Rachel Swain
Summary
Fashion student with a multidisciplinary foundation in design, merchandising, and marketing. Hands-on experience in luxury retail, project management, and collaborative design processes. Proficient in multi-media rendering and visual merchandising, effectively blending creativity with strategic sales insights.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Summer Sales Professional
Bloomingdale's
Short Hills, NJ
05.2026 - 08.2026
- Styled and assisted customers, surpassing sales goals in women's luxury ready to wear. Leveraged market trend knowledge to strategically target sales across over a dozen designer labels.
- Built relationships with customers to enhance their shopping experience. through personalized service and product knowledge.
- Assisted in merchandising displays to enhance store aesthetics and visibility.
- Processed transactions accurately using point-of-sale systems.
Assistant Costume Design Intern
Muhlenberg College
08.2025 - 10.2025
- Supported departmental production through sourcing fittings and managing wardrobe continuity for consistent visual narratives.
- Directed character design development, contributing to a unique artistic vision.
- Worked with faculty to create compelling visual presentations that effectively communicated ideas.
Studios Festival Coordinator
Muhlenberg Theater Assoc.
01.2024 - 12.2024
- Led logistics and project management for theater festivals, coordinating rehearsals and managing teams to ensure seamless execution.
- Collaborated with production teams to streamline event setup processes, enhancing overall festival efficiency.
- Maintained communication with artists and performers throughout festival planning, fostering strong relationships and ensuring alignment on creative vision.
Assistant Scenic Design Intern
Muhlenberg College
05.2024 - 11.2024
- Executed hands-on set construction to enhance collaborative efforts across disciplines.
- Contributed to scenic design by building physical and digital models.
- Participated in team brainstorming sessions for generating creative design concepts.
- Assisted professor in integrating research findings into practical applications for stage design.
Summer Sales Associate
Abercrombie & Fitch
Short Hills, NJ
06.2024 - 08.2024
- Assessed customer preferences and provided tailored fashion advice using trend, fit, and color theory.
- Showcased merchandise by maintaining product displays aligned with brand standards.
- Collaborated with the team to efficiently restock merchandise and manage inventory levels.
- Arranged displays for seasonal promotions, enhancing visual merchandising appeal.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Fashion Business Concentration
New York University, Gallatin School of Individualized Study
New York, NY05-2028
Bachelor of Arts - Theater, Concentrations in Costume and Theatrical Design
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA05-2025
High School Diploma -
Solebury School
New Hope, PA05-2023
Pre-College Program -
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY05-2020
Skills
- Creative: Costume Design, Fashion Design, Garment Construction, Digital Rendering, SFX and Traditional Makeup, Styling, Drawing and Painting, Visual merchandising
- Business/Tech: Sales strategy, Project management, Customer engagement, Visual merchandising, Team collaboration, MS Office, Google Workspace, Adobe Suite, VectorWorks
Honors and Awards
Presidential and Talent (Design) Scholarships, Muhlenberg College Dean's List: all semesters (Fall 2023- Spring 2025), Featured artist at Hicks Art Center Gallery (2022-2023)
Timeline
Summer Sales Professional
Bloomingdale's
05.2026 - 08.2026
Assistant Costume Design Intern
Muhlenberg College
08.2025 - 10.2025
Summer Sales Associate
Abercrombie & Fitch
06.2024 - 08.2024
Assistant Scenic Design Intern
Muhlenberg College
05.2024 - 11.2024
Studios Festival Coordinator
Muhlenberg Theater Assoc.
01.2024 - 12.2024
Bachelor of Arts - Fashion Business Concentration
New York University, Gallatin School of Individualized Study
Bachelor of Arts - Theater, Concentrations in Costume and Theatrical Design
Muhlenberg College
High School Diploma -
Solebury School
Pre-College Program -
Fashion Institute of Technology