Rachel Ireson

About Rachel Ireson

Driven by a love for nature and outdoor pursuits, I\'m a seasoned apparel designer with a…

Experience

1. Senior Outerwear Designer

   Stio®

   Aug 2022 — Present

   I lead and mentor the design team, driving the creation of high-quality apparel that embodies the mountain lifestyle. My role involves fostering daily, cross-functional collaboration with Development, Materials, Production, Brand, and Marketing to ensure a cohesive and objective-driven approach from concept to completion. I thrive in a fast-paced environment, wearing multiple hats to navigate the entire product lifecycle.Key Responsibilities:Creative Direction & Design:•Technical Apparel Design: Lead the design of technical ski outerwear and insulated garments.•Seasonal Creative Direction: Curate seasonal themes, trend-forward silhouettes, print, graphics, and color palettes tailored for the brand.•Special Projects: Spearhead the concept and production of Limited and Special Edition collections.•Collaboration Management: Drive the creation and execution of brand collaborations from initial concept to final product, including partnerships with brands like KSX and Skida.•Brand Identity: Develop comprehensive brand identity design decks.Presentation & Communication:•Go-to-Market Strategy: Present creative direction and design concepts during key go-to-market milestones.•Line Review: Lead line reviews with sales channels, marketing, and retail teams.•External Pitches: Present collaboration pitches to external brands.Team & Project Management:•Team Leadership: Oversee and mentor the apparel and color design teams.•Calendar Management: Create and manage multi-seasonal calendars to ensure timely execution.•Contractor Deployment: Manage freelance designers by creating detailed design briefs for print, graphic, and apparel projects.•Team Expansion: Drive team growth by writing new hire job descriptions, and managing the hiring process.

Education

• Otis College of Art and Design

  BFA

  2002 — 2006

Skills

• Brand Development
• Adobe Illustrator
• Tech Packs
• Trend
• Draping
• Trims
• Denim
• Concept Development
• Fashion Design
• Fit
• Technical Design
• Target Costing
• Fashion Illustration
• Textiles
• Fashion
• Merchandising
• Illustrator
• Outerwear
• Trend Analysis
• Sketching
• Sewing
• Pattern
• Mood Boards
• Swimwear
• Apparel
• Sweaters
• Wovens
• Illustration
• Sportswear
• Styling
• Knitwear