I am a highly creative and relentlessly determined designer specializing in fashion, home, and textile design. I love turning ideas into original prints and finished surfaces that captivate brands and their audiences. Whether I’m designing in my studio or collaborating with factories and production teams across the globe, I strive to deliver market-ready artwork—prints, repeats, color separations, and trend-driven surfaces— with professionalism and warmth.

Candice Held

I am a highly creative and relentlessly determined designer specializing in fashion, home, and textile design. I love turning ideas into original prints and finished surfaces that captivate brands and their audiences. Whether I’m designing in my studio or collaborating with factories and production teams across the globe, I strive to deliver market-ready artwork—prints, repeats, color separations, and trend-driven surfaces— with professionalism and warmth.

Available to hire

I am a highly creative and relentlessly determined designer specializing in fashion, home, and textile design. I love turning ideas into original prints and finished surfaces that captivate brands and their audiences.

Whether I’m designing in my studio or collaborating with factories and production teams across the globe, I strive to deliver market-ready artwork—prints, repeats, color separations, and trend-driven surfaces— with professionalism and warmth.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Freelance Textile Designer
January 1, 2013 - Present
Develop and deliver a diverse range of original textile and surface designs, catering to a prominent clientele including renowned designers Martyn Lawrence Bullard and Cynthia Rowley, while consistently achieving market success and exceeding client expectations. Create original prints from concept to factory-ready digital files. Expertise in hand painting, drawing, dyeing, repeat work, color separation, color pitching, and trend research. Extensive experience in re-creating vintage artwork. Specialized in animal prints, florals, ikats, tribal prints, conversationals, stripes, plaids, graphic designs, textural prints, scarf prints, engineered prints, and more.
Designer at Candice Held Studio LLC
January 1, 2003 - Present
Successfully design, produce, and sell a highly sought-after collection of resort wear and accessories, incorporating intricate silk scarf prints and captivating allover repeat designs, resulting in substantial growth in sales and brand recognition. Manage various aspects of design and production, including draping, pattern-making, illustration, sample construction, small production, and factory production. Oversee marketing, public relations, website maintenance, accounting, inventory control, and more. Sell retail direct-to-consumer and wholesale. Celebrity clients include Beyonce, Halle Berry, Tyra Banks, and more.
Textile Designer at Rachel Zoe Inc.
December 31, 2015 - July 29, 2025
Sole owner and executor of print and pattern collection development. Partnered with Design Director, along with local and overseas production teams, to create commercially successful seasonal print stories synthesizing vintage and current inspiration. Successfully pioneered an entirely remote Textile Design role.
Senior Textile Designer at BEBE Studio Inc.
December 31, 2013 - July 29, 2025
Led print and color development and department administration. Mentored print associates. Created original prints, reinterpreted purchased artwork, and developed colorways. Collaborated closely with design and in-house merchant teams across various categories, including Dresses, Woven Tops, Knit Tops, Sweaters, Leggings, Bottoms, Outerwear, Accessories, and more.
Textile Designer at EQUIPMENT (Dutch LLC)
December 30, 2012 - July 28, 2025
Created original fabric artwork and successfully translated vintage prints into modern designs, showcasing versatility in both vision and execution. Developed repeats, color separations, and color pitching. Coordinated with Senior Designer and product development teams. Managed CADs, artwork discs, and pitch sheets. Coordinated with vendors and factories for accurate print development. Oversaw fabric strike-offs and copyright assignments.
Fashion and Wardrobe Stylist
December 31, 2010 - July 29, 2025
Collaborated with renowned photographer Mark Seliger to style and create visually captivating editorials featuring top celebrities, musicians, and artists for national television commercials, press, album packaging, and print ads. Styled for celebrity editorials, press, album packaging, commercials, music videos, and print ads. Key stylist for national commercials including Cascade, Hamilton Beach, Eukanuba, Iams, and more.
Freelance Textile Designer at Candice Held Studio LLC
January 1, 2013 - Present
Develop and deliver a diverse range of original textile and surface designs for prominent clientele including DÔEN and Martyn Lawrence Bullard; create original prints from concept to factory-ready digital files; skilled in hand painting, drawing, repeat work, color separation, color pitching, and trend research; proficient in Adobe Creative Suite; experienced in re-creating vintage artwork; specialties include animal prints, florals, ikats, tribal prints, conversationals, stripes, plaids, graphic designs, textural prints, scarf prints, engineered prints, and more.
Textile Designer at Liz Casella LLC
January 1, 2023 - Present
Collaborate remotely to create original studio artwork, repeat layouts, and color separated finished files for Textile Print Studio selling to popular contemporary brands; adhere to fast-paced schedule creating multiple collections for US and overseas markets.
Designer at Candice Held
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2024
Designed and sold resort wear and accessories, incorporating intricate original silk scarf prints and captivating allover designs; contributed to substantial growth in sales and brand recognition; worked closely with factories in Lake Como and Shanghai to produce full seasonal collections.
Textile Designer at Rachel Zoe INC
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2015
Sole owner and executor of print and pattern collection development; partnered with Design Director and production teams to create commercially successful seasonal print stories synthesizing vintage and current inspiration; pioneered an entirely remote Textile Design role.
Senior Textile Designer at BEBE STUDIO INC.
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2013
Led print and color development and department administration; mentored print associates; created original prints, reinterpreted purchased artwork, and developed colorways; specialized in Dresses, Woven Tops, Knit Tops, Sweaters, Leggings, Bottoms, Outerwear, Accessories, and more; collaborated closely with design and in-house merchant teams.
Textile Designer at EQUIPMENT (Dutch LLC)
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2012
Created original fabric artwork and translated vintage prints into modern designs; developed repeats, color separations, and color pitching; coordinated with Senior Designer and product development teams; managed CADs, artwork discs, and pitch sheets; coordinated with vendors and factories for print development; oversaw fabric strike-offs and copyright assignments.
Fashion and Wardrobe Stylist at Mark Seliger Collaborations
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2010
Collaborated with renowned photographer Mark Seliger to style editorials featuring top celebrities, musicians, and artists for national television commercials, press, album packaging, and print ads; styled for celebrity editorials, press, album packaging, commercials, music videos, and print ads; key stylist for national commercials including Cascade, Hamilton Beach, Eukanuba, Iams, and more.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts at Cornish College of the Arts
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2003
Textile and Surface Design at Otis College of Art and Design
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Fashion Design at New York Fashion Academy
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
BFA Dance at Cornish College of the Arts
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026

Qualifications

Textile and Surface Design
January 11, 2030 - July 29, 2025
Fashion Design
August 30, 1996 - July 29, 2025

Industry Experience

Consumer Goods, Retail, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services
    uniE621 Soukie Modern Beach Towels
    Original textile design for beach towels inspired by vintage Moroccan rugs. Digitally printed.
    uniE621 Beach Towels for Soukie Modern
    Beach towel designs inspired by vintageMoroccan rugs. For Jacquard weave and digital printing.