HEEKYUN KIM
Curriculum Vitae
Achievements and Experience
Experience - Summary
June 2024 - PRESENT
TECHNICAL DESIGNER
90 Degree by Reflex Inc., New York, NY
Mens & Boys Activewear Knits, Trousers, & Outerwear
Conducting and participitiating in initial development meetings to consult on specifications, conduct fittings for samples, and provide solutions for fit issues. I communicate with factories for fit approvals and corrections and use OptiTex programs to adjust patterns, collaborating with overseas factories for better-fit accuracy. I make detailed fit comments, create specs, and approve grading for each model. My role bridges creative design and technical execution, ensuring high-quality, well-fitting garments. I contribute to the seamless development and production of top-quality products by effectively communicating and collaborating with all stakeholders.
June 2018 - March 2023
DESIGN DIRECTOR / DESIGN LEAD
Ralph Lauren Corp., New York, NY
Mens Purple Label Outerwear, Swimwear, Headwear & Mens RLX outerwear
Developed key silhouettes and set overarching design direction for the collection. Worked with the merchandising team to build out a balanced line that met key business goals while maintaining the brand’s iconic heritage. Identified new fabric trends, trim components, and researched luxury and competitor brand along with the brand’s own historical references to shape seasonal direction. Responsible to communicated with internal teams including Italy and Hongkong team to meet quality standards and production milestones. Managed and developed a junior staff with responsibility for seasonal concepts and design direction, collection development, fabric and trims, fittings, and vendor management.
August 2010 - June 2018
SENIOR DESIGNER
Ralph Lauren Corp. New York, NY
Mens Purple Label Outerwear
Collaborated with the R&D team on seasonal fabrics, Trim trends, and finishes. Led the team to execute design, construction, and fit for each concept and model. Managed vendor relationships to ensure design changes, sample production, and production continually met brand and quality standards.
December 2008 - August 2010
SENIOR DESIGNER
Ralph Lauren Corp., New York, NY
Mens Black Label Outerwear & Roughwear (Trouser)
Partnered with the concept team and creative SVP on seasonal concepts, showroom styling, and artistic/visual direction for product design. Researched vintage and competitor garments to influence seasonal design and fabric direction. Developed and showcased mood and presentation boards to the leadership team.
February 2005 - December 2008
SENIOR DESIGNER
David Chu Design Inc., New York, NY
David Chu Collection & Lincs
All Categories - Sweater, Knits, Trousers, Woven Shirts, Outerwear, & Tailor
Accountable for all aspects of design creation, product development, and innovation. Acted as the primary contact in managing the design process from concept through prototype and stock phases – including collection development, trend research, seasonal direction, fabric and trims, fittings, vendor management, and cross-functional leadership. Managed and developed a junior staff with responsibility for seasonal concepts and design direction.
June 2003 - February 2005
DESIGNER
Ralph Lauren Corp., New York, NY
Mens Polo Outerwear
Working with the fabric team on seasonal fabrics, Trim trends, and finishes, and executed artwork for newly developed trims and branding Sourced new logo developments to integrate trends while maintaining brand integrity and price points. Participate in technical fittings for the Outerwear to achieve optimal construction and fit. Managed follow-ups of all raw materials, sketch updates, and fitting to pass to collaborative teams. Also, responsible for having vendor relationships to ensure design changes, sample production, and production continually met brand and quality standards.
Helped launch all raw materials such as all fabric components, all the details of each garment, branding techniques and artworks, line sheets, and trims.
November 2002 - June 2003
DESIGNER
Nautica Inter. Inc., New York, NY
Mens Competition Outerwear, Knit & N.S.T. (Never Stop Trying) Outerwear & Knit
Guided the end-to-end garment design and development process for the Nautica Competition outerwear and knit and participated to support Senior Designer to launch N.S.T. outerwear and knit. Working collaboratively with the other category design team and SVP on artistic direction. Translated seasonal themes into new designs for outerwear and knit while maintaining the brand’s integrity. Researched competitor brands, fabrics, construction details, trims, and market trends in technical outerwear and knit. Pulled inspirational tear sheets, created seasonal binders, and set up presentation boards for design meetings. Translated illustrations into technical flat sketches and created/updated tech packs for all styles. Initiated and followed up on trim and embroidery, print, and patch developments, and produced layouts and pattern placements. Participated in fittings from prototype through stock production to achieve optimal fit.
Experience - Detail
June 2024 - Present
TECHNICAL DESIGNER
90 Degree by Reflex Inc., New York, NY
Mens & Boys - Activewear Knits, Trousers, & Outerwear
• Participate in Initial development meetings to consult development specs.
• Conducting the fitting for the fit samples on fit models and providing fit issues with solutions to improve.
• Communicate with factories for fit approval and corrections.
• Correting patterns on OptiTex programs to discuss with overseas factories how to correct patterns for a better fit.
• Make complete fit comments, create specs, & approve grading for each model.
June 2018 - March 2023
DESIGN DIRECTOR / LEAD
Ralph Lauren Corporation, New York, NY
Mens Purple Label Outerwear, Swimwear, Headwear & Mens RLX outerwear
• Working closely with Production and Product Development team to create a seasonal calendar
• Mentor and manage Senior Design Associate designer for short-term and long-term goals and
developments
• Bring innovative and luxury raw materials to upper management in trims and fabric research
• Maintain competitor luxury market trends and constructions
• Travel to Italy factories to live hand off and review development protos
• Plan lines for Classics / Core Items as well as fashion items for each season and concept
August 2010 - June 2018
SENIOR DESIGNER
Ralph Lauren Corporation, New York, NY
Mens Purple Label Outerwear
• Communicate with the Italy agent and factory directly
• Create new tech packs and make comments on fit and design details on Web PDM
• Working production / Merchandise team closely to improve the cost / MU of garments
• Sourcing / Developing fabrics directly with Italian fabric mills
• Travel to Italy factories to review development protos
• Trend/competitors / vintage products research & shopping for each concept for new seasons
• Working closely with an in-house copy-writer to create a selling book to explain key details & construction
of each style
December 2008 - August 2010
SENIOR DESIGNER
Ralph Lauren Corporation, New York, NY
Mens Black Label Outerwear & Roughwear (Trouser)
• Develop concept protos/new model ideas
• Create new trim ideas & trim presentation board
• Research and maintain an inspirational and competitive garment library and tear sheets
• Participate in all product design meetings with V.P. of men's Design / Sr. Design Director and
Merchandising
• Attending WIPs every week to update the design process and discuss/solve problems
• Create sketches of the design in Details and marked them on the reference samples
• Attending fittings to involve silhouettes that the Design looking for and reviewing design details
• Working with the graphic dept to maintain updated stats for other divisions to view/use
February 2005 - December 2008
SENIOR DESIGNER
David Chu Design Inc., New York, NY
Lincs & David Chu Collection Mens Collection
All Categories - Sweater, Knits, Trousers, Woven Shirts, Outerwear, & Tailor
• Created Outerwear / Trouser / Woven / Knit / Sweater lines for individual concept needs
• Conducted fittings to review fit and design details to correct
• Prepared for sales meetings to get looks together at individual groups
• Worked with C.E.O. and V.P. of design to prepare a presentation for the sales rep.
• Traveled with C.E.O., V.P. of design, & Director of Production oversea to direct to make samples
• Searched for suitable fabrics by season and concepts
• Developed and create new trims for s/smpl & bulk
• Managed & guide assistant designer, associate technical designer, graphic designer, and freelancer for their career goals & short-term goals for daily projects
June 2003 - February 2005
DESIGNER
Ralph Lauren Corporation, New York, NY
Mens Polo Blue Label Outerwear
• Developed concept protos/new model ideas
• Created new trim ideas & trim presentation board
• Created and maintain an inspirational and competitive garment library
• Participated in all product design meetings with V.P. of men's Design / Sr. Design Director / Design
Directors / Product Director and Merchandising
• Prepared presentation boards w/ Senior designer for product design meetings with design directors
• Worked with V.P., Sr. Design Director, and Sr. Designer during line opening to insure that sales
sample garments are correct or to make adjustments as needed in preparation for line review.
• Provided information needed for package development and keep updated on revisions to the Product
Development Team, Trim, Fabric, & Art Department to be updated and finalize the product for stock.
November 2002 - June 2003
DESIGNER
Nautica International Inc., New York, NY
Mens Competition Outerwear, Knit & N.S.T. (Never Stop Trying) Outerwear / Knit
• Participated in new season development meetings
• Responsible for fabric development and approval
• Communicated with agencies daily
• Establish components & constructions of each garment
Skills
COMPUTER
* Microsoft Office - Outlook, Excel, Word, & PowerPoint
* Adobe Suite - Excellent in Illustrator, Photoshop, & XD
* Flex PLM
* Web PDM
* Pointcarre 6.4 (Magic Cloth)
* Micrografx Design
* Lotus Notes
* Tinkercad 3D
*OptiTex
OTHER
* Completed course with Weft Knitting Technology
* Completed course with Leather apparel Design Room Technique
* Completed course with Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles at Harvard Kennedy Business School online
* Completed course with Exercising Leadership: 4P model for Strategic Leadership at Harvard Kennedy Business School online.
* Flat Bed Knitting Machine
* Flat Sketching & Illustrations
* Fluent in Korean
Education
2001
Bachelor in Applied Science Degree
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
Majored in Fashion Merchandising Management as a part-time student
1997-1999
Associate in Art and Science Degree
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
Majored in Menswear Design and Marketing
Awarded internships at Tommy Hilfiger
1994-1995
Associate in Science Degree
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Majored in undecided