Miriam Rivadeneyra-Kelly                   

 

 

Field: Fashion Design & Merchandising, Technical Design & Computer Generated Design.

​

​​

Podium Brands Group: Cloudveil & Swims                                                                                             October 2024 – May 2025

Full time Menswear Designer in Temporary Position.

 

• Worked directly with V.P. of Sales & Merchandising to create the line from concept to production stage, following current trends, but keeping in mind the store buyer’s needs and budget. Responsible for managing all design aspects of product development.

• Generated all design work on Adobe Suite, which included Men’s Sportswear & Swimwear Design.

• Responsible for submitting complete technical packages with accurate detailing to overseas factories for product development, close communication with manufacturers throughout development and production process.

​

Freelance Fashion Designer & Technical Designer; CAD Work, Prints, Graphics & Merchandising in the Apparel & Accessories Industry         

Freelance clients include: Brooklyn Blue Collar, GHS Holdings Inc., Francine Collections, Rainforest, Ezrasons-Embassy, 

                                 Hamptons Lifestyle Inc.                                                                               May 2020 – Present

 

Tabar, by Fownes Performance Group; Gloves, Accessories Design & Product Development                           February 2019 – May 2020

​

• Worked directly with upper management to design and develop the company’s clients’ product lines, which ranged across outdoors and performance accessories market.

• Generated all CADS on computer programs, Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator, from concept to production stage, but keeping in mind the client’s needs, expectations and price point.

• Responsible for submitting complete technical packages with accurate detailing to factories from sample stage to production; close communication with manufacturers on sample design and fit stage through approval and production process.

​

Excelled. Stanley Work Wear.                                                                                              March 2015- Present

Design & Technical Design Consultant

​

Responsible for creating complete technical packages with accurate detailing for company’s production department. Process includes: 

 

• Computer generated sketches with accurate detail, rendered in Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop.

• Garment specing, which includes store bought and factory’s production samples.

• Technical packages formatted in Excel & Illustrator.

• Close communication with overseas factories & following up with line development process.

• Revision & approvals of garment specs, color lab-dips, fabric quality, trims & accessories.

 

Freelance Designer & Merchandiser                                                                       September 2013 – February 2015

Apparel & Accessories Industry.

 

• Working independently on different freelance projects: from computer generated design and technical productions packages, to hand-crafted accessory designs.

                       

Whitaker International, Apparel & Home

Senior Designer & Merchandiser                                                                                     October 2011 - April 2013

Head Designer & Merchandiser, Apparel                                                                      February 2001 - August 2003

 

Whitaker International is a company that specializes in Strategic Retail Planning based on Lifestyle Method. It helps clients understand and identify their customers, and therefore, anticipate their needs and aspirations. Workshops include: Brand positioning, Design and Merchandising Management, Product Development, Retail Study, Market Research, Visual Merchandising.

As part of a team of professionals, my responsibilities were:

 

• To produce the design content of the workshop material for all Apparel sectors and Home, which included: Color palettes, Mood (concept) boards, Fabrics boards, International Runway show analysis for trend and merchandising direction; and designed and merchandised conceptual collection for each theme and delivery.

• To work directly with Whitaker International upper management to help plan each season's work trajectory for all team members; from managing assignments, schedules and deadlines to completion of each season’s material.

• To merchandise each collection and delivery with full understanding of fabric category and performance, as well as style construction and fit. Worked with confidence designing for each fabric category: wovens, knits, sweater knits, outerwear materials, trims and hardware.

• To research and gather selected editorial material and photographic images to be used for workshop presentations and specific projects for Apparel, Accessories and Home.

• To create flat sketches, illustrations, textile prints, patterns and screen prints, and carefully merchandise and customize each collection for design and style inspiration for each of the company’s clients.

• To write texts for each collection theme to describe color and mood inspiration, style direction and merchandising, fabric and trim direction.

• To generate all my design work on computer software: Illustrator, Photoshop, and produce all final Apparel and Home workshop material in Power Point Presentations.

 

Children's Garment Industry                                                                                             From August 1998 - February 2001

 

Adjmi Apparel Group, Head Girls Designer 4-6x & 7-16                 

Stepping Stones, Girls Designer 4-6x & 7-16                             

Star Ride, Girls Designer 4-6X & 7-16     

 

Held positions of increasing responsibilities in this dynamic, fast-paced, mass-market apparel conglomerate.

                                 

• Responsible for managing this design department, which included design staff and sample room.

• Worked directly with V.P. of Sales & Merchandising to create the line from concept to production stage, following the newest trends, but keeping in mind the store buyer’s needs and budget.

• Responsible for creating and presenting trend & concept direction for every season to upper management.

• Worked with buyers on specific projects and private label lines for companies like JC Penney, Kmart, Walmart.

• Shopped the stores on the East & West coast, as well as abroad for the latest trends to apply newness and originality to the line.

• Extensive fabric and trim research and sourcing from both domestic and overseas mills.

• Responsible for producing showroom samples and submitting all needed information for costing, for both domestic and overseas production, close communication with production process.

• Responsible for submitting complete production packages with accurate detailing and factory samples to the Production Department.

• Generated all design work on computer, which included style design, as well as graphic and textile design (Photoshop & Illustrator).

 

 

Cygne Design                                                                                                                       

Mycal Stores in Japan, Women's Sportswear Designer.                                                                 June 1997 - April 1998

Kenzo Jeans Men's, Designer.                                                                                                       October 1996 - May 1997

 

• Worked directly with Design Director to conceptualize and assist to create the line, from color palettes and concept boards to production process. 

• Contributed with diverse design ideas for a fashion forward and upscale collection as part of a fast-paced international design team.

• Involved as well on the technical side of design process for all design categories: wovens, cut & sew knits, and sweaters.

• Apply newness, creativity, originality to silhouette ideas, textiles and pattern work, up to date with the current European and international trends.

• Involved in fabric, yarn & trim sourcing and development from European and oriental mills in accordance with established budget.

• Generate all design, pattern work and color on computer programs (Illustrator & Photoshop).

• Travel to and maintain close communication with Japan & Hong Kong for presentation of the line to store buyers and supervision of sample and bulk production (E-mail, MS word & Excel).

• Shop the market and retail research to follow up on trends.

• Approve sample and production specs, color lab-dips, fabric finishes and trims.

 

 

Men's Apparel Industry                                                                                                        

 

Phillips Van Heusen, Men's Knitwear Designer.                                                             October 1995 - May 1996

 

• Responsible for creating the knitwear and swimwear line for the outlet stores, from design concept through production.

• Worked directly with Design Director, Product Manager and Store Buyers to conceptualize color, design and pattern direction.

• Worked on trend direction presentation boards and color palettes, as part of a team and under the design director guidance.

• Daily duties included research of new styles ideas and inspiration, for new textile designs following current trends, keeping in mind our target customer's taste and needs, in order to create a balanced and focused line, and within a budgetary guideline.

•  Involved in fabric and trim sourcing with production and sourcing department.

• Translated designs into accurate technical specifications and oversaw production process.

• Supervised one assistant who functioned as technical and associate designer and merchandiser.

• Involved in all aspects of production process, from technical supervision of specs to approval of color lab-dips and strike-offs, supervision of execution of sample and bulk production with merchandising and production department.

 

Arrow Co., Men's Associate Designer, Wovens and Knits.                                               June 1993 - October 1995

 

• Worked as part of a team and under the design director guidance.

• Assisted both knit & woven designers on different aspects of design process: production of presentation boards, color palettes, production packages.

• Researched for inspiration to create new textile print and pattern designs and color combinations, following current trend direction.

• Assisted designer with garment specs, approval of color lab-dips and strike-offs.

• Executed flat sketches and new stripe layout ideas.

 

Gant, Crystal Brands, Men's Assistant Designer.                                                            September 1991 - May 1993

 

• Assisted designers for Dress Shirt Division, Sweater and Golf line.

• Worked on production of presentation boards.

• Helped recolor new pattern designs for dress shirt line.

• Supervised the process of design packages going to art studios for execution, and revised the final executed artwork.

• Assisted designers with garment specs, approval of color lab-dips and strike-offs.

• Executed flat sketches, sweater graphing and illustrated sweater sales brochure.

 

Other Freelance Design & Merchandising Projects in the Apparel and Accessories Market:

 

Tahari. Women’s Sportswear Private Label for Bloomingdale's.                                                   April - July 1998

• Design consultant for private label line development, from concept to production process.

• Responsible for color, fabric and style direction.

• Work closely with sample room staff, involved in fitting approvals.

• Work directly with buyers, merchandise and production department.

                                                                    

Tri Star.                                                                                                               May 1996 - September 1996

Accessories company that developed products for several private label accounts such as Warner Bros., Peanuts and Op.

• Worked in different design projects: jewelry, gift items, sunglasses, all computer generated.

Fila & Tommy Hilfiger                                                                             

• Computer generated projects: flat sketches, prints, patterns and graphics.

 

Education:

 

• The New School. Summer 1997. Training on Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

• Fashion Institute of Technology. Fall 1992 - Spring 1993. Sweater Design.

• Fashion Institute of Technology. Spring 1990 - Spring 1992. Associates of Arts and Science in Fashion design. Cum laude.

• University of Veracruz, Mexico. Fall 1982 - Summer 1987. Bachelor of Arts in Languages with specialization in English and Technical French.

 

Skills:

 

• Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, some InDesign Knowledge, Power Point, MS Word & Excel.

• Native Spanish, Fluent English and Conversational French.

• Hand-craft Jewelry Making.

• Some website building knowledge.