Scarlet Kux-Kardos
Designer · ReAction Design Studio
Nelson, British Columbia
In My Own Words
EXPERIENCED DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT with over 20 years in performance apparel and product line development. I have a proven track record of working on a contract basis with in-house teams, establishing efficient systems and calendars, and managing complex projects across multiple vendors.
With extensive experience in creative direction, garment design, and development management for renowned brands such as Under Armour, Marmot, Outdoor Research, and Columbia Sportswear, I provide expert guidance to a diverse clientele, from start-ups to multi-billion-dollar enterprises.
My passion for the outdoors and being actively involved in land, snow and water sports, I bring a deep, firsthand understanding of the functionality required in technical apparel. This involvement greatly enhances my ability to create products that meet real-world performance needs.
I specialize in supporting various stages of the product design & development process, from creating custom templates and offering design direction to solving complex development challenges. My expertise enables me to provide strategic advice, deliver efficient design solutions tailored to client needs, and step in at almost any stage of the design development process to help meet calendar deadlines.
I believe in designing clothing with a purpose—protection from the elements and enhancement of the activity the garments are designed for. Function and comfort come first, but style is a very close second.
Work Experience
Designer / Co-Founder
ReAction Design Studio2021 – Present
reAction Design Studio specializes in active sportswear design and development. We are a passionate team of outdoor enthusiasts who love creating, designing and testing performance apparel for men, women and kids. Our combined projects are extensive and cover a variety of categories including Outerwear, Active Sportswear, Performance, Lifestyle, Kids and Clo3d Design.
Designer | Founder at SK2 design and development
SK2 design & development1997 – Present
... To inspire people outdoors, awaken their senses and build clothing to achieve ultimate cooperation with the elements.
Performance sportswear design and development offering professional services taylored specifically to client needs.
Client list includes Under Armour, Sugoi, Outdoor Research, Marmot, Beachboy, Carhartt, RYU, Lija, K-Swiss, Specialized Bicycles, Fera, Under Armour, Moving Comfort, Dub Brand Clothing, Columbia Sportswear, Insport, Arson and Orb, Sierra Designs, and many others.
See web portfolio for complete current and past client list www.sk2design.com
Owner | Founder at Zapped Outfitters
Zapped Outfitters2018 – Present
ZAPPED OUTFITTERS is a collection of “covert reflective gear” for kids aged 6-12. In an age where awesome innovation counts, ZAPPED hits the market at the perfect time: We offer gender-neutral essentials for long dark days of winter while RAD enough to wear every day, year round!
Ideal for urban centers where kids are exposed to high volumes of road traffic, and for remote communities where street lights are few and far between, ZAPPED has visibility covered along with resilient protection from our harsh Canadian elements. We are a Canadian brand, inspired by Canadian winters
Designer
Superior Glove2021 – Present
Led re-branding initiative for an industrial glove brand, creating cohesive branding for over 1000 products. Developed detailed brand guidelines and a 100-page brand manual. Conducted six months of weekly onboarding sessions for internal staff. Designed and developed heated jacket and product launch for FR (Flame-Resistant) apparel.
Freelance Design & Development
Simms Fishing Products2021 – 2022
Design, Direction and development of M's & W's collections including sportswear and outerwear from SS23-FW24. Consulted on streamlining branding & construction and features across all products.
Freelance Designer
Outdoor Research2014 – 2021
Design and Direction for men's and women's FW 2016 through SP2021 snow sports and sportswear categories. Work includes creative direction, trend research, and presentation, audit/update of performance features and prototype review.
Design / Developer
Aspen Skiing Company2018 – 2021
Pilot project with Aspen Ski Company / Vert Consulting on the design and development of custom uniforms for the 3500 person staff – including Ski School, Operations and Patrol. Scope of work includes start to finish trend through to spec sheets, survey study, one-on-one with key operational staff as well as proto-type reviews, fittings and correspondence with factory.
Freelance Performance Sportswear Designer
LIJA Style Inc.2013 – 2019
Design and Direction for women's tennis, training and golf categories. Work includes creative direction, graphics and print direction as well as specification and development details.
Freelance Performance Sportswear Designer
Beachbody2012 – 2016
Design, Merchandising and Development for several collections to accompany various fitness brands.
Freelance Performance Sportswear Designer
SUGOI2013 – 2016
Design and Direction for women's "performance lifestyle" category. Work includes creative direction, graphics / print and colour palette direction as well as specification and development details through to proto and fit review. Additional design of several products in categories including women's performance run, sports bra's, compression and mens product.
Freelance Performance Sportswear Designer
Under Armour2016 – 2016
Design, direction and specifications for SP18 Mens and Women's mountain lifestyle collection.
Freelance Snowsports Designer
Marmot Mountain2013 – 2015
Design and Direction for Mens and Womens snow sports categories. Work included creative direction for entire category, including trend research and presentation, trim direction, fabric selection and audit / update of performance features.
Freelance Design and Development
Fera International Corp.2001 – 2014
Performance Sportswear Design and Development, Print Design and New Concept Exploration for all seasons / deliveries. Including lifestyle, sports-style, outerwear, soft shell and sweater designs for men, women, juniors and kids.
Freelance Performance Sportswear Designer
Les Mills International2011 – 2013
Design and Direction for collections to accompany various work-out categories. Work includes creative direction, graphics / print and colour palette direction as well as specification and development details.
Freelance Performance Sportswear Designer
K-Swiss2009 – 2011
Performance apparel design for tennis, run and sportstyle starting with Spring 2011. Work included color palette, creative direction, graphics / print and illustrations as well as specification and development details through to proto and fit review. Also designed SP11 Jillian Michaels collection and introduced highly technical, performance outerwear into the mens and womens collections.
Freelance Design and Development
Specialized Bicycle Components2008 – 2010
Garment design and specification details for mens and womens bike specific apparel for Fall/Winter 2009 through to Fall/Winter 2011/12 as well as color direction for womens hardgoods for Spring 2011.
Freelance Designer
Sport Obermeyer2010 – 2010
New category design and development of sweater collection as well as mens outerwear design for Fall / Winter 11-12
Freelance Technical Designer
Under Armour2009 – 2009
Worked with Senior Design Staff to finalize design concepts and complete spec sheets.
Designer / Project Manager (freelance)
Dub Brand Clothing2001 – 2008
Product and line development , garment design, art direction and management of off-shore development for Winter soft goods programs from 2002/03-2009/10. Includes complete development and execution of specification packages, off-shore factory tours, prototype review and fittings, custom trim development, color palette, product line layout and consulting, as well as development and design team management for Spring / Summer programs.
Freelance Performance Sportswear Designer
Insport International Inc.2002 – 2005
Technical apparel design and product line consulting for Winter and Summer active wear programs from 2003/04 - 2006/07. Specific for Run, Bike, Triathlon and Yoga.
Outerwear Designer and Developer
Nordica USA Corp.2000 – 2005
Garment design, line plan development and off-shore development of Winter soft goods programs from 2001/02 -2003/04. Includes technical specification packages, off-shore factory tours, prototype review, label, logo and hang tag development and development of off-shore quality control. Design and development of Team uniforms in 2005.
freelance outerwear designer / developer
Columbia Sportswear2004 – 2005
Apparel design and specification package execution for Winter 2006-2007 Mens and Womens Titanium outerwear and soft shell.
freelance performance apparel design and development
Canadian Mountain Holidays2002 – 2004
Design and develop new garment label program. Design new screens and embroidered logo's for use on retail sales, also developed spec system for production. Design and development for private label Winter 2002/'03 and '03/'04 apparel program.
freelance outerwear designer / developer
Arson and Orb1998 – 2001
Design and development of mens and womens outerwear, technical fleece and street wear for winter and summer programs (1998-2001) Developed specification sheets as well as presentation material for catalog, sales reps and trade shows. Managed off-shore sampling for outerwear.
Designer
Westbeach1995 – 1998
Product design, development and merchandising strategy for complete winter and summer programs of womens streetwear and outerwear, and technical mens outerwear and layering. Involved in market research, advertising and marketing of these products as well as sourcing, costing and management of both off-shore and local sample production.