Mary Lai

Footwear Materials Sourcing - Asia

Brand: A&F, EXPRESS, BELK, ANN TAYLOR - LOFT, STITCH FIX, TALBOTS, CHICO'S FAS * Sourced fabrics and developed collections in accordance with company strategy and fashion trends. * Led fabric development including new fabric development and duplication, ensuring quality setup with comprehensive documentation (Physical/ FDS/ Test report/ Risk Assessment/ Care code/ Failure/ Technical limitation). * Conducted fabric Risk Assessments, particularly for high-risk products and cases involving Technical Limitations during garment development and production phases. * Reviewed and approved fabric quality, ensuring mills understood brand requirements and delivered high-quality products on schedule. * Analyzed test reports, taking appropriate actions based on findings. * Actively monitored development and bulk production statuses, ensuring timely delivery. * Supported factories in resolving fabric issues during garment production. * Analyzed mill performance in color, quality, testing, and responsibility, implementing Corrective Action Plans (CAP) as necessary. * Executed the submission process and approved colors from Development (Lab dip/ Strike off/ Yarn Dye/ Graphic/ Embroidery) to Bulk, especially for Mix-Media styles or Matching programs. * Managed Spectrophotometer operations and trained teams and mills on customer procedures (Datacolor/ iQC). * Owned care instructions for raw materials and end garments, aligning with brand expectations. * Onboarded and monitored mills, suppliers, and factories, leading the Factory/ Mill Certified Program on Color/ Fabric/ Testing. * Stayed updated on brand strategies related to innovation and sustainability, incorporating necessary requirements into operations.

Product: Casual wear, Garment wash, Garment dye Brand: JC Penny, Walmart, Kohls,... * Own Fabric inspection process (inspection (4 points system), weight, skew, shrinkage, color shading, shadeband, hand feel, defect,...) to ensure appropriate checks are being conducted. * Prepare for Garment Wash and Garment Dye: Inspection, Blanket, shrinkage/ skew, shade segregation,... * Responsible for proper documentation and reporting of fabric inspection, shrinkage, shade, washing appearances and test report,... * Supervise entire operations to ensure they are performed according to established procedures/ standards * Balance working schedule and manpower; give team all the support as required; training and build up the team,... * Work closely with other departments (Warehouse, Cutting, Merchandiser,...) and Mills (fabric issue - quality/ defect/ test report...) to ensure meet production goals and deadline, the work run smoothly * Check fabric test report (both mill and internal factory's report), give direction accordingly * Accountable to investigate any bulk fabric failures and work with the mills for problem solving effectively, to implement the CAP to avoid further failures. * Conduct correlation exercises between Mill and Garment vendors for fabric flaws to ensure alignment on quality standards. * Trim + Garment Inspection

* Prepares garment markers using CAD software; set the best layout of pattern pieces to minimize waste of Fabric and mark fabric accordingly, optimize fabric utilization. * Inspects pattern and markers in order to avoid errors. * Keeping and checking sketches, sample articles, patterns, and design specifications to determine quantities, shapes, and sizes of pattern parts. * Approve Technical Document for whole Cutting Department * Supervise entire cutting operations and ensure they are performed according to established procedures and standards (CAD and CAM; Fabric, Lining, Lace; Applique heat transfer...). * Prepare reports on cutting operations and productivity and present them to senior management. * Manage and lead the team to ensure the output/ quality meet requirement; balance working schedule and manpower * Train and mentor cutting staff on proper cutting techniques, safety measures, and equipment usage; develop the team (especially Team Leaders) * Work closely with Team leader/ worker for problem solving - instruction/ give solution/ direction,... give them all types of support as required. * Work and communicate with other supervisors, managers and other departmens to meet production goals and deadline * Communicate with Head office for any fabric issue, with Customer for Pattern issue,... * Identify and troubleshoot any issues with cutting equipment and coordinate repairs or maintenance as needed. * Monitor inventory levels of cutting supplies and raw materials and order more when necessary.

Brands: WHBM, Club Monaco, Calvin Klein,... * Oversee the sample development process, ensuring that samples meet design specifications and quality standards * Check & translate Tech pack/ sample comment from English to Vietnamese and review it with sample room before the next sample making. * Work with technical team/production team/sample room for any issue regarding pattern/technical/workmanship to ensure the quality, check whether there is any better way to suggest buyers make samples easier for bulk later. * Sourcing material for quotation and sampling, negotiate price with the supplier to meet the buyer’s request. * Prepare all materials for sample making * Make the sample schedule with sample room to keep the buyer’s request. * Check sample and make samples checklist to send together with the sample. * Following up all sample status, mockup, costing until order commit * Coordinate with customer and factory about PO * Provide feedback and approvals for samples before mass production * Make QA files with all needed details