Stacey Guggenheim

Experience

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  Mast Industries

  Jan 1988 - Jan 1989

  Designer

  MAST develops clothing for The Limited, Express and Victoria's Secret.Position;Intern.

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  Macy's

  Jan 1989 - Jan 1991

  Designer

  Designed Infant and Toddler Collections and Apparel lines including: Macy Baby, Mine Alone and Kidding Around as well as Charter Club dressy assortments.

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  Health -Tex

  Nov 1990 - Jan 1991

  Designer

  • Designed the Infant /Toddler apparel line and oversaw the artwork, technical design and fit of all the garments.

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  The Children's Place

  Feb 1991 - Aug 2005

  Senior Trend and Design Manager

  • Oversaw the design of 8 lines a year across all product categories including 4-14 Girls, Infant & Toddler Girls, and Newborn clothing, accessories, and sleepwear.• Managed a large team of talented designers and textile artists in the development of trend presentations, colors, textile design, graphics and silhouettes.• Revolutionized the design process, minimized errors, slashed production times, optimized profitability, and ensured the highest level of quality by bringing 90% of all textile and graphic designs in-house.• Enabled Design Department to devote themselves purely on the design and detailing of each garment as the company grew from 250 to 1000 stores while maintaining an aggressive production calendar and superior design aesthetic.• Trained designers how to detail garments, develop samples, improve communication, and increase margins and Improved access to information by implementing PDM.• Traveled to Hong Kong six times a year to oversee the creation of all line samples to ensure manufacturability and cost effectiveness.• Selected seasonal fabrications, ordered sample yardage, and developed denim washes/techniques. Show less

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  Kissy Kissy

  Feb 1997 - Sept 1999

  Designer

  • Researched and developed fabrications, silhouettes and all over prints and oversaw the development of the layette and Infant samples for the launch of the first Kissy Kissy line.

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  Hartstrings

  Jun 2007 - Sept 2011

  Design Director; Hartstrings, KC Parker, Little Maven by Tori Spelling

  • Identified and capitalized on the hottest trends by researching the competition, attending trade shows, analyzing sales histories, collaborating with merchandisers, and working with trend forecasting companies. • Traveled to LA each season to present all trends, concepts, colors, and silhouettes and designs to Tori Spelling. • Led and motivated a design team of ten to peak levels of performance. Ensured the successful development of 5 major lines including Hartstrings, KC Parker, and Little Maven by Tori Spelling, Candy Hearts and Got Candy.• Implemented and achieved the best fit standards by directing all fittings, analyzing the fit of competitor brands, and refining the grade rules of each size range. • Improved productivity 50%; enhanced communication, morale, accuracy, and re-organizing the Design Department and creating a Product Coordinator position.• Responsible for extensive market research including competitive analysis and benchmarking.• Met extremely tight deadlines by effectively managing the design/production calendar and the input of all design details into PDM• Traveled to retailers such as Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Lord and Taylor, JC Penney, Costco and CWD to present trends and Little Maven by Tori Spelling Show less

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  Kensie, English Laundry, Bluestar Alliance

  Nov 2011 - Sept 2013

  Director of Merchandising and Design

  Partnered with designers to establish and implement a cohesive vision for the brands Kensie and English Laundry. Reviewed all licensed product including children's wear, women's wear, swimwear, intimates, jewelry, fragrance, watches, shoes and bedding. Provided a comprehensive style guide after researching trends, silhouettes, fabrics and colors for each brand. Insured that each product line was consistent with the overall market trends and the brand identity. Re-designed the logos, hangtags and labels for all brands to separate and propel each brand. Supported all merchants and designers with continuous guidance and insight in the translation of key trends, color stories and fabrications to assist in the creation and development of relevant designs in order to increase their sales volume.• Spearheaded the coordination of all the merchandise, styling and direction for all photo shoots. Chose the final images for advertising on Marie Claire and Details. Created the look books that were distributed to all the retailers; Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, Lord & Taylor, Belk, Bon ton, Van Maur, Bloomingdales, Neiman’s, Saks, Amazon, and Haute Look.• Designed special categories of product such as woven sportswear shirts for John Lennon by English Laundry. Show less

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  Rashti & Rashti

  Jan 2013 - Jan 2014

  Design Director

  • Oversaw the company’s transition from a Newborn and Infant Company to a Infant, Toddler and 4-14 Design Company when Rashti and Rashti partnered with Anne Geddes, Blume and Candlesticks in an effort to expand their business into the areas of Toddler, Kids, Swim and Sleepwear. • Initiated and managed the development of new concepts and product categories for new licenses. Also created retail specific product for all the in house brands; Baby Starters/ Sock Monkey and Baby Starters/Tutu as well as other product for Carter’s and private labels programs for specific retailers.• Creatively managed the design process and led a dynamic team of designers and artists from trend research thru early conception through final sampling and presentation to retailers. Responsible for directing the design process including color, theme, direction graphics, print and silhouettes.• Actively shopped the market both domestically and throughout Europe to identify emerging new trends, colors, fabrications, silhouettes and graphics and effectively integrate them into the line.• Created trend presentations every season including creative sample making and sample manipulation, color card presentations, mood boards and theme direction. Presented trends and a clear vision for each brand to Target, Marmax, Lord and Taylor, Nordstrom, JC Penney, Kohl’s, Kmart, and Ross Stores. Show less

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  Cutie Pie Baby

  Aug 2013 - Dec 2013

  Design Director- Consultant

  • Conducted trend research in Europe and Asia for Fall 2014 direction and led a team of designers and artists in the creation of compelling core item designs and layette collections for Marmax, Ross, JCP, Kohls, Nordstrom, The Bay, L&T, Amazon, Zappos, and Spencer’s.• Empowered and motivated each designer to inspire them to create very strong and clear collections and categories of silhouettes including textile color ways and graphic concepts.• Insured that each product line was consistent with the overall market trends and the brand identity. Re-designed the logos, hangtags and labels for all brands to separate and propel each brand.• Collaborated with the technical team and production team to approve all strike offs and pre production samples and ensure the quality of all product in a timely manner.• Initiated and managed the development of new concepts and product categories.• Oversaw all the tech packs, artwork and proto type and sample making. Created and maintained a design/ product approval time action calendar.• Re worked all the branding, packaging and logos to re align brands with their appropriate tier in the marketplace. Collaborated with Ross merchants to create a new private label brand to elevate their infant and toddler product. Show less

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  Company 9 Activewear and Dancewear

  Jan 2014 - now

  VP of Design and Merchandising

  Direct the development of dance apparel and dance costumes for competitive dance companies, high schools and dance teams. Research trends in active apparel and dance costumes, source fabrics and trims, Develop, design and source a Women’s and girls 4-14 line of active wear and custom dance costumes. We also conduct trend research, and design and develop lines for children's, women's and menswear collections on a Freelance basis.

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  Parigi Group Ltd

  Jul 2015 - Sept 2015

  Freelance Design Consultant/ Children's Designer / Hartstrings

  Research trends and create concepts for Newborn and 2-14kids. Design basic key items and several collections for Fall 2016. Create fabric designs, graphics, and embroideries. Prepare color palettes and technical sketches and details to create tech packs.

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  Art & eden: organic children's clothing

  Aug 2016 - Jan 2018

  Design Director

  Manage and provide leadership, feedback and trend direction to all designers and graphic artists in the creation of sustainable children's and baby apparel and swimwear for high end department and specialty stores. Collaborate with merchants and sales to build strategic line plans to support the companies and goals and align with the desired classifications needed to drive the business.

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  Weissman Theatrical Supplies

  Apr 2018 - Jan 2019

  Senior Design Manager

  Manage and foster creativity to a team of designers to ensure that the product fits within the company's aesthetic, provided feedback and evaluated each individuals performance and assist in the crafting of their individual career development plans.Traveled to Asia and domestically to research trends, shop the market and research the competition to ensure that the designers infuse newness and diversity into the assortment. Partnered with the merchandising team to quantify which trends should be introduced to add newness to the current line. Studied best selling styles in order to introduce new designs that would properly build on key trends to capitalize sales. Show less