In Conversation with Michelle Diamond

Tell us about your background: 

A Midwesterner at heart, I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and have spent the past 13 years living/working in NYC. I have always loved art and creating things; I first learned to sew by making Halloween costumes and tooth-fairy pillows with my mom. I found immense satisfaction in designing my own style and look, and this progressed into making my own clothes around age 14. The sense of creativity and individuality I felt in wearing my own creations really awoke a love for fashion in me, and I never looked back. After testing my commitment to fashion in some pre-college courses at the Art Institute of Chicago, I was accepted into Cornell University’s Textile & Apparel program, and headed to Ithaca, NY. Four years of rigorous sewing, patternmaking, and design classes left me sleep-deprived but excited to jump into the industry in NYC!

In my first design assistant role at Jones Apparel Group, I had the opportunity to work with a sweater specialist to help launch the knitwear component of my brand’s collection. It was my first exposure to fully-fashioned knitwear, and I loved it! The launch was successful, and we went on to create a full-time sweater team within the company, eventually handling the knitwear design for 5 different brands. To enhance my technical knowledge, I took some knitwear courses at FIT and eventually went to Brighton, England for an intensive machine knitting course. It was an amazing experience, and I returned to the US with a deeper understanding and appreciation for how knitwear is made.

Having a strong technical knowledge base to support my creative design skills has made a huge difference in how I approach design. It has also greatly enhanced my ability to communicate what I want with factories and knitwear technicians. I have had the opportunity to travel overseas and work directly with factories and technicians, and now am tackling the hurdles of working completely remote from not just factories, but clients and teammates. Communication is paramount.

Throughout my career I have worked with smaller contemporary companies such as Elizabeth & James and Ramy Brook, as well as large global brands like Tommy Hilfiger, approaching each new challenge with enthusiasm and a strong desire to make a positive contribution. Recently I pivoted to design consulting, offering design and product development services with a focus on fully-fashioned knitwear. I am available to work with emerging brands or established companies who are looking to set up a knitwear component to their collection, or brands who want to update their current offering with a fresh point of view.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

There are many different types of companies, cultures, personalities, and corporate structures in the fashion world. Try to get experience at as many types of companies that you can during internships, shadowing, or freelance roles. It will help you understand what the best fit for you might be, before you commit to a full-time role.

Best career advice you've ever received?

Keep pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and never stop learning! Be willing to take thoughtful risks to advance your career. Ask for what you want.

What leadership qualities are important to you?

Patience, integrity, honesty, and good communication skills- which means both listening and speaking skills. Leading by example, and the ability to inspire your team.

What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far? 

Definitely the COVID crisis and pivoting to working for myself, rather than a company. I have always loved working with a team and bouncing ideas off my coworkers, so being an independent consultant and making every business decision myself has really been a challenge. I know as I move forward in this new role I will become more confident and trust my gut, but I’m still getting used to it! I’ve found a lot of support in the Co-Lab; having other consultants to chat and compare notes with has been invaluable.

And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?

A great, cozy sweater in a pop color. My favorite is a rich fuchsia cashmere pullover, with pointelle and textural details. Shape is simple and easy, but it's certainly not boring!

LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-diamond-513489b/