About — Stephanie Vorpahl

Experienced in and passionate about all aspects of the fashion industry, Stephanie continually brings her art background fascination with culture and business savvy to her 18-year fashion design and management career.

Today, Stephanie manages the operations and marketing efforts of RueBelle Maui, Paris, a globally distributed, Maui-based designer jewelry brand. In her spare time, Stephanie indulges in her love of leather and works to develop Wynter, her line of designer leather handbags.

Prior to joining RueBelle, Stephanie collaborated remotely with the owners of Truckee, CA-based Thrive to concept and produce men’s and women’s outerwear, apparel and accessories for snowboarding.

Stephanie’s enjoyed delving into the fashion industry’s myriad facets over the course of her career from costume design and construction at Universal Studios and senior technical patternmaker at Wings Hawaii to assisting creative director at James Jeans and serving as an instructor at Art Center College of Design and L.A. Magnet High School.

Additionally, she’s created custom designs for a number of freelance clients, including Volkswagen, Jon Mayer, Backstreet Boys and Tommy Bahamas.

Stephanie graduated Magna Cum Laude from Los Angeles' Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, where she completed her Associate of Arts Professional Designation Degree in Fashion Design. She also attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Retail Merchandising & Management. During this time, she also enjoyed an internship at Liberty in London, assisting with buying appointments and attending London’s Fashion Week.

EMPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Empowerment + Business Mentor
Stephanie Vorpahl
www.stephanievorpahl.com | @stephanievorpahl
September 2020 - Present
Empowerment and business coaching for conscious leaders and entrepreneurs to guide them to awaken and align. I combine mystical, practical and business tools gained from working in business (18+), empowerment coaching along with deep diving into Astrology and Human Design. It is my divine mission, and I am passionate about guiding folks to create more joy and flow in life and business tapping into their soul purpose and visions.

Freelance Designer + Consultant
Stephanie Vorpahl
www.stephanievorpahldesigns.com
March 2011- Present
Helping fashion designers built their brand. Consulting on efficiency, production, sample process, fabric and trim selection. Creating tech packs that are specific to the needs of the sampling and production for their brand. Pattern and sewing first samples.

Marketing, Social Media and Shop Manager
Exotic Eye Tattoo | Wailuku, HI & Homer, Alaska
www.exoticeyetattool.com | @exoticeyetattoo
December 2016 – April 2020
Managing the owner and lead tattoo artist Rachel G. Creating and maintaining all social media and marketing of shop and artists. Overseeing and creating content for website and email campaigns. Booking appointments at busy appointment only shops, traveling artist locations and conventions. Applying for conventions and tattoo specific events. Creating systems for busy artist to maintain and keep up with busy bookings and events domestic and internationally.

Production Consultant
Sugarhigh + Lovestoned | Maui, HI
www.sugarhighlovestoned.com | @sugarhighlovestoned
November 2017 – June 2018
Implemented workflow to meet tight sample and production deadlines. Designed and created fashion flats and tech packs to facilitate improved communication with production house located in Los Angeles. Consult with creative director on fabric choices, fit comments, construction and fashion trends.

Marketing, Social Media, Senior Patternmaker, Technical Designer, Studio Manager
Wings Hawaii | Maui, HI
May 2016 – January 2018
Local Maui retail and wholesale business. In charge of running the design studio and managing a team of employees. Design and create social media and marketing to generate in store and online sales. Photograph, edit, copy write and upload all jewelry, clothing and decor for online site. Created technical apparel packs, TOP samples and patterns for apparel production in Indonesia. In charge of and knowledge of the complexities of all import and export shipments.

Operations and Marketing Manager
RueBelle Maui, Paris | Huelo, HI
March 2014 – May 2016
Serve as lead domestic and international client liaison for this Maui-based designer jewelry brand, which includes building relationships with prospective clients. Manage global shipping and ensure international shipping requirements are met; including sales via online store and wholesale orders. Partner with the creative director to concept, style and produce jewelry photoshoot. Write, design and create a variety of brand collateral for both business-to-consumer and business-to-business audience, including the brand's blog, e-commerce site, social media posts and the look book for wholesale clients.

Patternmaker / CAD Artist
Sugarhigh + Lovestoned | Maui, HI
September 2013 – June 2015
Created first-through-production patterns and CAD flats for upcoming season of a women's contemporary clothing line.

Designer
Thrive Snowboards | Truckee, CA
October 2013 – February 2015
Collaborated remotely with owners to design, streamline and execute men’s and women’s outerwear, apparel and accessories for snowboarding. Developed detailed tech packs, CAD flats and specs for domestic and international production. Sourced sewing contractors, fabrics and trims. Initiated first-through-production patterns and samples. Maintained tight production deadlines for trade shows. Launched and created the women’s season collection.

Senior Technical Patternmaker
Wings Hawaii | Maui, HI
April 2011 – November 2013
Managed and executed product design for this women’s boutique specializing in locally made clothing and jewelry. Created pattern and first samples, guided sewing team on construction details. Finalized production patterns and created grade rules. Ensured production deadlines were met, as well as created quality products to sell online, in store and to wholesale accounts. Sourced fabrics and studio supplies from domestic and international vendors. Maintained industrial sewing equipment.

Fashion Design Educator
Art Center College Of Design | Pasadena, CA
February 2009 – November 2010
Created a positive learning environment to inspire ideas and new design concepts among high school students through a 10 week intensive fashion design course. Educated students on sewing, pattern and garment construction, supervising their designs from creation to completion. Hosted a fashion district tour to help students understand how to source fabrics and trims. Upon conclusion of the course, mentored students through the process of showcasing their work, which included pairing them with photography students for a photoshoot and overseeing their production of the annual fashion show.

Associate Technical Patternmaker
James Jeans | Los Angeles, CA
March 2010 – September 2010
Collaborated directly with the creative director this premium denim company to design and conceptualize a women's and men's collection for the season. Executed fit comments and first-through-production patterns and samples. Prepared detailed tech packs, CAD flats and specs. Provided and built creative solutions to improve maternity fit. Created men's selvedge denim patterns for a new line. Conducted model casting, negotiations and styled for look book and catalog photoshoots.

Assistant Costume Designer
Universal Studios | Los Angeles, CA
August 2009 – March 2010
Joined the theme park's special events design team responsible for costuming the Halloween Horror Nights and Grinchmas. Specialized in aging and distressing costumes. Based on skills and demonstrated work ethic, was promoted to create and develop patterns for principal characters.

EDUCATION
A.A. Fashion Design | magna cum laude September 2008
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising | Los Angeles, CA

B.S. Retail Merchandising & Management | cum laude May 2001
University of Wisconsin-Stout | Menomonie, WI

Assistant Ladieswear Buyer | Liberty Winter 2001
American Intercontinental University | London, U.K.