About Kelly Williams

I’ve always been a larger than average person. As I got bigger, my options diminished. As a fat person, I did not see myself represented in interesting, thoughtful, or positive ways that fit with my lifestyle. When I went to Burning Man in 1995, I saw vast creativity in expression, yet there was no existing outlet for me in the retail world.

I decided, if I couldn’t source it, I’d make it.

I started with costumes for special events and festivals and people quickly took notice, asking me to produce garments and accessories for them as well. I began to take myself seriously as a designer and, the more my confidence built, the more I wanted to move away from festival wear and create a professional ready to wear product. I went back to school, gaining a certificate in hand drafted flat pattern making from Apparel Arts, and began offering bespoke pattern making and clothing to clients, making sure to make accessible garments

for people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities.

My services expanded to include private sewing and pattern-making instruction, as well as garment and accessories business development, helping people realize their own creative visions. In teaching, I encouraged freedom of expression and a dare to dream perspective, offering a variety of avenues of learning and creativity whether as a hobby, side passion, or entirely new career path.

With the onset of a global pandemic, my priorities changed and I made the decision at the end of 2022 to move my base of operation to Los Angeles. Within the next year I opted to stop teaching, permanently closing the doors of Craft Haven, and became a student again. At Los Angeles Trade Technical College I enhanced my pattern making abilities by training in Gerber digital pattern making software, finishing with top marks in my class.

I've now shifted my focus to full time corporate fashion where I currently work as a technical designer.

In my spare time, I write body positive size inclusive fiction, write music, experiment making up new recipes, and provide a safe haven for my two bonkers rescue kitties, Huckleberry and Pique-A-Boo..

CV

Senior Technical Designer, Designer, Pattern-maker, Garment Developer, and Educator with extensive experience providing thorough and skillful support, project management, and customer relations within creative environments.
Computer skills include MAC and PC platforms, MS Office, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Barefoot Dreams

10/24-5/25

Senior Technical Designer, Agoura Hills, CA - Contract

Managed all aspects of technical design for company’s largest account, QVC Women’s Sweaters – Missy & Plus, from Proto to TOP with little to no oversight
Led all fittings in Women’s QVC Sweaters for development & production – 80 skus per season and 65-70 per production season, working on 2 seasons simultaneously
Conducted style development hand offs to follow annual calendar deadlines
Developed and set up grade rules and how to measure guidelines
Communicated fit comments to vendors daily through photos and detailed technical sketches
Researched and created grade jump guidelines from Missy XS-XL to Plus 1X-3X
Created SOP manuals for TP/PLM processes and importing methods from Exenta to Aptean systems
Analyze garments to determine compliance of spec, construction, and fit intent, identifying potential production, quality, and costing issues, making recommendations to ensure brand integrity
Worked with urgency and consistently met deadlines, frequently completing projects ahead of schedule
Collaborated with Production and PD and maintained Proto and pre-production sample fit logs

RW Designs

6/24-9/24

Technical Designer, Sherman Oaks, CA - Contract

Provided all aspects of technical design for private label swim and loungewear categories from Proto to TOP to ensure accurate execution of requested measurements, quality, construction and overall fit in Missy, Plus, and Juniors
Measure sample garments accurately to identify any fit issues and execute fit comments
Approved vendors graded nest to match spec and assessed pattern issues
Digitized and edit new patterns in PAD
Assessed garments to determine factory compliance of spec, construction, and any prior changes
Lead fit sessions on live models and fit forms, provide recommendations, note call-outs, and log critiques accurately and efficiently
Provided grading to vendors after fit approval to ensure fit continuity and sizing consistency
Used written and visual methods and to communicate fit, construction, and trim comments via photos, detailed sketches, and pattern diagram or directly on pattern when needed
Communicated daily with vendors regarding fit, construction, sewing changes, and any general questions
Assembled tech packs with detailed sketches/illustrations, construction details, BOMs, POMs, and specs on Adobe Illustrator and Excel

Craft Haven

10/08-6/24

Owner/Instructor, SF & LA, CA www.crafthaven.org

Taught progressive sewing, patternmaking, draping, and custom project classes to over 1200 individual students in small group and private 1:1 lessons
Authored lesson plans, student handouts, and all creative content
Managed all communications and student registrations
Taught on-site corporate workshops in pattern making, prototyping, and construction

Kwill Design

9/98-present

Custom Pattern Maker and Designer, SF & LA, CA

Provided custom design and pattern making services in Womenswear to individual clients Missy and Plus
Executed original designs through draping garments and spec development
Hand drafted flat patterns, grading, and facilitated all facets of garment construction
Demonstrated ability to work with extended sizing and special needs, fostering an inclusive environment

Kaikini Bikinis

3/23-4/23

Grading, Pattern, and Fitting Consultant - Contract, Kauai, HI

Evaluated existing patterns/grading and suggested edits
Ran fit sessions for review of full product line
Liaised with production staff and lead stitcher to review production guidelines and processes
Made notes to create tech packs for full product line
Took measurements to establish new blocks for median straight and plus size ranges
Advised owner on industry standards and practices for development of extended sizes

Kieran Kate Stephens Handbags

1/20-9/22

Product Developer/Pattern Maker/Sample Maker/Graphic Designer, Tiburon, CA

Created patterns and prototype samples for development stage handbags company
Designed logo, labels, hangtags, tissue paper, and all branded hardware
Created and maintained all technical packages from development phase through production
Priced and sourced materials and hardware overseas and manage vendor communication

Levi Strauss & Co.
Signature/Denizen - Womens Bottoms, Mens Bottoms, Kids

11/19-1/20

Garment Developer – Contract, San Francisco, CA

Performed quality assurance to ensure prototypes, commercial, approved production, and size set samples for Signature/Denizen Women's, Plus, Maternity, Men's, and Kid's Bottoms and Truckers measure within tolerance guidelines and construction techniques meet design expectations through clear analysis and documentation.
Interacted with Product Development and Design teams to distribute technical details and assure the accuracy and integrity of products.
Performed daily sample intake and reviewed in line sheet (GPPT) for cut dates and factory exit dates
Updated product documents in FlexPLM
Reviewed Bulk Tech Packs in FlexPLM to insure proper documents were assigned for Pocket Placement and Thread Architecture
Attended fittings, took comment notes, photos, and additional measurements
Reviewed size set samples for Men's Signature and completed evaluation reports

Levi Strauss & Co.
Red Tab - Womens Bottoms, Truckers

3/19-5/19

Senior Fit Specialist – Contract, San Francisco, CA

Quality assurance to ensure prototypes, commercial samples, and approved production samples measure within specified tolerance guidelines and construction techniques meet design expectations through clear analysis and documentation
Interacted with Product Development and Fit Development teams to distribute technical details and assure the accuracy and integrity of products
Special Projects - Analyze women's and women's extended size competitor garments for fit, sizing, and construction techniques

Levi Strauss & Co.
Red Tab - Womens Bottoms

5/18-7/18

Garment Developer – Contract, San Francisco, CA

Quality assurance to ensure prototypes, commercial samples, and approved production samples measure within specified tolerance guidelines and construction techniques meet design expectations through clear analysis and documentation
Interacted with Product Development and Fit Development teams to distribute technical details and assure the accuracy and integrity of products

Sunday Sews Publication

5/14-9/14

Technical Designer - Contract, San Francisco, CA

Edited existing and created new copy for sewing terms and instructions
Designed new potential projects and drafted flat patterns and constructed samples
Evaluated pattern for fit and identified construction issues

Turning Heads

9/08-4/12

Instructor, San Francisco, CA

Taught machine basics, construction, and project based classes
Created lesson plans and student handouts for progressive three-month terms
Developed positive participation of at risk youth ages 14 to 19 in a controlled setting

Stitch Lounge

2/05-10/08

Head Instructor, Studio Manager, San Francisco, CA

Managed boutique, sewing studio, daily volunteers, and internship program
Created lesson plans for new classes and updated existing course work
Taught evening and weekend adult education classes on sewing and patternmaking

Maximum Mama Clothing

4/06-9/07

Assistant Designer, San Francisco, CA

Created technical flats, technical packs, and line sheets

Drafted flat patterns in adherence with blocks using formulaic hand patternmaking and draping
Revised existing patterns as needed, evaluated grading, coordinated marker requests
Attended production meetings, fitting sessions, and purchasing meetings