Fashion Resume: Sydney Chavez

I honestly cannot imagine a time when I wanted to do something different. I always knew that I wanted to be in the fashion industry. I love everything about the industry- the hard work, the long hours, the fast pace, the seemingly impossible feats that suddenly come together at the final hour. As a child I spent my free time drafting princess outfits on sketch pads and by the time I got my first job in retail I knew it was exactly where I was supposed to be. Most people will agree with me when I say that success is generally not a coincidence in the fashion industry because let’s face it, if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. When you push aside the glitz and glamour, the allure wears off and let’s be real- this business is NOT for the faint of heart. Fashion Industry insiders work long hours, fret over seemingly miniscule details, and pull strings to pull off miracles on a regular basis. My conclusion has always been the same: Hard work pays off and here’s a pictorial look at my trek to the top. I’m still climbing……

1997- Participated in Seattle’s Occupational Skills Center Fashion Marketing Program. My instructor, Jennifer Fountain, taught us about color, textiles, visual merchandising, fashion promotion and design. This was my first real glimpse into the industry and also the place where I wrote my first fashion promotion plan for a women’s apparel boutique.

1999- Selected to serve on the Nordstrom Fashion Board in Yakima, Washington during the ’99-‘00 school year. While on the fashion board I got to participate in various trend focus groups and of course, work the semi-annual sale. I spent a lot of time cleaning out the fitting rooms. 

1999- Got first job in retail working at Mr. Rags in Yakima. I cannot even describe how happy I was to get my first job in retail. I wrote on my application that I would sing and dance for customers to get them to shop in the store.  I learned a lot about customer service and personal selling at Mr. Rags. We had fun working with customers and I loved working on window displays.  I even helped put together skateboards (which is funny now because little did I know my career would eventually lead me to Zumiez.)

1999- Enrolled in YV-Tech Fashion Design & Marketing program and studied the history of clothing, texture, trend cycles, fashion marketing and retail management. My instructor, Janni Stelzer, a former Nordstrom employee, helped to solidify my decision to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

2000- Won 1st Place for my Fashion Promotion plan in the District DECA competition. The promotion plan was for the BP department at Nordstrom. I still have the original copy in my DECA folder. 

2000- November- Started working at Juxtapose in the Alderwood Mall as an Assistant Manager.  I learned a lot through this experience including the beauty of hiring (and retaining) solid employees. 

2001- Won Juxtapose awards for Highest Dollar Amount per Square Foot and Profit Excellence. Personal selling was something the Jux girls did REALLY well and we had fun doing it! We used to have fitting room fashion shows with the music turned up full blast. 

2001- Worked with Meadowdale High School on a DECA fashion show.  Their instructor Alinda Dixon was so much fun to work with!

2002- Closed Alderwood Juxtpose store and moved to the Bay-Area to close the Concord Juxtapose store.  My assistant manager Yana (below) drove down with me. I loved working in the Bay area. I didn't want to come home. 

2003- Started working at Anchor Blue upon returning from the Bay Area because it was owned by the same company that owned Juxtapose and they offered me a job. They let me put up a trend wall in our back room (see 2nd picture below). 

2003- Enrolled in the Fashion Marketing AAA program at the Art Institute of Seattle. When I graduated from high school I had enrolled in the design program and dropped out and after working my way up through the retail chain I decided I was better suited for the Marketing program instead. 

2003- Started working at Benefit Cosmetics as a Counter Manager. They worked around my school schedule and gave me a lot of flexibility. Plus, I got to play with makeup everyday. It was a lot of fun. The company gave us $200 worth of free makeup each season. 


2003- Started working at Zumiez Inc. as a Production Assistant. A few months prior to the job offer the Private Label Manager at the time called to ask me if I would do an internship and I declined but I was working and going to school full-time.  When a formal position became available he called me and offered me the job!

2004- Attended my first MAGIC trade show as a student at the Art Institute with my favorite instructor, Jared Seegmiller (pictured below). We had so much fun and collected so many business cards so we could keep in touch with the industry people we met. My partner in crime from school, Rick Holm, also went on the trip. 

2004- Worked as Marketing coordinator for the 1st Annual Fashion First Runway show. Jared (my instructor from the Art Institute) asked me to help out on his latest endeavor and I couldn't say no. He was so much fun to work with. I spent those last few weeks before the show hanging up posters, preparing VIP seating charts and selling tickets. The show was at The Bada Lounge in Belltown, which is now the Umi Sake House. The house was packed and we had so much fun! Retailers in the first show included Alhambra, David Lawrence, Carol McClellan, Karen Dannenberg, Kuhlman, Mercer, Ottica Seattle, J. Gilbert Footwear, Baby & Co., Moda Express, Nuvo Moda and Sway & Cake. 

2005- Got promoted from Production Assistant to Production Coordinator at Zumiez. Finally! 

2005- Worked as Production Assistant for the 2nd Annual Fashion First show. Jared Seegmiller had passed away in the spring and Joan Kelly and I decided to keep going with the show in his honor. It was bittersweet. We did the show at the Palace Ballroom and had retailers including Carol McClellan, Butch Blum, Betty Blue, Sway & Cake, Ian, Great Jones Home, Ottica, Shoefly, Khiels, Endless Knot, Lizzie Parker, Cintli Jewelry and Encanto Barcelona.  

2005- Graduated with my AAA degree in Fashion Marketing from the Art Institute of Seattle. I was ready to stop running back and forth between school and work. Finally- I could focus on my career at Zumiez!

2006- Served as Production Assistant for Fashion First 2006. The show was getting big and continuing to sell out every year. The lineup that year included Karan Dannenberg, Ericce, Blackbird, Canopy Blue, Nuvo Moda, Lizzie Parker, Carmilia's, Manhattan Boutique, Renee Bassetti, Ottica, Cintli Jewelry, Moda Express, Alhambra, Derek Andrew, Illi, Encanto Barcelona, Promesse, Sway & Cake, Riveted Jeans and Mario's. 

2006- We were so excited to see this pic of Britney Spears and some mystery man who happened to be wearing one of our Zumiez Private Label Empyre Sweatshirts!

2007- Decided to go back to school and enrolled in the Fashion Marketing/Retail Management Bachelors Degree program at the Art Institute of Seattle. After I graduated the first time I honestly missed being in school. I was excited to be back on campus with my new knowledge of the manufacturing side of the fashion industry. 

2007- Took a group of students from the Art Institute of Seattle to MAGIC. That was a fun show. And yes, I walked the entire show in hot pink heels. It was quite a feat.  

2007- Traveled to China and Vietnam as part of a global sourcing and production trip for Zumiez. On this trip I got to meet with vendors and visit factories as they were working on Zumiez production.  This poor lobster eventually became our lunch at a French Restaurant in Vietnam. 

2007- Served as Associate producer for Fashion First 2007. That year we did the show at Jonas Jensen in Fremont. That was the year the original venue fell through and we moved the show from The Fenix to Fremont Studios. The lineup included Sway & Cake, Riveted Jeans, La Ree, Ottica, Illi, The Finerie, Carmilia's, Marqsmen, Polite Society, Alhambra, Ragamoffyn's, Tatters, Renee Bassetti, Posh on Main, Lizzie Parker, Shoefly and Clutch. 

2007- Won Zumiez Award for "Product Team of the Year" at our annual recognition event. I learned how to snowboard at this event. (From Left to Right: Sydney, Beth, Jeff, Joe). 

2008- Served on the IADT Advisory Board for the Fashion Design Program. 

2008- Was super excited to see Mike Myers wearing one of our Zumiez Private Label Alab t-shirts at an MTV awards show.

2008- Served as the Associate Producer of Fashion First 2008. This was the show that ultimately led to my retirement from the fashion show scene, but I figured that 5 years was a good run. I was doing the show while going to school and working at Zumiez full-time so it was only a matter of time before something had to give. The lineup that year included La Ree, The Finerie, Illi, Opal, Petaline, Marqsmen, Tatters, Canopy Blue, Sway & Cake, Clutch, Merge, Alhambra and Ragamoffyn's. 

2008- Got promoted from Production Coordinator to Sourcing/Production Manager for the Menswear Private Label Lines at Zumiez. By this point I was finally getting to manage numerous private label apparel & accessories lines including vendor selection and final price negotiation.

2008- Took a second group of students with me to MAGIC in Las Vegas. That was a fun trip!

2008- Traveled to the Intertek Office in New Jersey to help develop a testing program for Zumiez. They let us wear lab coats and tour their testing facility. 

2009- Worked with Fashion Group International to produce the Project Red Dress design competition at The Fairmont. This was my first year being part of FGI and I really enjoyed the experience. 

2009- Published my first article in JQ Magazine about London-based jewelry designer Carri Vacik.

2009- Worked with Zumiez Private Label team to do a Back-to-School product photoshoot. So much work- but so much fun! We got to help style the models and put together key looks.

2009- Took on role as PR/Media Liasion for Seattle's Fashion Group International. This picture was taken at the Eco-Lavish fashion show, one of the FGI member-produced events.

2009- Graduated with my Bachelors Degree in Fashion Marketing from the Art Institute. Yay!

2009- Started blogging for Seattle's Queen Anne Dispatch Boutique. My FAVORITE neighborhood boutique. 

2009- Traveled to Hong Kong and China to roll-out a Zumiez Social Compliance program and meet with vendors. 

2010- Served as a panelist at Fashion Group International Spring 2010 Trend Event. It was a great group!

2010- Served as a stylist for the 1st Annual Girl Power Hour “Love, You” Event. I styled Amber Wilson who runs a non-profit organization for kids. She LOVED her new look!

If there's one thing that's clear- it's that you can't fake passion. Cheers!