Tyrone Spencer
Menswear Designer, Technical Designer and Developer · Lifted Research Group
Anaheim, CA
In My Own Words
Innovative and detail-oriented Designer with expertise in menswear, product development, and apparel construction. Adept at creating tech packs, solving fit issues, and collaborating cross-functionally to streamline production. Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Gerber Accumark, and PLM systems. Employing a method both consultive and collaborative, I leverage trend, high-fashion intel, concept development, guts and creativity to create on-trend apparel product that clients actually WANT.
I work as a culturally dexterous self-starter who skillfully leverages creativity to produce visually exciting and comprehensive design ideas with grounded clarity and focus on the original “big idea” and the concepts which created them. Additionally, I balance multiple projects, schedules and deadlines while collaborating cross-functionally across team environments.
Work Experience
Assistant Designer: LRG
Lifted Research Group2021 – 2025
OG Streetwear brand incorporated in 1999 and started by Jonas Bevacqua and Robert Wright specializing in men’s lifestyle apparel, skateboarding & innovative co-branded product design; L-R-G is a company designed to overthrow the masses by our influence. Our slogan is simple, “underground inventive, overground effective”. At L-R-G we want to focus on the ones that are trying to pay their rent with their passions. Think of us as a support group for the independent and underground culture. We’re trying to put the spotlight where we think it really belongs, because it is much more than clothing and concepts. It is a way of living. L-R-G, innovative essence for the above average person.
Assistant to VP of Design, Jay Borley | Menswear Designer: Responsible for conceptually developing and designing mainline fashion groups, collaborative capsule drops, assorted SMU’s and quickstrikes for the brand in addition to building tech packs for all collections designed, building compelling visual line plans, depositing digital assets for storage, as well as all stages of product development.
*Lead ideation, design, and apparel development of comprehensive and cohesive merchandise offerings for clients such as Dillard’s and Zumiez. *Lead ideation, design, and apparel development of curated capsule offerings for collabs with a style that was collaborative and consultive for NBA athletes and streetwear luminaries such as Damian Lillard & DoeDoe Farms, The Wu-Tang Clan, and Bobby Hundrerds. * Liaised with overseas partners to develop product as spec’d and designed from concept through to TOP samples ensuring accuracy in specifications and construction details. * Requesting lab dips and fabric testing while tracking comments and revisions on fit. * Selection of materials and trim in-line with deisgn vision for final product. *Conducted garment measurements and attended fittings, providing solutions to improve fit and functionality.
Apparel Designer | Developer
The S Group2021 – 2021
The S-Group is a one-stop design firm specializing in apparel design, product development, sourcing and global supply chain.
* Lead ideation, design, and apparel development of a range of women’s apparel offerings which complimented an already existing sustainable men’s golf line at Wyld1. * Liaised with overseas partners to shepherd the new women’s line from concept through the prototyping stage. * Managed lab dips and fabric testing in-line with the final product quality standards. Developed technical specifications and tech packs for various apparel categories, including wovens, knits, and performance wear. * Managed trim and fabric selection and testing in-line with the final product quality standards. * Ability to generate consensus through ideation and concept development that were in line with the brand vision. * Comprehensive understanding of life-cycle process from concept through product launch. * Further proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, concept ideation, color theory, use of texture, spacing and scale, visual presentation development and layout. * Managed/tracked changes and updates in Backbone PLM and relevant tech packs and BOM’s to hit production milestone targets.
Apparel Designer
I.CON IDEATION + CONCEPT STUDIO2019 – 2021
I.CON IDEATION + CONCEPT STUDIO is an interdisciplinary design studio where various interests all intersect to create unique opportunities to share stories worth telling.
* Created and pushed live blog coverage of London Collections: Men F/W ‘12. * Prepared and crafted focused, up-to-the-minute trend research to craft stories + successfully pitch agencies for men’s apparel design interviews. *Meticulously crafted, individually tailored styling briefs for personal wardrobing and presentation services.
Textile Design Assistant
Made On 23rd2019 – 2019
Made on 23rd is a textile studio invested in slow-making techniques informed by modern design. * Marketing: Portland Textile Month w/1500-5000 visitors to 50 exhibits in 30 days. * Design of block prints and pattern repeats by hand, refining them in Adobe CC with programs like Photoshop to clean up patterns, then vectorizing them in with Adobe Illustrator. * Production sewing of finished pattern printing on home decor items such as pillows, curtains, table runners & place settings. * Blog Editorial and direct mail outreach to over 1000 contacts over a 30 period and connecting contacts with rich, engaging newsletter content twice per month letting readers know what workshops and special events were available.
Apparel Design Intern
DYNE Menswear2018 – 2018
Having designed for the likes of Nike, Sean John, Billionaire Boys Club and Kanye West, Christopher Bevens launched Dyne Menswear in 2015 and went on to win the International Woolmark prize for Innovation in 2017.
Internship with Christopher Bevens | Directly Supervised By: Moe Brown-Hayes, Ayanna Bevens and Brett Sullivan. Interning at Dyne was miraculous because I got to be a part of a leaner team and see the impact of my contributions with ownership of the fabric library, directly overseeing and accounting for accurate inventory and leading design ideas for future collections and various clients such as former NFL cornerback, Darelle Revis and recording artist, Alicia Keys.
*Inspired new ideas with clear and cohesive concept development. *Meticulously illustrated tech packs. *Revamped, reorganized + took effective onwnership of internal swatch library. *Coherently directed deck creation with which to effectively present and communicate new directions and ideas.
Men’s Style Content Editor
Strictlysocial2012 – 2014
Strictlysocial.com is an independent digital magazine dedicated to providing an aggregate view of all that is sought-after by our worldwide audience of new media mavens, creative influencers and tastemakers. Big Dreams, Good Music and Expensive Taste™ are the directional dictates of the style content I work to co-create and feature with founder Morgan Witt.
Assistant to Creative Director Morgan Witt | Men’s Content Editor: Responsible for researching and crafting creative content often duplicated in the #menswear blogosphere and publishing freshly squeezed men’s style content for a thirsty online audience not easily marketed to, nor frivolous with their attention span.
* Successfully prepared and crafted focused, up-to-the-minute trend research to craft stories. * Carefully stewarded relationships with PR agencies and relevant comms personnel for men’s apparel design interviews and other focused #menswear writing assignments in the streetwear, athleisure and sportswear space.
Traveling Area Manager
American Apparel2004 – 2008
A trend-setting, vertically integrated, sweatshop-free manufacturer of clothing for men, women, kids and pets was launched in 1989 and based in downtown Los Angeles and considered the De Medici of youth-driven advertising and print campaigns.
Largely responsible for expanding and exposing the American Apparel brand to the San Diego region of S. California through managerial leadership, strategic partnerships with local trade shows/organizations, advertising campaigns with local media and grassroots guerrilla and social media marketing efforts to stay top-of-mind with the ephemeral tastes of the youthful, SoCal consumer.
*Promoted to Manager as a keyholder w/in first 180 days. *Demonstrated continued leadership as Area Manager. *Recognized as a dedicated staff training lead. *Consistently drove sales increases year-over-year. *Mentored and rehabbed stores in danger of fiscal trouble. *Expanded reach of the company with new store openings. *Designed and implemented tested approaches for a consistently accurate inventory. *Styled compelling on-trend floor sets and windows + lead visual team. *Did the first-ever pop-up shop showcase with Threadshow, a local showcase of local designers and makers in the San Diego area attracting over 10,000 visitors over 2 days.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA
The Art Institute of Portland2014 – 2018
Menswear Emphasis, Sustainable Design, Apparel Design
Landmark
1998 – 2005
Landmark Graduate, Assisting Programme, ILP, Course Supervisor Programme
