Diane Lee

Experienced Freelance Men's Wovens Senior Designer with a proven track record of driving innovative fashion designs and exceeding brand objectives.

Professional Overview

Diane is a seasoned fashion designer with extensive expertise in the men's wovens and knits/sweaters categories. She specializes in creating trend-forward collections that blend style, functionality, and commercial viability. As a Freelance Senior Designer, Diane partners with leading apparel brands to deliver exceptional design solutions that resonate with target consumers.

Current Role

Diane currently serves as a Freelance Men's Wovens Senior Designer at J.Crew, where she is responsible for conceptualizing and developing high-performing seasonal collections. In this role, she collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to translate brand vision into compelling designs, ensuring alignment with market trends and customer preferences. Diane's keen eye for detail, strong technical skills, and collaborative approach have enabled her to consistently deliver designs that drive sales and enhance brand reputation.

Career Progression

Prior to her freelance work, Diane held various senior design roles within the menswear industry. As the Senior Director of Design for Men's Knits at Ralph Lauren, she led a team of designers in creating elevated collections that elevated the brand's signature aesthetic. In this position, Diane demonstrated her ability to drive innovation, optimize production efficiencies, and foster strong partnerships with global manufacturing partners.

Earlier in her career, Diane gained valuable experience as a Men's Knits and Sweaters Designer at Claiborne by John Bartlett, Nautica Jeans Co., and Banana Republic, where she honed her skills in trend analysis, design conceptualization, and material development.

Education

Diane holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from the Parsons School of Design, where she graduated with distinction.

Areas of Expertise

• Menswear design, with a focus on wovens, knits, and sweaters

• Trend forecasting and market analysis

• Collaborative product development

• Technical design and pattern making

• Fabric and material sourcing

• Cross-functional team leadership

• Streamlining design and production workflows

Professional Impact

Throughout her career, Diane has consistently delivered designs that resonate with target consumers and drive commercial success for her brand partners. Notable achievements include:

• Spearheaded the development of a best-selling men's woven collection at J.Crew, resulting in a 15% increase in category sales

• Collaborated with the Ralph Lauren RLX team to create a line of innovative performance-based knits, which were widely praised for their technical superiority and style

• Implemented a design process optimization strategy at Claiborne by John Bartlett, reducing lead times by 20% and improving product margins

Conclusion

With her exceptional design skills, deep industry knowledge, and collaborative approach, Diane is poised to continue making a significant impact in the men's apparel market as a Freelance Senior Designer. Her versatility, adaptability, and commitment to excellence make her a valuable asset to any brand seeking to elevate its menswear offerings.