Ruchi RelanMA in Textile Design

New Delhi, IndiaM: 9958399800

Current PositionDesign Consultant

Apparel and Textile Creative Design Consultant with significant private sector and international exposure.

Successful background in interior design, designing haute couture collections and working for a retail chain and export houses catering for their international clientele.

Effective design quality and performance management including introducing and applying different culture and practice of passion, attitude and drive.

Strong facilitative management style with proven experience of multi-skill team working.

Professional Qualifications

2006-07 MA in Professional Design in Fashion and Textiles Heriot-Watt University, Scotland.

2001-04 Post Graduate Diploma in Apparel & Accessory Design National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India.

1998-2001 Diploma in Fashion Design NIIFT, India

1997-2000 Graduation in Eng (H) Delhi University, India

Professional Experience

2006 Worked on an Interiors based project of designing Installations for Hotels in my final MA Project.

2007 Internee Designer Eribe Knitwear, Scotland

ERIBÉ designs, manufactures and exports finest quality knitwear for discerning customers worldwide. Their product range includes pure cashmere garments, pure Shetland wool chunky cardigans and pullovers. I designed a collection of home furnishings with them.

The placement period at Eribe has given me opportunities to build up my own ability in Knitwear Design as well as enhance my knowledge and understanding of the international market.

2004-06 Head of Garment Design Fabindia Overseas Pvt Ltd, India

Fabindia works closely with artisans providing various inputs including design, quality control, access to raw materials and production coordination. It has retail outlets (72) in all major cities of India and abroad like Dubai, China and Rome.

Designed various collections and have traveled extensively all over India for Sourcing and Providing Design Specifications to the craftsmen.

2003-04 Designer Kotwara Studios, India

Muzaffar Ali is a painter, filmmaker and world-renowned designer. I designed for their Haute Couture collections, showcased at Lakme India Fashion Week' 03 and LIFW’04.

'Shringar', a presentation held by the Government of India in Jan’04. I designed costumes for a movie starring national award winning actress and worked on the couture collections that were styled with traditional craftsmanship of Kotwara in Luxury Silks. Also, designed interior and stage set up.

Jahan-e-Khusrau was the fourth annual international Sufi Music Festival, presented by Government of India in March'2004. I designed for various renowned personalities.

2001 Fashion Designer Orient Fashions, India

A leading export house in India. I designed ranges for their international clientele like Gap and Bloomingdale.

Professional AchievementsInternational Experience

British Council Scholar Award to study in Scotland. The unique opportunity to study and travel as a Scottish Executive Scholar

supported by my extensive work with the crafts sector in India has bestowed upon me the opportunity to widen my outlook and appreciate the depth of the craft and design heritage to become a dynamic, creative and innovative fashion and textile design professional with a strong conviction to give shape to my inner feelings in my creativity.

Multidisciplinary Management

Trend Research/Forecasts Preparing initial sketches to executing final sketches Sourcing of Fabric and trim Working with craftsmen to develop new designs and techniques Reviewing of pre and post production samples Successfully developing and bringing out new line each year Working closely with production/marketing/finance teams Working on Specs in CAD and developing specification sheets Design Prints and develop color ways.

Design Skills

Worked with software’s like Photoshop, PageMaker, Image ready, Illustrator, Coral Draw, to produce an array of designs.

Web Designing.

Technical Skills

Experienced in Garment Manufacturing techniques like Sewing Techniques, Draping & Pattern Making for women’s wear and formal men’s wear and performance sportswear.

Fabric Construction Design of collections with Laser Cutting Machine, Shima for Knitwear &

Explored various Printing (made my own screens and developed blocks for prints) and Dyeing Techniques (natural dyeing).

Design Projects

“ANU KAMA”, the final collection presentation of NIIFT. Worked on a collection for the “Afro Khadi” project with KVIC, Govt. Of

India. It was an attempt to merge the diverse crafts of Africa and Gujarat, India. The collection was showcased in Delhi with the Honorable President of India as the Chief Guest.

Designed uniforms for LPG carriers of Indian Oil Corporation. Worked on costumes for a short film. Studied Turban style & jewellery of the Royal family of Jodhpur. Worked with National Award Winner Craftsman on techniques of Dyeing.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Involved in all phases of Designing from initial trend research to determine concepts, colour, and fabric and trim details. Traveled extensively in India and overseas. Worked closely with craftsmen and the teams/vendors involved in production. Collaborated with product development and sales teams to determine trends forecasts of style and colour palettes for the seasons.

Ruchi Relan curriculum vitae