To celebrate Boss’s Day 2018, we decided to introduce you to the bosses we know best. Stay tuned all week as we introduce you to seven (yes, seven) women who run the show right here in our own company — the women behind the clothing you love.

Introducing Evelyn & Shawna, Senior Designers

“Being able to do what you love and see the results on women is so rewarding!”

WHAT IS YOUR JOB TITLE?

Senior Designer

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WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY IN YOUR LIFE LOOK LIKE?

E: We come in first thing and plan daily tasks for the day.

S: Then it’s a busy day of meetings! We usually begin with fittings. Then we meet with sales, our fabric team, print studios and trim vendors…

E: …Collaborate with colleagues develop our dress line — look at fabrics, prints, colors…

S: After that, Evelyn and I will begin to sketch and develop our ideas for several seasons at one time.

E: Sketching new ideas, fittings with models…Always designing!

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WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER (SO FAR)?

E: The most rewarding moment was when I told my mom I became a designer. She was proud that I did better than her — She was a seamstress and worked in factories in the garment center in NY since 1945! She has always been my inspiration.

S: I have had several moments. It’s hard to just pick one. The first moment was when I had the honor to work with my idol, Donna Karan, at Anne Klein as an assistant designer after graduating from Parsons. The second moment was when I was selected to design costumes for Nell Carter on her television show "Gimme A Break" in Hollywood. At the same time, I was designing costumes and personal wardrobe pieces for Donna Summer!

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TELL US ABOUT A TIME YOU OVERCAME A CHALLENGE IN THE WORKPLACE.

S: I worked for a designer (who I won't name) and was asked not to sketch any black women. I've always sketched women of different races, including in my portfolio in which she hired me. That was a major insult to me as a black woman. I sketched them anyway!

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ANY FUNNY STORIES OR STUMBLES FROM THE EARLY DAYS IN YOUR CAREER?

E: I started working after school at the age of 16. I learned so much doing so many tasks like cutting garments and sewing. We had a deadline and we needed to ship garments to a store. I was helping to sew the blouse and I completely sewed the collar right off the garment with an industrial overlock stitch machine! Yikes! I learned about control and how powerful those machines were!

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DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR A FELLOW CAREER WOMAN WHO MIGHT BE READING THIS?

E: Do what you love! If you don’t have a passion for what you do, [receiving criticism] becomes difficult to deal with. Be adaptable.

S: Stay focused and don’t give up…Stay competitive by keeping up with tech and trends. Stay open to change. It’s all worth it and rewarding in the end to be able to work on something you love

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