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Designer - Dolce Vita Swimwear

Creative & Design

Hello there!

My name is Leigh Anne Cariaga, but most call me Leigh. In case you're unsure how to pronounce that, phonetically, it's "lay".

I am a vibrant and ever-curious designer living in the bustling city of New York. Including my internships, I have approximately 6 years of experience in the fashion industry.

While I have experience in multiple avenues of fashion, I am currently specializing in swimwear and have been doing so for 4 years and counting. Many of my peers joke that only a big-dreaming, California-born girl such as myself would move all the way to NYC to design swimsuits. It's been quite the journey, but I'm loving it more and more each day.

I'm always eager to learn more and wholeheartedly think that there are constant opportunities to grow and develop ourselves even in the most mundane of activities and exercises. There is no such thing as knowing all there is to know!

If you have an idea, project, or opportunity that you think I could assist you with, I would love to offer my expertise. Please feel free to send me a message and let's connect.

-Designer of Dolce Vita's debut swimwear collection
-Developed design concept to translate a unified aesthetic from footwear line into swimwear
-Established brand specific fit alongside technical designer
-Attend fittings
-Attend print house appointments to select trend right prints for collection
-Shop domestic and international markets for inspiration


-Swimwear design (Girls 2-6x/7-16, Missy, Maternity, and Juniors markets for Target, Kohl's, Kmart, and Belk)
-Utilizing PLM (product lifecycle management) through online databases to effectively communicate with vendors. (Ex: Target FlexPLM)
-Reviewing strike-offs/lab dips for approval/rejection
-Managing account books to track trim and fabric development
-Creating BOMs to send to factories overseas
-Attending fittings with technical design team to review latest fit/production samples for approval/rejection
-Attending print house appointments to select brand-right prints for specific customers
-Creating color, trend, and fabric/trim board
-Local & overseas trim sourcing
-Creating/adjusting trim/print placement nestings

Associate Designer - Private Label Swimwear

-Swimwear design (Girls 2-6x/7-16 and Maternity markets for Target, Kohl's, Kmart, and Belk)
-Utilizing PLM (product lifecycle management) through online databases to effectively communicate with vendors. (Ex: Target FlexPLM)
-Reviewing strike-offs/lab dips for approval/rejection
-Managing account books to track trim and fabric development
-Coordinating with in-house sample production team to cut & sew samples for various accounts
-Creating color, trend, and fabric/trim board
-Local & overseas trim sourcing
-Creating/adjusting trim/print placement nestings
-Creating cost sheets
-Creating write-ups for production

Assistant Designer - Private Label Swimwear

-Creating digital and hand-drawn flat sketches
-Organizing components room
-Creating and modifying jewelry sample pieces
-Creating jewelry specs layouts
-Creating and updating collection boards to track approved pieces for production
-Updating line sheets with new and current collections
-Sourcing locally in the Garment District

Jewelry Design Intern

Bohemian meets gaucho inspired contemporary womenswear.

-Women's apparel and footwear design
-Promoted from Intern to Assistant Designer within 3 months
-Creating tech packs to submit to overseas factories
-Corresponding with overseas factories regarding sampling and production
-Reviewing strike-offs, trim samples, and beading layout samples for approval/rejection 
-Attending fittings with Senior Designer to note any needed corrections
-Creating line sheets and look books for Sales Team
-Managing design interns

Intern to Assistant Designer

-Swimwear design
-Organizing and maintaining samples
-Creating and copying patterns
-Hand/machine sewing
-CADs
-Sourcing fabrics and trims locally in the Garment District
-Assisting with sample sales

Design Intern

-Creating and copying patterns
-CADs
-Sourcing fabrics and trims locally in the Garment District
-Organizing sample closet and archived patterns

Production Intern

Find out detailed information about Leigh Anne Cariaga, Designer - Dolce Vita Swimwear in Brooklyn, NY

Leigh Anne Cariaga: Designer - Dolce Vita Swimwear in Brooklyn, NY

Leigh Anne Cariaga

Academy of Art University