Emily Spence - Menswear Designer  

Employment History

Senior Designer - freelance, Enroute Jan 2024- present

From the initial concept to building a product team to creating a unique brand of transitional running apparel with a focus on wearability. As this was this brand's first foray into apparel design, I also educated and led the owners in everything from concept to block fitting to fabric sourcing, tech packing, and measurement specs.

Senior Men’s Designer - freelance, Kit and Ace 2023- present

Leading the men’s design direction for Kit and Ace after the company was taken over by Joe Mimran. Creating a design language for 50+ new styles a season, developing trims, leading fittings, and raw material sourcing.

Senior Performance Designer, Reigning Champ CYC Design Corp 2022 - 2023

Leading the creation of Reigning Champ’s performance apparel category. Creating a unique POV in fabric, function, and fit from initial raw materials concept to designing and prototyping to final wear testing.

Senior Train Designer, lululemon 2021 - 2022

Led men’s train team in building out new franchises, raw materials, and innovations with a focus on marrying style and function in world-class training gear.

Senior Hike Designer, lululemon 2021 - 2022

Lead the launch of a new collection of hike gear for men. Briefing raw materials, building on language, innovating in construction, and fitting across all apparel categories.

Senior Outerwear Designer, lululemon 2017 – 2021

Led men’s outerwear team in building a core seasonal outerwear program. Cross-functional alignment with men’s and women’s mainline styles and accessories

Designer, lululemon 2014 – 2017

Sweatwear designer for men’s apparel team, specializing in seamless knitting and performance-oriented styles

Designer, lululemon lab 2011 – 2014

Designer of a limited-edition collection of on-trend pieces utilizing liability fabrics married with functional and technical details

Internships

Lifetime Collective (2010) Dana Lee New York (2009) Osei-Duro (2008)

Skills

Product design

Research & development

Sample fitting & direction

Raw material development

Industry software proficiency

Management and administration

Education

Inclusive Design Program, lululemon in partnership with Inclusive Design Research Centre, 2021

Bachelor of Fashion, Design + Technology Kwantlen Polytechnic University Vancouver, BC
2011

Degree Program in Fashion & Clothing University of Applied Sciences Helsinki, Finland (exchange)
2010

Career Highlights

• Brought to market 120+ master styles

• Leading men’s team in Inclusive Design practices from 2021 to date

• Led the re-launch of lululemon men’s outerwear program in 2018

• Men’s outerwear collection sales increase of +342% since 2017

• Redeveloped best-selling Metal Vent Tech top program in 2016

• Built out standardized internal and external wear-testing protocol that has since been adopted as a company-wide prototype