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Multidisciplinary design leader with 10+ years of experience across in-house leadership, independent consulting, and entrepreneurial design. I specialize in shaping creative direction, building products from concept to commercialization, and solving design challenges across performance, lifestyle, and contemporary apparel. I lead end-to-end product development—translating trends and brand vision into technical flats, tech packs, and development documentation—while collaborating cross-functionally and partnering with overseas factories and vendors to drive successful technical execution.…Multidisciplinary design leader with 10+ years of experience across in-house leadership, independent consulting, and entrepreneurial design. I specialize in shaping creative direction, building products from concept to commercialization, and solving design challenges across performance, lifestyle, and contemporary apparel. I lead end-to-end product development—translating trends and brand vision into technical flats, tech packs, and development documentation—while collaborating cross-functionally and partnering with overseas factories and vendors to drive successful technical execution.

Essie Buckman

Designer, Creative Director, Illustrator, +4

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Multidisciplinary design leader with 10+ years of experience across in-house leadership, independent consulting, and entrepreneurial design. I specialize in shaping creative direction, building products from concept to commercialization, and solving design challenges across performance, lifestyle, and contemporary apparel. I lead end-to-end product development—translating trends and brand vision into technical flats, tech packs, and development documentation—while collaborating cross-functionally and partnering with overseas factories and vendors to drive successful technical execution.…Multidisciplinary design leader with 10+ years of experience across in-house leadership, independent consulting, and entrepreneurial design. I specialize in shaping creative direction, building products from concept to commercialization, and solving design challenges across performance, lifestyle, and contemporary apparel. I lead end-to-end product development—translating trends and brand vision into technical flats, tech packs, and development documentation—while collaborating cross-functionally and partnering with overseas factories and vendors to drive successful technical execution.

Available to hire

Multidisciplinary design leader with 10+ years of experience across in-house leadership, independent consulting, and entrepreneurial design. I specialize in shaping creative direction, building products from concept to commercialization, and solving design challenges across performance, lifestyle, and contemporary apparel.

I lead end-to-end product development—translating trends and brand vision into technical flats, tech packs, and development documentation—while collaborating cross-functionally and partnering with overseas factories and vendors to drive successful technical execution.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Technical Illustration

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Work Experience

Lead Apparel Design Consultant at RocaWear

June 1, 2026 - Present

Brought in to establish the design foundation for RocaWear’s newly acquired business, shaping initial product direction and development.

Senior Design Consultant at Centric Brands

February 1, 2026 - April 1, 2026

Led design and product development for Palm Tree Crew while supporting Avirex and Off-White. Created graphic artwork, technical flats, tech packs, and development documentation. Partnered with overseas factories (BTSA and Hallotex) to drive product development and technical execution. Collaborated cross-functionally and mentored junior designers throughout the design process.

Senior Design Consultant at Victoria's Secret

October 1, 2025 - January 1, 2026

Supported women’s sport and swim assortments during peak development cycles. Delivered high-volume product with a contemporary, streetwear-driven design point of view. Presented key assortments and design direction to VP-level and senior leadership.

Special Projects / Creative Projects at Willy Chavarria

May 1, 2025 - October 31, 2025

Created custom fashion illustrations to support creative development, collection presentations, and brand initiatives.

Special Projects at Willy Chavarria

May 1, 2025 - October 1, 2025

Created custom fashion illustrations to support creative development, collection presentations, and brand initiatives.

Senior Designer / Illustrator (F) at Willy Chavarria

May 1, 2025 - Present

Contributed to the Spring/Summer 2026 womenswear collection with both design concepts and detailed illustrations. Developed key garment ideas from initial sketches through production-ready designs, collaborating closely with the creative team to ensure alignment with brand vision and storytelling. Translated conceptual ideas into tangible fashion designs.

Senior Designer Womens (F) at Under Armour

May 1, 2025 - August 27, 2025

Led womenswear design efforts focused on innovative performance apparel, collaborating with the concepts, product development, and materials teams to integrate new fabric technologies like moisture-wicking, breathable, and winterized materials. Produced technical flats and detailed tech packs using Centric PLM systems, ensuring design feasibility and quality. Designed exclusive womenswear, lingerie, loungewear, and denim collections through partnerships with high-profile brands, contributing to limited edition and co-branded products. Consulted on trend analysis and womenswear-specific collaborations, conducted extensive fittings to meet fit intent and aesthetic standards, and provided fashion illustrations to cross-functional teams.

Senior Design Consultant at Under Armour (Luna; FKA Unstoppable)

January 1, 2025 - May 1, 2025

Helped define the next chapter of Under Armour's women’s lifestyle product through Luna (FKA Unstoppable). Translated creative direction into innovative, market-ready product through cross-functional collaboration.

Senior Design Consultant at Under Armour (Luna; formerly Unstoppable / UNSTOPPABLE)

January 1, 2025 - May 31, 2025

Helped define the next chapter of Under Armour’s women’s lifestyle product through Luna. Translated creative direction into market-ready product through cross-functional collaboration.

Senior Design Consultant at Under Armour (Luna / formerly Unstoppable)

January 1, 2025 - May 1, 2025

Helped define the next chapter of Under Armour’s women’s lifestyle product through Luna. Translated creative direction into innovative, market-ready product through cross-functional collaboration.

Senior Designer New Product Ventures at Calvin Klein

December 31, 2024 - August 27, 2025

Designed womenswear collections focusing on new product innovation and ventures. Developed detailed technical sketches and tech packs utilizing PLM systems to facilitate seamless communication between design, product development, materials, and merchandising teams. Participated in consumer and trend analysis, collaborating with global concepts teams to pitch womenswear-specific collaborators and innovations. Managed extensive garment fittings to align fit intent, fabric quality, and aesthetic.

Designer II at Nike

December 31, 2022 - August 27, 2025

Conducted in-depth trend research and consumer insights analysis to translate data into relevant new womenswear design concepts that met athletes' performance needs and geographic specifications. Re-set and developed the women's Phoenix Fleece mid-weight program in partnership with the materials team. Created trend relevant staple items resonating with athletes and consumers, introduced a womens trend-based sportswear-focused line balancing fashion and athletic aesthetics. Oversaw technical production details including tech packs, bills of materials, and extensive fittings to ensure fit and execution quality towards Nike’s brand vision of empowering women through function and style.

Design Lead at Calvin Klein (New Product Ventures)

January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2024

Designed concept-driven product for global initiatives and collaborations, including Palace x Calvin Klein and Nensi Dojaka x Calvin Klein. Shaped design direction through silhouette, proportion, materials, and detail to create distinctive, brand-aligned product. Focused on cut & sew knits, loungewear, lingerie, and denim; developed concept capsules and aspirational prototypes to inform seasonal product direction. Presented design concepts to senior leadership and global cross-functional teams.

Design Lead at Calvin Klein

January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2024

Designed concept-driven product for global initiatives and collaborations including Palace x Calvin Klein and Nensi Dojaka x Calvin Klein. Shaped design direction through silhouette, proportion, materials, and detail, focusing on cut & sew knits, loungewear, lingerie, and denim. Developed concept capsules and aspirational prototypes to inform seasonal direction, and presented concepts to senior leadership and global cross-functional teams.

Design Lead / Senior Designer at Calvin Klein

January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2024

Senior Designer supporting New Product Ventures and concept-driven product for global initiatives and collaborations (including Palace X Calvin Klein and Nensi Dojaka X Calvin Klein). Shaped design direction through silhouette, proportion, materials, and detail for brand-aligned product development. Worked across cut & sew knits, loungewear, lingerie, and denim; developed concept capsules and aspirational prototypes to inform seasonal product direction. Presented design concepts to senior leadership and global cross-functional teams.

Designer II (Womens Sportswear) at Nike

January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2021

Led the evolution of Iconclash into Nike Sportswear’s pinnacle women’s streetwear franchise. Redefined Nike women’s fleece through the Phoenix Fleece program, driving fabric innovation, sustainability, and detail-led design. Designed concept-driven capsule collections from initial vision through global product execution. Presented seasonal design direction to VP-level and senior leadership.

Designer II (Apparel Design) at NIKE

January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022

Led the evolution of Iconclash into Nike Sportswear’s pinnacle women’s streetwear franchise. Redefined Nike women’s fleece through the Phoenix Fleece program, driving fabric innovation, sustainability, and detail-led design. Designed concept-driven capsule collections from initial vision through global product execution and presented seasonal design direction to VP and senior leadership.

Apparel Designer, Women’s Sportswear at Nike

January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2022

Led design work for women’s sportswear, evolving the Iconclash concept into Nike women’s streetwear franchise. Redefined women’s fleece via the Phoenix Fleece program, supporting fabric innovation, sustainability, and detail-led design. Designed concept-driven capsule collections from initial vision through global product execution and presented seasonal design direction to VP and senior leadership.

Founder & Creative Director at Fortie Label Studios

January 1, 2016 - Present

Founded an independent women’swear label; led creative direction, brand strategy, and product development from concept to launch. Directed collection development across design, fabrication, fit, technical development, and brand identity. Led creative campaigns and visual storytelling across digital and physical platforms. Built strategic partnerships with manufacturers, vendors, and creative collaborators to bring collections to market.

Founder / Creative Director at Fortie Label

January 1, 2016 - Present

Founded and directed the creative vision for Fortie Label, managing collections across London and New York. Specialize in womenswear featuring intimate apparel and loungewear. Oversee all aspects of brand development, trend analysis, and collaboration with external designers and brands for limited edition and co-branded collections.