Rachel L. Ireson
Creative, innovative, and versatile designer with over a dozen years experience in the apparel industry.
Fueled by a love of the outdoors, travel, and wellness. Specializing in movement based, forward design.
Believer in beautiful functionality, impeccable construction, and flawless fit.
In-depth experience in Women's Activewear, Outerwear, Bra design, and Sportswear,
as well as Kids Outerwear/Activewear.
Rachel Ireson Designs: 2015 - 2019
Consulting & Design:
• Trend, color, print, & graphic direction.
• Brand identity decks.
• Innovative design.
• Detailed Renderings & technical sketches.
• Complete tech pack construction.
• Trim & fabric development.
• Color palate creation.
• Line sheet assembly & management.
• Factory-ready all-over print and graphic design.
• Garment fittings.
• Garment construction consultations.
Clients:
• Pendleton Woolen Mills
• Title Nine
• Marmot
• Icebreaker
• Astral
• Fayettechill
• Target
• Under Armour
• Apple
• Medelita
• Small start-ups in the Active and Outdoor industries
Patagonia: Technical & Lifestyle Apparel Design - Women's & Kids' - 2010-2015
• Created innovative designs that fit the Patagonia customer, using Patagonia’s core values of making the best product, doing no unnecessary harm, and inspiring change in business practices through leading by example.
• Designed and created tech packs for 60 new styles per season for the following categories:
Outerwear: down insulated • synthetic insulated • fully seam-taped & waterproof • casual woven
Knits: cut & sew active • cut & sew bras & underwear • seamless tops, bras & underwear• swimwear • dresses
Woven: technical bottoms • denim sportswear • casual sportswear tops & bottoms • dresses
• Collaborated with Line Managers to conceive line plans & design briefs.
• Built category specific seasonal themes, and color stories.
• Managed & colored over 100 styles per season.
• Worked with sourcing to develop environmentally friendly fabrics & trims.
• Patterned, draped & sewed samples, fabric tests and mockups as needed.
• Participated in product fittings. Worked closely w/ developers & pattern makers to achieve the most functional fit & styling.
• Traveled for seasonal inspiration, trade shows & factory development.
• Mentored and trained junior designers.
Forever 21: Associate Designer - Women's Sportswear & Denim - 2009-2010
• Produced technical flats, detailed tech packs, and accurate specs for 100 new styles per month, while pushing for increased quality and innovation with a minimal timeline.
• Conceived a branded denim basics program, created thematic collections of structured women’s sportswear.
• Fine tuned the creative process for rapid concept development & hand sketching speed.
•Conceived mockups for construction, surface design, beading patterns, etc.
7 for all mankind: Associate Designer - Women's Sportswear & Denim - 2007-2009
• Designed, fit and merchandised high end contemporary Women's Woven Sportswear.
• Completed technical sketches, BOMs, line sheets & costing for overseas and domestic production.
• Managed sewing room sampling, coordinated garment dye and wash processes.
Nike: Design Apprentice - Global Olympic Design Team - 2006-2007
• Designed, fit, and tested performance apparel for professional Olympic athletes & junior girls.
• Created technical flats and tech packs for overseas production. Participated in seasonal color Committees
• Participated in factory fittings, sample, and garment production in Hong Kong.
• Produced hand illustrations & Powerpoint presentations.
Previous Design Experience
• Kat Von Dee: Women's Sportswear 2009
• Urban Behavior, 2009: Women's Sportswear & Denim Designer
• Skechers Inc, 2008-2009: Junior Girl's Knit Designer
• Juicy Couture, 2008: Women's Sweater Designer
• Zooey Knitwear, 2008: Women's Knit Designer
• Pacific Sunwear, 2005: Junior Girl’s Design
• Alpine Stars, 2004: Technical Outerwear Design
• Fox Racing, 2003: Junior Girl's Design
Technical Skills:
• Technical flats
• Merchandised croquis
• Pattern drafting
• Hand illustrations
• Detailed creative direction & mood boards
• Innovative fabric stories/trim
• Draping
• Sophisticated sewing and finishing
• Fit/spec. accuracy •
Computer Skills:
• Browzewear/Lotta 3D
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop
• InDesign
• Excel
• Powerpoint
• MS Office
•Lotus Notes/Entourage
• tech packs, spec sheets, cost sheets
Personal Skills:
• fast & efficient worker
• team player
• self starter
• creative problem solver
• super flexible and positive attitude
• reliable on deadlines
• anatomy nerd
• francais
Passions:
• Old growth forests
• Salt water
• Endless trails
• Wildflowers • Growing our own food
• Yoga • Hiking • Trail Running • Sailing • Canoeing • Backpacking
•Camping
• Diving • Sailing • Snowshoeing • Skiing
• Traveling • Protecting the environment
• Smiling
Personal Development:
• Forest Park Conservancy: Trail maintenance, 2016
• Los Padres Forest Watch: Trail maintenance, 2010-2015
• Instructor for Kids Summer Drawing Camp, 2015
• 200hr YTT - 2016; Wanderlust Hollywood, Joan Hyman
• “Anatomy for Yogi’s” Teacher Training (20 hrs); Lulubandhas w/ Arturo Peal - 2014
Education:
Otis College of Art and Design; BFA, Fashion Design, 2006