Assistant Manager

TOMMYNGUYEN•brooklyn • ny • 206-***-**** • ***************@*****.***

Raw Materials - Fabric R&D – Print Development – Product Development - Mill Relationship – Bulk Approval Profile

• Nearly 8 years of experience in fabric development, both in technical and construction, across mass-market, contemporary, and high-end brands

• Highly knowledgeable in sourcing new suppliers and collections, presenting innovative fabrics for design, merchandising, and supporting product developing team and overall brand aesthetics

• Expertise in collaborating with diverse suppliers to negotiate on prices, minimums, surcharges, and quality Professional Overview

Kate Spade New York, Tapestry Incorporate – Raw Materials Manager Freelance September 2019 – December 2019

Reported to RTW Fabric Director and managed Raw Materials Assistant for Fall 2020 while working with Product Development/Production and Design team on five tiers: Runway, Collection, Mainline, Casual, and Outlet.

• Drove material innovation, worked closely with mills and factories to develop new techniques & finishes

• Handled development and pre-production communications with Li-Fung office and fabric suppliers including Asia, Turkey, and Italy

• Spearheaded proto, market, and post-market sample yardage process and managed allocation to factories

• Tracked strike offs, developments, and handlooms requests based on milestone dates

• Totaled up the seasonal budget on market sample yardage and had it sign-off with Design, Merchandise, and Product Development teams

• Collaborated with Shoes, Licenses, and Handbag teams when RTW fabrics are used across the collection Rachel Roy- Fabric Manager

February 2015 – August 2019 (Topson Downs Incorporate) & January 2011 – August 2013 (The Jones Group) Managed contemporary brand seasonal fabric development & production for multiple categories including; RACHEL Rachel Roy Sportswear, Dresses, Curvy, Rachel Roy Collection, Capsules, Off-Price, and Private Label: Stitch Fix and Rent the Runway. Reported to Vice President of Product Development and Production and managed Fabric Assistant and Print Designer. Fabric Research / Product Development:

• Partnered with Rachel Roy, Woven, Knit, Dresses Design Directors, and Merchandisers to develop 12 deliveries per year to bring newness in fabric development

• Attended design pass-off to review product and fabric level to addressed material issues such as quality and costing

• Developed and sourced fabrics and prints strategy in order to leverage costing, limitation, minimum, and lead time

• In charge for lab dips and strike-offs approvals, and communicated to ensure all quality and execution a standard is met

• Communicated daily with mills and vertical vendors to ensure communication and flawless fabric development and production

• Attended to NY’s and Asia’s fabric tradeshows to pull trend and discussed outstanding issues with mills

• Maintained fabric development library and archive for seasonal reference Fabric Production:

• Reviewed all fabric cost factors including top-dyed, printing, and jacquard against the base fabric to ensure Product Development/Production and Sales teams with details that affect margin requirement

• Involved in Production weekly meeting and identify possible production issues and provide solution to ensure proper execution is met

• Negotiated payment terms and fabric costing; to avoid the surcharge

• Consolidated the goods and colors as where necessary to avoid surcharge and meet minimums

• Attended post-market meetings and follow up with vendors; reviewing fabric quality, construction, color, lining, costing, and minimum to insure clear and prompt communication

• Reviewed and commented on bulk and color shading lots, including weight, handfeel, and quality

• Advised all parties on wash care instruction based on Rachel Roy’s protocol bulk testing

• Arranged all sample yardages for photo shoots and pre-production fits

• Maintained seasonal fabric status reports along with fabric specification details for all adopted fabrications TOMMYNGUYEN•brooklyn • ny • 206-***-**** • ***************@*****.*** Raw Materials - Fabric R&D – Print Development – Product Development - Mill Relationship – Bulk Approval Professional Overview

Marc by Marc Jacobs, LVMH - Materials Manager: Handbags and Accessories August 2013 - December 2013

Executed developments and sourcing for non-leather raw materials and non-hardware trims for Men's and Women's Accessories including tech, handbags, cosmetics, and small goods; while reporting to Materials Director.

• Worked closely with mills and factories to develop new techniques/finishes

• Arranged the goods for RTW’s Runway for concept and presentation

• Ordered and allocated all materials to be sent to the factories for proto and sampling stages

• Sent artwork and color standards to suppliers and coordinated time and action in the development stage prior to market and production stages

• Worked with suppliers and production departments on any pre-production quality issues to resolve bulk issues

• Standardized all materials and colors for bulk production during market week Fabric to Finish, Consulting Inc. – Freelance Fabric Assistant October 2009 – February 2010

Worked closely with consulting business to management with emerging and young and new designers on garments and fabrications. Sourced all fabrics in local market for Rebecca Minkoff’s RTW during Fall 2010 New York’s Fashion Week. Redeveloped and counter sourced fabrics for bulk production.

Michael Kors, Capri Holdings - Freelance Fabric Assistant March 2008 – April 2009

Supported the Fabric Director, for MICHAEL Michael Kors brand in knit, wovens, and denim. Communicated with overseas agent offices to ensure all women fabric and hand standards are organized and updated properly. Monitored and updated all fabric information in PLM.

Education

Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY

Spring 2006

Non-Credit Textile course

Seattle Central Community College, Seattle, WA

Spring 2004

Associate of Applied Science in Apparel Design

Fall 2001

Associate of Art Degree

Parsons School of Design, New York, NY

Summer 2003

Non-Credit Fashion Design Program

Contact this candidate