Max Kitabayashi

Lead the design and development of the company’s full product portfolio, including luggage, bags, tech accessories, and collaborations. Set product vision and direction while partnering closely with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and manufacturing partners to bring ideas through to production. Focus on building products that solve real-world problems, meet business goals, and advance our sustainability commitments.

Helped launch Harley-Davidson’s HD Collections NYC office as Senior Technical Designer. Partnered closely with the design team and in-house atelier to refine fit, construction, and finish across all garments. Developed grade rules and target fits to ensure the creative director’s vision translated consistently across sizes. Led the technical development of the Jason Momoa collaboration, On The Roam, serving as the primary liaison between his team and internal design and production partners.

Worked in apparel production, supporting the transition of garments from design and product development into factory-ready execution. Reviewed finished styles for completeness and accuracy prior to bulk production, managed assigned sections of the master apparel line plan, and coordinated with internal teams to ensure readiness for production. Conducted quality control on TOP samples, reviewing color, print quality, construction, and overall execution to ensure standards were met before production approval. Helped support the transition from spreadsheet-based product tracking to a comprehensive PLM system, improving accuracy, visibility, and cross-team alignment across the apparel line.

Oversaw the product lifecycle from sample development to delivery for SS ‘20 and AW ‘20 mainline and runway. Served as an intermediary between mills and factories in Japan, our showroom in Paris, and the design/ development team in Brooklyn. I maintained our PLM system and developed techpacks, as well as handling purchase orders. I also hand-made a series of “rusted belts” for SS20 runway, which sold out in Japan.

I helped to create technical illustrations and rendered shoes for men’s and women’s styles for SS21. My main responsibilities included altering line drawings and ranges based on design notes, creating a myriad of color ups for the men’s sneaker styles of that season, and systemizing swatches, headers, and color books.

During my years at Izquierdo Studio I was exposed to a great variety of projects from creating window displays for the Ralph Lauren flagship store in NYC, to making costumes for Gotham, RuPaul’s Drag Race and the American Ballet theatre. Accounts: Ralph lauren, Thom Browne, Marvel, Rupaul's Drag Race, The View, Good Morning America, Gotham, Heidi Klum, ABT, Grammys Lady Gaga

Theory Summer Internship Program: Worked closely between development and in-house sample makers as well as domestic manufacturers. Specifically with leather suppliers and manufacturers for SS ’18 leather bodies. Created supplier purchase orders and edited techpacks.