1. Portus Raymond
Portaray LLC
80 E 116th
St Suite# 505
New York, NY 10029
cell. 917 698 4381
e-mail: rayport77@gmail.com.com
Professional Experience:
. Express Design Studio (2008 – present)
Sr. Design / Print Manager (Fabric Research and Development) (2015 – present)
Design / Print Manager (Fabric Research and Development) (2008 – 2015)
- Worked in tandem with design and merchants, marrying print to fabrication and managing the subsequent
process of print color/esthetic comments/approvals.
- Collaborated with design to marry seasonal print/silhouette based on artwork limitation based on artwork
limitation outline gathered from our respective printers
- Worked to create a process that helped to stream-line the flow of information between overseas offices /vendors
and the design & pre-production teams in the Express NY office - collaborating with cross functional
partners in the Columbus headquarters – merchant, production & quality assurance teams.
- Processed data for prints and fabric development in WebPDM to better facilitate a stream-line flow of info to
cross-functional partners company wide.
- Worked with fabric managers for both Men’s and Women’s departments with follow-up of fabric information
from concept meeting thru development and sampling processes.
- Worked with overseas offices to counter-source core print substrates in order to maximize the screen
development with specific print vendors and mills
.
Forth & Towne (Gap Inc) (2004 – 2006)
Design Director (Women’s Design – Knits & Woven)
- Conceptual line development and presentation for the new brand of Gap Inc from inception.
- Fabric / model / print research / development for multi concepts per season
- Shopping / researching competitors’ lines in the European, Asian and domestic markets
- Redefining / refocusing product direction; based on customer base, consumer trends and needs
- Supervise, inspire and empower associate and assistant designers of design team to further their abilities and
communication skills with cross-functional teams.
-
Ralph Lauren Inc (1999 – 2004)
Senior Designer Polo Sportswear Blue Label (1999 – 2004) (Men’s Design - Knit)
Senior Designer Polo Sport Blue Label (2001 – 2003) (Men’s Design - Knit)
Senior Designer Purple Label (2003) (Men’s Design - Knit)
Senior Designer Polo Collection Black Label (2003) (Men’s Design - Knit)
Seasonal conceptual line design and development:
- Fabric / model / print research / development for multi concepts per season (overseas and domestic)
- Shopping / researching competitors’ lines in the European, Asian and domestic markets
- Redefining / refocusing product direction; based on customer base, consumer trends and needs
- Lead an in house team of illustrators and graphic designers to prep in house presentation to Ralph Lauren, Jerry
Lauren, Merchandising, Sales, Product Development / Production and Licensees
Calvin Klein Inc (1995 – 1999)
Designer for cK Calvin Klein (Women’s Design - Woven)
- Conceptual line development
- Pre-line opening presentation to Merchandising, Sales and the Japanese licensee
- Rigging of showroom and responsible for go-sees
- In conjunction with Senior Director fit approved initial bodies with both Italian and Japanese licensees from
initial to production.
- Print research and development
- Correct and approve lab-dips and print strike-off from Japanese licensee
- Supervising assignments delegated to assistant and departmental intern
- Central contact to merchandising, licensees, production for all design development
- Responsible for body chart, program chart and presentation book up-date after fitting
- Development of spec packages from initial to salesman samples
Kazu Apparel Group (1993 – 1995)
Designer for Ann Taylor
- Concept through development: - market trends, models, colour and fabric selection
- Research and development for beading and embroidery design
- Delegating assignments to revolving freelancers
Sample-room management and worked with in-house sample-room team and outside contractors
- Co-ordinate fittings, comments and corrections to in-house and outside sample-room
- Initial sample to salesman sample approval

2. - Fabric, trim research and lab-dip approval
Print research and co-ordination with the authority to approve or reject pre-print development
- Liaison between design head-quarters and overseas factories
Professional Freelance Experience:
Polo Ralph Lauren (06/2007 – 07/2008)
Freelance Designer (Blue Label Women’s Knits)
- Worked with design team to prepare initial development packages in Web PDM from sketch to spec.
Freelance / Internships:
Ann Taylor Inc:
Andrew Marc Inc:
Studio Limited Design Inc:
Ann Klein Inc:
Parsons School of Design: (2002 – 2004)
Design Critic / Design Instructor
Design Critic to Junior Semester Students
- Presenting concept and imagery to students working towards their Junior design concept show.
- Redefining /editing of fabrics and sketches designed for the concept, with the Junior students.
- Collaborating with the Junior students on muslin’s and final fabric garments, perfecting towards their Junior
Fashion Show
.
Education:
Parsons School of Design: Fashion Design Major B.F.A. 1993
Community College of Baltimore: General Studies 1988 – 89
Special Skills:
Computer literate: Word Perfect, Group Wise, Microsoft Outlook, PDM Gerber (version 7) and Web PDM.