about sweaters. So I took knitwear design
as a Director of Product Development for Mi-
see patterns emerge of what is happening out
classes from Parsons and FIT. I went back
chaels. “The process of product development,
in the market place. It keeps you very inspired
and re-educated myself on all of the as-
design, and global sourcing is not directly de-
and interested.”
pects of sweater design and manufacturing.
pendent on a single product category. Once you
Lounis has ample advice she’s willing to share
In order to be a sweater designer, you have to
understand the fundamentals of how a product
with students. “There is so much unlimited po-
understand yarns completely. You have to un-
is made, it is amazing how easy shifting from
tential for great careers, and you don’t really
derstand the sizes of yarns, the stitches, the
one product to another is, due to the similari-
see that when you are in college. You have this
machines, and the fit among many other things.”
ties. My transition was easier than I thought it
limited idea of what you want to do. For those
As a cashmere buyer for Lands End, Lounis
would be.” Lounis also developed another
people who don’t know what to do—just be open
traveled to the source of the fabric in Mongolia,
important skill: predicting and developing trends
to ideas, and let life take you. I just followed one
and learned about the process of making
into products that are alluring to the consumer.
little thing I loved. I didn’t know where it was
cashmere and the goats it comes from.
“I do a lot of traveling, a lot of reading, and I’m
going to lead me, but it has led me to places I
Lounis’ extensive experiences and the les-
always visiting stores and museums. I really
never could have dreamed of. When you have
sons learned throughout her travels
try and keep my fingers on what is happening
perseverance, a strong resume, a hunger to
allowed her to easily make
through a lot of different channels, in order to
learn, and a good work ethic, you have the tools
the switch from apparel
make sure that the ideas that we bring in are
to succeed.” 7
to the craft industry
always fresh. When you do that, you being to