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Sarang Bijwe
Fashion Designer
Orlando,FL
Work Preference
Summary
Senior Denim Design professional with 17+ years of experience in fashion, apparel, and product development, specializing in denim, casual wear, sustainable materials, trend forecasting, garment development, and innovative finishes. Skilled in strategic planning, cross-functional team leadership, vendor coordination, and process optimization. Proven ability to align creative direction with business goals, manage design-to-production workflows, and deliver commercially successful collections.
Overview
1
1
Certification
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
SR. MANAGER (DESIGNER DENIM)
RELIANCE RETAIL LIMITED
Bengaluru, India
02.2021 - 04.2026
- Driving concepts, fabrics, washes, trims, silhouettes and fits and managing the entire line right from concept, Sample development to production handover.
- Research & collaborate with national fabric mills/vendors to stay on top of fabric trends & develop new fabrics & techniques in Knit Dobby & woven denim categories.
- Seasonal sample range presentation to distributors and management.
- Tech Pack Development with comments for Final Production. Designing catalogues / range books for each season with specifications.
- Monitor sales on AJIO Business & TST to understand Performing & Non Performing Bricks.
- Evaluate sales mix changes in Core,Basics & Fashion.
- Study the competition and deliver customer relevant bricks to grow the brand.
- Innovation in lead bricks of the brand for capturing the majority market share.
- Creation of sharp,clear and focused brand POV that defines and demarcates it from internal and external brands.
- Create distinctive and unique products that makes the brand stand apart. Ensuring Quarter-wise launch on new brands against the AOP.
- Frequent cross functional discussions between Buying,PD,Sourcing to ensure focused and practical Line-sheet delivery.
- Designed and developed the signature style for John Player Denim, Chinos, all Category driving significant business growth and earning appreciation from the business head.
- Playing as consultant role to developed new Brand and design & Set the new Denim line for the Brand.
- Successfully Design & developed trends Select DNMX Brand at competitive price point below 999/- Denim & casual Chinos + Cargos line.
- (B2B AJIO BUSINESS)
- Worked with multiple teams to make the design-to-production process smoother, faster, and more efficient.
- Developed product and design strategies that supported sales growth, improved customer appeal, and strengthened brand performance.
SR. DESIGNER (CATEGORY HEAD)
KONTOOR BRANDS INDIA PVT. LTD.
Bengaluru, India
11.2017 - 12.2020
- Led the Creative Direction for seasonal Denim, Chinos and Jackets collections to a year-over-year sales growth in Denim, Chinos and Jackets Products.
- Designed over 200 styles options per season, including Jeans, Jackets and chinos, with focus on innovative detailing, fit and wash techniques.
- Spearheaded the introduction of sustainable materials (organic cotton, recycled denim), reducing production costs by 10% while aligning with the brand's eco-conscious initiatives.
- Collaborate with sourcing teams to develop sustainable denim fabrics, reducing carbon footprint by 15% through eco-friendly processes.
- Works closely with Sr. Design Manager and Associate Designer to ensure that all fabrics and trim designs and sample orders are handed off to the Sourcing team according to calendar.
- (VF) (BRAND LEE)
- Led design projects from concept to completion, ensuring alignment with brand standards and market trends.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative product designs that enhanced consumer engagement.
SR. DESIGNER
VF BRAND PVT LTD
Bengaluru, India
08.2012 - 11.2017
- Led in-house design processes, coordinating with VF Hong Kong to achieve desired outcomes.
- Designed high-fashion denim styles for both men and women, focusing on unique washes and fit, contributing to increase in denim sales.
- Developed detailed technical design packages that included specs, flat sketches, and material sourcing, ensuring smooth transitions from design to production.
- Led trend forecasting for denim collections, researching fabric innovations and identifying key industry trends, which were incorporated into the brand's strategic direction.
- Managed the fabric sourcing process, working closely with suppliers to select fabrics that were both cost-effective and met quality standards.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure designs were aligned with the brand's aesthetic, ensuring consistency across all product categories.
- Implemented innovative garment treatments such as laser engraving and eco-friendly washes, which reduced water usage in production by 25%.
- Analyzed consumer behavior through personal interactions and online surveys to create new product ranges.
- Ensured products aligned with market trends and business strategy.
- Visiting international market to capture international market trend and Communicating with distributors, dealers and key partners to update myself with current market trends.
- Have been a team player to maximize given resources during various team activities like fabric selection and trim planning, design sync-up with VF-Hongkong, sampling approvals, working with product team to contribute to growth of the organization, Sharing of ideas in Big idea meeting.
- Managed product consistency with trends, troubleshooted fit issues, and directed team development.
- (WRANGLER)
SR. DESIGNER (DENIM DESIGNER)
PRATEEK APPARELS PVT. LTD.
Bengaluru, India
11.2009 - 08.2012
- Worked for: Marks & Spencer, Next, S. Oliver (Germany), Marlboro classics, Monoprix (France), Tommy Hilfiger (USA), Calvin Klein.
- In-depth knowledge of denim designing with respect to market trends, buying behavior of consumer, manufacturing and finishing process and other related activities.
- Experienced in designing regular and custom-made denim wear and accessories.
- Actively involved in the research and development of key fabrics, prints, and patterns in collaboration with the fabric team and CAD designers.
- Maintain regular communication with product managers regarding product specifications, fabric selections, and detailed requirements across all product categories.
- Conducted thorough analysis of consumer behavior by gathering feedback through personal interactions and online surveys to inform the development of a new and innovative product range.
- Led design projects from concept to completion, ensuring alignment with brand identity and market trends.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative product lines that enhanced customer engagement.
DESIGNER (TRAINEE DESIGNER)
MADURA GARMENTS EXPORT LTD
Bengaluru, India
07.2008 - 08.2009
- (ADITYA BIRLA GROUP)
- Designed innovative garment collections aligning with market trends and customer preferences.
- Collaborated with production teams to ensure design feasibility and quality standards.
- Utilized CAD software to create detailed technical sketches and specifications for garments.
Education
Bachelor of Arts With Hons - FASHION DESIGNING & TECHNOLOGY
NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY - PEARL ACADEMY OF FASHION
NEW DELHI01-2008
Higher Secondary School Examination (HSSC) - 12th (HSSC)
Saibaba Mahavidyalaya
NAGPUR01-2003
2YEARS Advanced Diploma - Fashion Design
National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD)
NAGPUR01-2002
Skills
- Design & Development
- Fabric Sourcing & Development
- Fit & Pattern Development
- Supplier & Vendor Relationship Management
- Color, Wash & Treatment Techniques
- Technical Drawing & Adobe Creative Suite
- Trend Forecasting & Market Research
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Cross-functional team coordination
- Operations management
- Strategic planning
Accomplishments
- Appreciated by VF Organization with Appreciation Medal Certificate for helping to grow the Denim business through Innovation in Denim (Moto styling & features), High design adoption rates and good volume growth in all categories designed.
- Developed custom denim washes and finishes (light, dark, distressed) that increased consumer demand and were featured in major fashion trade shows.
- Collaborated with production teams and external manufacturers to ensure that designs adhered to both quality standards and budget constraints, improving production efficiency.
- Managed a team of 2 junior designers, providing mentorship and feedback to foster creativity, improve technical skills, and maintain design consistency.
- Partnered with marketing and sales teams to translate denim designs into customer-focused products, resulting in an increased market share in the premium denim segment.
- Sound understanding of design, merchandising, and product development to ensure costs of the materials, treatments and trims are within our initial FOB costing.
- Collaborates with Patternmakers, Development and Tech team to confirm desired garment construction and look.
- Design into specific price point based on business, costing and merchant direction as well as Assists the Design Head in presenting the line during sales meetings.
Certification
- Dyeing and Printing, Weaver's Service Center, Nagpur, 2003
- Complete training for Entrepreneurship development in fashion designing, Small Industries Service Institute, Nagpur
- Participated in 'Swatch Alternative Art of Fashion', 2007
- Participated in '5th DHL - CIAE International Fashion Awards', 2004
Languages
English
Full Professional
Hindi
Native or Bilingual
Marathi
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
SR. MANAGER (DESIGNER DENIM)
RELIANCE RETAIL LIMITED
02.2021 - 04.2026
SR. DESIGNER (CATEGORY HEAD)
KONTOOR BRANDS INDIA PVT. LTD.
11.2017 - 12.2020
SR. DESIGNER
VF BRAND PVT LTD
08.2012 - 11.2017
SR. DESIGNER (DENIM DESIGNER)
PRATEEK APPARELS PVT. LTD.
11.2009 - 08.2012
DESIGNER (TRAINEE DESIGNER)
MADURA GARMENTS EXPORT LTD
07.2008 - 08.2009
Bachelor of Arts With Hons - FASHION DESIGNING & TECHNOLOGY
NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY - PEARL ACADEMY OF FASHION
Higher Secondary School Examination (HSSC) - 12th (HSSC)
Saibaba Mahavidyalaya
2YEARS Advanced Diploma - Fashion Design
National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD)