Research Coordinator - RuleDD
Image courtesy of Rule Design & Development
Rule Design & Development is a bespoke,full-service design studio supporting creatives on all levels.
Working with domestically produced materials, and local, Los Angeles Garment District manufacures, RuleDD offers by-gone American-made quality.
I first joined Rule DD in 2021, as a copywriter for their in-house brand, Barbra Lorain, a sustainable-materials brand of basics.
At Barbra Lorain, I wrote research-based articles on slow-fashion and industry topics, helping build a narrative of transparency and offer perspective into the textile world. These articles and interviews supported the newsletter campaigns I created. As the start-up expanded, I joined the internal team and became one of four members essential to operations.
After transitioning to Rule DD, I held a dynamic role as a part of a growing team. My job evolved, taking on tasks and increasing my hours to absorb new responsibilities as they arose. There were three pillars to my work: Materials Sourcing, Data & Research, and Storytelling.
Materials Sourcing:
Working closely with clients, I sourced domestically produced fibers, dyes, trims, and finishes to meet design needs. This involved careful consideration of the brand identity, client interests, and close attention to detail to ensure that final product met all specifications.
This was a research heavy responsibility, involving outreach and exploration to new contacts, and building relationships with vendors. It was a labor of curiosity, to uncover what few materials are still produced domestically in the U.S., with further consideration for “sustainability” - a material that minimizes shipping and carbon might not meet needs for dye-makeups or water-use. I was the primary liaison with B2B source contacts for client order placement.
Reviewing tech-packs, design notes, and branding kits, I worked with clients to design, pitch, and order their labels and tags.
This finishing touch is one of the most vital for apparel brands, because its the final thread of communication to the source after purchase.
Here, you can see an example deck shared with a video game designer looking to create a limited release apparel line for the launch of a new game.
Data & Research:
Tied to my responsibilities with sourcing, were responsibilities contributing to Transparency Reports- both for clients and RuleDD operations. While leading the data acquisition for labor, supply chain transparency, and waste, I developed the tracing system used to organize my findings and apply them to the different avenues of sustainability.
This research was supported by platforms like The HIGGS Index, and through furthering my industry knowledge. As the East Coast representative, I traveled to attend NYC based sustainability best-practice trainings, workshops, textile expos, and panels on behalf of the company.
Storytelling:
All of my above responsibilities surrounded a central theme of storytelling. Through brand narratives and audience perspective, I managed digital marketing and communications for the RuleDD office, as well as additional support for client branding consultation as needed.
The data & research results were also applied to publish research-based articles on slow-fashion and industry topics, shared in the newsletters and across socials. These pieces helped shed light on the rapidly changing world of textiles, and speak up for the fading garment industry in Los Angeles.
