Footwear → Design

Footwear Designer with handbag, accessory, and jewelry experience as well

Accessories → Design

Handbag and Belt designer for clients such as Nordstrom, Ann Taylor, The Gap, Theory, Burton, and Timbuk2.

Accessories → Design

I have my own line of jewelry which I make and sell for Boutiques throughout San Francisco.

Freelance Footwear Designer

Rebecca Taylor

New York, NY, USA

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Footwear)

11/2008 — Present

Freelance footwear designer and consultant to the Rebecca Taylor brand, licensed through Peter Marcus Group. Responsible for designing both Runway and Retail collections, specing details, and follow up with factory.

Footwear Designer--Women's Dress

ABS by Allen Schwartz

Los Angeles, CA, USA

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Footwear)

3/2008 — Present

Footwear designer for the women's dress portion of ABS by Allen Schwartz. Successful in working through a licensee and the parent company to achieve trend and brand aligned product. Ability to work under extremely tight and demanding deadlines.

Handbag Designer

NoAH Handbags

San Francisco, USA

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Accessories)

3/2008 — Present

Handbag designer for NoAH Handbags--No Animal Harmed. Responsible for designing the entire SS09 line of handbags under the restriction of of using non-leather materials. Successful in merchandising styles and themes across the line. Direct communication with Asian factories to achieve on time prototypes and samples.

Women's Bag Designer

Timbuk2

San Francisco, CA, USA

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Accessories)

1/2008 — Present

I'm currently working as a bag design contractor for Timbuk2 to help design women's bags outside of their current market reach. The goal is to attract new customers who demand a somewhat utilitarian, everyday bag, with more of a fashion appeal than the typical "outdoors" look of the Timbuk2 product. Responsibilities include market analysis, concept sketches, technical packets for overseas factories, color merchandising and proto comments and revisions.

Contract Footwear Designer

Tommy Bahama

San Francisco, CA, USA

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Footwear)

4/2006 — 8/2006

Responsible for designing and developing one half of the entire men’s and women’s footwear product line. Travel overseas to Asia to develop the designed product and work closer with the factory.

Handbag and Belt Designer

G. Hensler

San Francisco, CA, USA

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Accessories)

4/2006 — 4/2007

Handbag and Accessories designer for private label business. Accountable for handling the design and development of product for various brands such as: Nordstrom, Ann Taylor, Theory, American Eagle, Old Navy, the Gap, BeBe, and private label. Work tightly with production and sales to meet common goals.

Footwear Designer

Global Brand Marketing, Inc.

Santa Barbara, CA, USA

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Footwear)

9/2003 — 12/2005

Footwear Designer for Seven Jeans, DIESEL and XOXO. Responsibilities include developing footwear designs from the concept stage through prototype to production, as well as, creating innovative constructions with unique material usage. Comprehensive communication with parent brands in order to create a complete product line. Knowledge and understanding of the global market in order to create universal, yet specific product. Extensive travel overseas to Asia and Europe for trend research and product development.

University of Cincinnati--DAAP

Cincinnati, OH, USA

B.S.Industrial Design, Industrial Design, 1998 — 2003

Excelled in the cooperative learning program entailing 5 three month design internships as well as 1 design travel quarter to explore and have a better understanding of the global design market. Design internships included Karim Rashid Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Hasbro Games,and Faryl Robin Footwear.

Websites

Online Portfolio

http://www.cooldesigncouple.com/rachel

Online Store

http://lashnlapelle.myshopify.com

Online Store

http://www.cooldesigncouple.com/shop

Groups & Associations

• All HauteNet Members

Contact Notes

Please email me at: rachel@cooldesigncouple.com I'm interested in full time footwear design positions as well as contract/freelance. I'm available for relocating.

Interested In

• Freelance Opportunities
• Permanent Career Opportunities
• Consulting Offers
• New Ventures/Partnerships
• Getting Back In Touch