresses’
- Sending collection to Guess LA headquarters for style approvals
Associate Designer
Kensie Dresses Division
New York, USA
07.2017 - 01.2018
- Researching seasonal trends and complying inspirations
- Collaborating with the Design Director on the direction of the brand
- Sketching and submitting developments to garment factories per season
- Submitting development charts to garment factories to maintain flow of sample requests
- Draping and fitting proto samples before proceeding to SMS
- Developing showroom/development samples with local sample makers
- Sourcing trims/embellishments and fabrics for development samples
- Brainstorming and developing artworks/print placements after purchased for the line
- I helped w/ this division when the license was acquired until associates were hired to join design team
Associate Designer
Cyrus Knits-Evolution
New York, USA
09.2015 - 08.2016
- Prepared detailed flat sketch designs that are organized by groups per season
- Make revisions to sketch and design package as needed
- Sent sample requests to factories in overseas
- Contributed to the conceptualization and implementation of the line
- Requested and approved quality swatches and lab dips
- Assisted in trend research
- Prepared presentation boards for meeting with sales team
- Created and maintained worksheets, line sheets and color cards
- Attended fitting/ contributed feedback on garments’ fit and construction to the Technical Design team
- Styled, Prepped and assisted during seasonal look book Photoshoots
- Daily use of MAS90 (a program used to input information such as: styles, colors, prices, fabric content, delivery dates, etc.)
- Spec first samples, and sent development comments to factories
- Maintained, organize and kept accurate sample status charts
- Daily emails and following up with garment factories
- Assisted in private label assignments for other lines within the company when requested
Showroom/Sales Assistant
Absolute Angel
New York, USA
03.2015 - 08.2015
- Assisted Sales team during meetings with buyers
- Contacted fabric vendors on inventory for goods
- Prepped showroom for market week meetings
- Ordered sample yardages showroom samples to be developed for warehouse
- Shipped sample garments and swatch options to buyers on a daily basis
- Photographed showroom samples
- Created line sheets
- Created style templates of garments according to fabrication
- Occasional use of Illustrator
- Maintained the upkeep of the showroom
Sales and Merchandising Assistant(Temp)
Zar Apparel Group
New York, USA
01.2015 - 03.2015
- Took detailed photos of garments
- Cleaned pictures of garments on Photoshop
- Sourced fabrics from different Mill companies
- Prepared cost sheets for garments
- Assigned style numbers to garments
- Daily data entry of garments
- Worked directly with Sales team
- Assisted in-house designers during fittings
Fashion Design Assistant
Paul Carroll NY
Brooklyn, USA
06.2014 - 12.2014
- Was involved in design process of garments
- Embroidered and beaded handwork to garments
- Hand sewing foundation of garments
- Machine Sewing muslin samples
- Assisted designer with patternmaking
- Volunteered for designer’s fashion show during Fashion Week
- Aided styling during promotional video shoot
- Garment District Errands
Education
AAS - Fashion Design
Art Institute of New York City
New York, NY12.2014
AAS - Marketing Management and Sales
New York City College of Technology
Brooklyn, NY05.2012
Skills
- Microsoft Word
- PowerPoint
- Excel
- Younique PLM
- InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Draping
- Pattern Making
- Hand Sketching
- Trend forecasting
Accomplishments
The Art Institute of NY Spring/Summer 2016 NYFW-Presented 6-look Capsule Collection
Timeline
Design Director
Kensie and Siena Dresses
10.2022 - Current
Senior Designer
Guess Dresses Division
08.2022 - 10.2022
Associate Designer
Marciano Dresses
10.2018 - 06.2019
Associate Designer
Kensie Dresses Division
07.2017 - 01.2018
Associate Designer
Guess Dresses
08.2016 - 08.2022
Associate Designer
Cyrus Knits-Evolution
09.2015 - 08.2016
Showroom/Sales Assistant
Absolute Angel
03.2015 - 08.2015
Sales and Merchandising Assistant(Temp)
Zar Apparel Group
01.2015 - 03.2015
Fashion Design Assistant
Paul Carroll NY
06.2014 - 12.2014
AAS - Fashion Design
Art Institute of New York City
AAS - Marketing Management and Sales
New York City College of Technology