Catherine Gan-Schwarz
Senior Technical Designer - Men's, New York, NY
Professional Overview
Catherine Gan-Schwarz is a seasoned Senior Technical Designer with over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry. She specializes in men's apparel design, with a focus on applying innovative technical solutions to enhance product quality and manufacturing efficiency.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Senior Technical Designer - Men's at rag & bone, Catherine is responsible for overseeing the technical design and development process for the brand's men's product line. She collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to ensure designs meet target specifications, comply with quality standards, and are optimized for efficient production. Catherine's deep understanding of fabric technology, construction methods, and fit principles enables her to drive continuous improvements in the brand's offerings.
Career Progression
Prior to joining rag & bone, Catherine held senior technical design roles at prominent fashion brands, including The Moret Group, Jack Spade, Victorinox Swiss Army, Coach, Perry Ellis International, and Calvin Klein CK Jeans. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong track record of driving successful product launches, optimizing manufacturing processes, and mentoring junior designers to elevate their technical expertise.
Academic Background
Catherine holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design, where she graduated with honors.
Areas of Expertise
- Technical design for men's apparel
- Fabric and material selection
- Garment construction and fit optimization
- Product development and manufacturing process improvement
- Cross-functional team collaboration
- Design trend forecasting and market analysis
Professional Impact
During her tenure at The Moret Group, Catherine spearheaded the implementation of a new 3D virtual prototyping system, which streamlined the design-to-production workflow and reduced product sample iterations by 30%. This initiative earned her recognition within the organization for her innovative approach to enhancing operational efficiency.
Conclusion
With her deep technical expertise, strong industry knowledge, and collaborative leadership style, Catherine Gan-Schwarz is well-positioned to drive continued success in her role as Senior Technical Designer - Men's at rag & bone. Her commitment to innovation and process optimization makes her a valuable asset in the dynamic fashion industry.