Lane Bryant's Technical Designer Talks Following Her Passion
In the latest edition of our Behind the Design series, we're giving you the inside scoop on the technical design process behind Genius Jeans — Lane Bryant's *smartest* denim collection yet. Two years in the making, these jeans were designed to address the most common pain points for the plus-size denim customer: fit, comfort and cost.
Meet Rachel, Technical Designer at Lane Bryant. We asked her to tell us more about the skills she uses as a Technical Designer, her contributions to Genius Jeans, and the culture in our Columbus office.
I’ve been working in the industry for over 15 years, and my love for technical design started during my internships. I attended the University of Cincinnati for Fashion Design, where I completed 5 internships and gained firsthand experience in many roles across the fashion industry. I fell in love with technical design through three internships at Abercrombie & Fitch, where I realized that while every retail company makes clothes, what makes a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, or a brand truly special is how it fits and feels when you wear it. That experience also sparked my love of denim.
Lane Bryant’s incredible culture speaks for itself. I have had numerous past colleagues move to Lane Bryant over the years, and everyone has loved working here. Their customer-first philosophy is very present day-to-day, and everyone is so nice and respectful. The leadership team is very focused on ensuring we make thoughtful decisions and maintain open lines of communication for feedback and new ideas.
How does Lane Bryant’s customer-first philosophy inform the technical design process?
We are diligent about reading reviews and processing feedback into our product and fit. As a full-figured woman myself, I understand the frustrations of garments not fitting well, and it is my number one focus that the fit is right for our customer. With the Genius line, we really tried to give her wonderful jeans that fit well at a price she can afford. This is all based on what she is telling us as a customer.
"The foundation of all technical design is a strong understanding of pattern work and garment construction."
Talk to us about your role with the launch of the new Genius Jean. What did it consist of? Did you work with other technical designers for this project, or did you oversee it all yourself?
I was brought into the process at a mid-stage of product development after the fabrics and design intent were completed by design. I then worked on finalizing the product for the brand. I did this through fitting, pattern work, construction solutions, and consistent communication with our vendor partners. Genuis was a new fit and value direction for the brand, so I worked closely with our vendor partners to ensure we maintained the brand’s integrity while exploring this new idea. However, with any product that we build at Lane Bryant, everything is a collaboration.
Design is responsible for the vision, specific details, and wash. Merchants make sure we have the right leg shapes and variety of product. Technical Design ensures that we are giving the right solution for the fit and intent of the garment.
Tell us about the skills you use as a Technical Designer.
The foundation of all technical design is a strong understanding of pattern work and garment construction. Another skill that is often underestimated is the knowledge of human anatomy and body shape variation. This understanding deeply influences your ability to recognize what can and cannot be corrected through pattern adjustments. This becomes even more important when evaluating fit for the plus-size customer, as traditional pattern rules sometimes need to be adapted. Technical design also relies heavily on clear communication, using photos, visuals, and tools such as Flex PLM (Product Lifecyle Management software), Illustrator, PowerPoint, and written documentation to provide detailed comments to overseas vendor partners.
"Lane Bryant's customer-first philosophy is very present day-to-day, and everyone is so nice and respectful. The leadership team is very focused on ensuring we make thoughtful decisions and maintain open lines of communication for feedback and new ideas."
Every day starts with emails. While this may not be the most exciting part of the job, it is essential because it’s how we communicate with our factories and vendor partners, making consistent and clear communication a top priority. From there, I check whether we have any garments that fit and begin the prep process with my assistant. During this stage, we measure each garment at critical points to ensure accuracy before presenting anything to the team. We also double-check construction against our standards and review any notes or suggestions the vendor provides. If needed, we’ll do a preliminary review on the form.
What excites you about the future at Lane Bryant?
What excites me most about the future at Lane Bryant is the company’s unwavering commitment to putting the customer first. Every decision is grounded in understanding her needs and creating solutions that genuinely support her. I’m also inspired by our focus on being fiercely dedicated to women and designing products that help her feel confident, comfortable, and empowered.
At the same time, Lane Bryant embraces the importance of learning from the past while continuing to look forward. We are constantly evolving, innovating, and striving to make each new product better than the last. This balance of reflection and forward momentum makes the future here incredibly exciting.
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Lane Bryant's Denim Designer Shares Customer-First Philosophy
Kelsey shares how she found her passion for denim design, what makes Lane Byrant denim unique, and why Genius Jeans are, well, genius.
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