Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Timeline
Generic

René Commons

Seattle

Summary

Original Design Consultant with talents in creating new designs in a team environment or independently. Passion for research, sustainability, collaboration, and innovation. Adept at ideation and refinement of ideas to meet the needs of customers and brand initiatives. Effective communicator and collaborator with design partners and industry partners through the development process. An active enthusiast who believes in creating enduring styles and stewarding processes that preserve the environment for future generations.

Overview

32
32
years of professional experience

Work History

Design Consultant

Jet City Studio
Seattle
03.2020 - Current
  • Accountable for development of concept/creative direction, color direction, designs, tech packs, construction details, specifications, print, textile, & graphic design for emerging & leading brands. NDA protected.
  • Including product development & sourcing- USA and Asia.
  • Prepared original and relevant options for clients suitable to individual requirements.
  • Developed design deliverables that elevated, differentiated and functioned on-brand and on-strategy.
  • Maintained design knowledge by attending various webinars, classes, OR show, LA Fabric Show, & PV Sport Materials Show.
  • Consulted with Clients to identify design requirements for each project.
  • Communicated with factories to align style consistency.

Senior Designer - Women's Active

Eddie Bauer
Bellevue
01.2015 - 03.2016
  • Accountable for developing trend, concept direction, designs & textile direction for W’s Motion collection. Management 1- assistant designer.
  • Led communication with cross functional teams.
  • Delivered “Best-Performing” Trail Tight & 'Ignitelite' Series.
  • Developed design deliverables that elevated, differentiated and functioned on-brand and on-strategy.

Designer - Women's Active

Nordstrom
Seattle
03.2008 - 07.2015
  • Provided trend, concept direction, designs, tech packs, specifications, fit & textile direction for W’s Zella Active & Zella Platinum collections. Managed 1- assistant designer.
  • Zella Brand concept leader & collaborator with Merchandising and Cross functional teams.
  • Delivering Zella sales growth from 9M- 90M.
  • Achieved costing and aesthetic goals for seasonal fabric palette for Zella
  • Maintained trend knowledge by shopping NYC and LA, attending OR, Premiere Vision & Magic, and travel to Asia for fittings.
  • Led aesthetic vision and creation of new fashion products. Sketched artistic and fresh designs for consideration.
  • Worked with technical design and product development to provide accurate and complete design packages. Clearly communicated design revisions to all members of fashion design team.
  • Supervised design staff through product creation and release.
  • Participated in continuous improvement by generating suggestions, engaging in problem-solving activities to support teamwork.

Freelance Designer

Jet City Studio
Seattle
01.2006 - 01.2008
  • Designed, sketched and developed styles for brands, including: Moving Comfort, Tommy Bahama, Target, Specialized, Golf Betty, and Nordstrom.
  • Obtained approval of concepts by submitting rough drafts to management or to client.
  • Developed design deliverables that elevated, differentiated and functioned on-brand and on-strategy.

Head Designer - Saltaire

Unionbay
Seattle
04.2004 - 04.2005
  • Provided trend, concept direction, designs & textile direction for emerging M’s sportswear brand: Saltaire. Modern Denim shorts, pants and signature woven & print shirts, sweaters, & jackets. Managed 2 – assistant designers.
  • Sourced and developed seasonal materials that elevated, differentiated and functioned on-brand and on-strategy.
  • Conducted style fittings in Seattle and Hong Kong office.
  • Maintained trend knowledge by attending Premiere Vision show in Paris and shopping Italy.
  • Created over [Number] visual concepts either by hand or with assistance of computer programs in [Year].

Design Director

London Fog/Pacific Trail
Seattle
01.1993 - 01.2003
  • Provided trend, concept direction, designs & textile direction for leading national outerwear brands. Managed 1 – Assistant designer.
  • Levi’s Dockers Outerwear Design Director. Sales Growth 0-18M in 3 years.
  • London Fog - Sr Designer. Annual sales 180M. Pacific Trail – Sr Designer. W’s Outerwear Sales Growth 22M-240M in 8 years.
  • Juggled multiple projects simultaneously, never losing strategic vision and always maintaining focus.
  • Mentored Assistant designer to promote confidence and productivity, which encouraged new ideas and fostered positive working relationships.
  • Met with leading specialty retail and department store buyers to present concepts and determine factors affecting final assortment.

Head Designer

Evan Picone / American Bazaar
New York
1990 - 1992
  • Designed and developed licensed Evan Picone brand of better women's outerwear including raincoats and wool coats.
  • Developed styles with Asia office and Woolen factory in New Britain Connecticut from Manhattan office.

Education

AAS Fashion Design Program - Design, Textiles & Clothing Design

Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY

Foundation: Art & Design -

University of Washington
Seattle, WA

BS Fashion Design Program -

University of Hawaii At Manoa
Honolulu, HI

Skills

  • Outerwear Design Background - 12 years designing for Eddie Bauer, Nordstrom Zella, Pendleton, Item House, London Fog, Levi's, Pacific Trail
  • Engineered Products - Experienced with stretch compression fit, abrasion resistance, seamless knits, seam sealing, bonding, down, hybrids, ultra-lites, packables, reversibles, systems, soft shell 2-layer & 3-layer products
  • Diverse Cross Market Knowledge - Successful development of key core and updated performance styles for both M's and W's, including accessories
  • Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD), Adobe CC - Illustrator & Photoshop, Microsoft Office, PLM, Clo3D (learning) & Procreate
  • Creative Design and Concept Development; Ability to create, express and apply design point of view
  • Material Development; Proficient textile knowledge & experience in development of technical outerwear fabrics and functional finishes
  • Fit and form- On point communicator of concept target fit with team partners, ensuring excellent function and flatters customer
  • Meeting Presentations; Loves informing teams and customers with product design inspiration and point of view
  • Sustainability- Passionately researching new material and trim innovations via social media and trade shows
  • Market Trend R & D; Trained eye for identifying color, shape, and functional concepts on and off the mountain
  • Friendly, positive attitude
  • Working collaboratively
  • Troubleshooting

Timeline

Design Consultant

Jet City Studio
03.2020 - Current

Senior Designer - Women's Active

Eddie Bauer
01.2015 - 03.2016

Designer - Women's Active

Nordstrom
03.2008 - 07.2015

Freelance Designer

Jet City Studio
01.2006 - 01.2008

Head Designer - Saltaire

Unionbay
04.2004 - 04.2005

Design Director

London Fog/Pacific Trail
01.1993 - 01.2003

Head Designer

Evan Picone / American Bazaar
1990 - 1992

AAS Fashion Design Program - Design, Textiles & Clothing Design

Fashion Institute of Technology

Foundation: Art & Design -

University of Washington

BS Fashion Design Program -

University of Hawaii At Manoa

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