Resume

Kelsey Lee Nelsen Barajas

Experience

FOUNDER | PRODUCT DESIGNER & DEVELOPER | MAKER

twigminn, Minneapolis, MN                                                             01/2017-present

• Design and create a collection of leather goods focused on waste reduction and reuse 

• Manage e-commerce platforms, marketing, collaborations, and product sales 

• Teach community classes related to sustainability and leather craftsmanship

• Vend at juried art fairs and makers markets

BRAND MANAGER | PRODUCT DESIGNER & DEVELOPER | SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST

Softline Brand Partners, Minneapolis, MN                                                             01/2019-04/2023

• Managed and trained a team of leather goods technicians and customer experience specialists 

• Forecasted sales, managed budget, and strategized procurement through responsible sourcing 

• Established waste-reduction and materials donation programs supporting arts organizations 

• Collaborated across teams and stakeholders to deliver on business metrics and objectives 

• Owned the production calendar and inventory for 10,000+ unique DTC and B2B orders annually

• Designed and created technical specs for new collections and 20+ supplemental SKUs annually

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Softline Brand Partners, Minneapolis, MN                                                         09/2016-01/2019

·       Increased production capacity of sewn goods by 300% in one calendar year

·       Created processes for waste reduction to maximize the potential of raw materials

·       Ensured products were manufactured per specification, on time, and at a profit

·       Facilitated staff development, hired, and trained a team from six to twenty-seven team members

SEAMSTRESS & DESIGN INTERN

Hackwith Design House, St. Paul, MN                                                                   06/2015-09/2016

·       Established a monthly remnant fabric recycling program

·       Cut and sewed garments to specification, ensuring fit and quality standards

·       Independently sketched, designed, and constructed a limited-edition garment to be sold online

Education

Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN                                  May 2023

Master of Arts in Sustainable Design

Thesis Topic - From Synthetic to Sustainable:  A Guide for Soft Goods Specifiers

Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minneapolis, MN                               May 2016

Associate of Arts in Apparel Design

College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN                                                                      May 2008

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Spanish