Michele is a consummate designer with a keen eye for trend and a strong knowledge of fit and construction, especially in the sweater area. In addition to her impressive arsenal of design talents, she has a delightful yet entirely professional demeanor and cares deeply about the outcome of her product. I would gladly work with Michele again.
– Lucinda Wehrkamp, Lucky Brand Jeans
Technical Design
Technical Designers are the architects of fashion. Once a garment has been designed, the Technical Designer figures out how to produce it. Starting with just a sketch, I ensure your design details are followed to a tee. I lead garment fittings and create a comprehensive Technical Package that communicates precise specifications to patternmakers and producers.
I then work with the factory to produce the sample, review it for fit, and ensure it has been manufactured correctly. One or more fit adjustments are often necessary, and the client may also wish to make design changes once they see the first sample, so I update the Tech Pack accordingly. I then work with the factory until the desired look and fit are achieved and the final sample is approved for manufacture.
I specialize in the technical design of knits, wovens, and leather. I work across multiple categories including apparel, accessories, and home furnishings.
My expertise includes…
- Pattern-making
- Draping
- Body shape and fit
- Spec measurements
- Grading
- Fabrics and textiles
- Factory operational methods
- Sewing techniques
- Translating complex technical information to factories
Call me when…
- You don’t have the technical expertise in-house to produce a new trend or complicated design.
- You want to test a new product idea, but don’t want to hire a full-time technical designer just yet.
- You have lost your technical designer and need a temporary fill-in.
- You need to figure out how to trim production costs without sacrificing quality.
- You need an expert in woven or knitwear design.
- You need to translate a concept board or creative brief into an accurate technical spec package.