Hi, I'm Nichole Konkolewski, a director-level apparel product leader with 20+ years of experience shaping category strategy, line architecture, and end-to-end product creation. I blend deep technical design and fit expertise with business acumen, cost targets, and calendar ownership to move product from concept to consumer on time and at margin. I partner with global factories and cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, on-brand apparel that performs.…

Nichole Konkolewski

Hi, I'm Nichole Konkolewski, a director-level apparel product leader with 20+ years of experience shaping category strategy, line architecture, and end-to-end product creation. I blend deep technical design and fit expertise with business acumen, cost targets, and calendar ownership to move product from concept to consumer on time and at margin. I partner with global factories and cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, on-brand apparel that performs.…

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Nichole Konkolewski, a director-level apparel product leader with 20+ years of experience shaping category strategy, line architecture, and end-to-end product creation.

I blend deep technical design and fit expertise with business acumen, cost targets, and calendar ownership to move product from concept to consumer on time and at margin. I partner with global factories and cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, on-brand apparel that performs.

See more

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Founder & Consultant at NK Creation Co. LLC
January 1, 2021 - Present
Delivered technical design and PLM consulting for brands including Victoria’s Secret, Happy Nation, Madden Girl, and Rural King. Created tech packs, graded specs, and block strategies from the ground up to enable smaller brands to scale production with confidence. Conducted multi-category fit reviews and issued clear vendor-ready comments, reducing revisions and speeding approvals. Implemented PLM and 3D sampling workflows that shortened development timelines and improved accuracy for both established and emerging brands.
Director of Product Development & Technical Design at Rural King (Private Label)
February 1, 2025 - October 17, 2025
Partnered with a single buyer to manage a $48M private label apparel program, overseeing design, line planning, sourcing, vendor relations, and fit integrity across men’s, women’s, and kids’ categories. Created customer-focused sizing and grading adopted across manufacturers. Led full line planning and seasonal buys for buyer approval, ensuring alignment with margin, market, and delivery goals. Directed proto through TOP fit reviews, delivering construction feedback that improved vendor accuracy and reduced revisions. Implemented Rechain PLM tools and workflows that streamlined sample approvals, increased visibility, and strengthened vendor communication.
Senior Technical Designer & PLM Specialist at Justice
January 1, 2021 - October 17, 2025
Directed technical design for bottoms categories, building block libraries and grading standards to ensure consistent fit across sizes. Led weekly fit sessions, providing technical direction to accelerate approvals from proto through production. Optimized Bamboo Rose PLM as SME by rebuilding POM libraries, templates, and SOPs, reducing errors and improving team efficiency. Partnered with overseas vendors to resolve construction challenges, cutting sample iterations and improving on-time deliveries. Recognized with the Fierce Fighters award for technical leadership and cross-functional collaboration.
Technical Design Manager at Academy Sports + Outdoors
July 1, 2017 - October 17, 2025
Built the Technical Design department for private label brands, establishing fit standards and scalable development practices. Spearheaded the rollout of FlexPLM and 3D sampling tools, reducing sample costs and cycle time, and earned an Outstanding Achievement award for role in implementation and onboarding hard and soft goods teams. Managed fit, construction, and bulk approvals across men’s, women’s, and kids’ categories, ensuring compliance with quality and performance standards. Partnered with in-house labs and sourcing teams to analyze fabric testing, flag risks, and protect construction integrity.
Director of Product Development & Technical Design (Private Label) at Rural King
January 1, 2021 - February 1, 2025
Managed a $28M private-label program across men’s, women’s, and kids’ categories, overseeing line planning, seasonal development, sourcing, vendor relations, and fit integrity. Defined seasonal style and SKU counts, pricing architecture, and size strategies in partnership with merchants, aligning assortments to financial targets and store performance. Drove fabric innovation initiatives with vendors to improve durability and cost efficiency. Led product creation from brief through commercialization, including fabric innovation, proto- and pre-production calendars, and cross-functional milestone reviews. Represented private label apparel in cross-functional forums, resolving issues quickly and aligning product decisions to business goals.
Senior Technical Designer & PLM Specialist at Justice
September 1, 2018 - January 31, 2021
Directed technical design for bottoms categories, creating block libraries and grading standards for consistent fit across sizes. Collaborated with merchants, sourcing, and design during milestone reviews to align fit, construction, and vendor allocation strategy. Managed sample tracking and approvals to meet seasonal development milestones. Optimized Bamboo Rose PLM as SME by rebuilding POM libraries, templates, and SOPs to reduce errors and improve team efficiency. Partnered with cross-functional leaders to connect fit, quality, and construction decisions to trend, margin, and customer feedback, supporting better seasonal decision making.
Technical Design Manager at Academy Sports + Outdoors
September 1, 2011 - July 1, 2017
Built the Technical Design department for private-label brands, establishing fit standards and scalable development practices. Spearheaded the rollout of FlexPLM and 3D sampling tools, reducing sample costs and cycle time; earned the AOS Outstanding Achievement Award for implementation leadership. Managed fit, construction, and bulk approvals across men’s, women’s, and kids’ categories to ensure product quality and calendar alignment. Partnered with in-house labs and sourcing teams to analyze fabric testing, drive fabric innovation, and protect construction integrity.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design at DAAP - University of Cincinnati
January 11, 2030 - October 17, 2025
Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design at DAAP - University of Cincinnati
January 11, 2030 - December 3, 2025

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Retail, Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Education, Professional Services, Wholesale & Distribution, Other
    uniE621 T-Shirt Tech Pack
    Tech pack development for apparel categories including hoodies, sweatshirts, t-shirts, henleys, joggers, tank tops, leggings, and sweatpants. Each tech pack includes:  • Design consultation and review of reference materials  • Technical sketches with up to two rounds of revisions  • Bill of Materials (BOM)  • Construction details and stitch callouts  • Colorways page (client to provide Pantones or color references)  • Branding, print, or embroidery pages (client to provide design files or I can use placeholders)  • POM diagram and spec measurements for one sample size  • Sample evaluation chart Please note: Tech packs are created for one sample size only. For accurate measurements, a sample or inspiration garment is required. Without a sample, approximate measurements will be used based on comparable market products. Pricing for denim, outerwear, or accessories varies by complexity. Contact me for a custom quote.…