about Erika

I’m an intuitive designer, experienced in building garments that are steeped in street culture and innovative utility for the modern active lifestyle. I respect sustainability through timeless design and quality materials. My style strives to balance juxtaposition with a focus on fine detailing. The artist in me laces together the making of products with the spirit of drawing.

My BFA from RISD in Apparel Design was the initiation point of making performance fashion. My senior capstone project "Ride The Runway" was sponsored by Polartec.

At Columbia Sportswear I founded Convert, Columbia’s snowboarding company. I assembled a team of riders, and fulfilled the roles of marketing director, designer (outerwear and fleece garments), fabric/trim developer, and fit specialist. I applied my skills in pattern making to assist Columbia’s pattern engineers in

developing new concepts for active garment geometry. Solely, I designed Titanium, Columbia’s premier technical outerwear offering.

Bonfire Snowboarding/Salomon, sought me out to restructure their development process while designing and engineering technical products. First step was building a development and production team then moving production to one of best technical outerwear manufacturers in the industry. I managed; development of the product line, component sourcing, new fit creation and block development. I also designed the entire range of products from outerwear to sportswear and accessories directed apparel graphics including print design. The limited edition “Omni” designs were a few of the design highlights of working for this authentic snowboarding brand.

RF welded / injection molded pod pockets

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EHG design Customers

Thirteen years of freelance design work has greatly expanded my portfolio and enriched my design experience. Working for diverse clients with demands for an eclectic variety of functional products has been the motivator for innovative designs that speak to each individual brand's voice.

2018 / Flylow

Designing men’s + women’s hybrid insulator products for this “bridging" brand was a fresh addition to the client list.

2015- Current / Stio

Stio is my WY local project, outdoor apparel slanted towards the mountain community. Men’s and Women’s side-country outerwear, insulators and street/bike crossover sportswear are the products designed for Stio.

2017 / Specialized

Specialized, the standard for the bike industry. Contracted for 2020 men’s Enduro Innovations collection.

2011- current / Bluesmiths

The Bluesmiths design DNA and entire award-winning apparel collection.

2013- ‘15 / Kitsbow

This was my first real work in the realm of mountain bike apparel after my RISD capstone collection. Mountain biking is my life blood, so designing premium products I need for the sport is the culmination of my work, play, and life.

2014- ‘15 / HOMESCHOOL OUTERWEAR

Designing two seasons with Homeschool outerwear and launching Homeschool’s women’s specific snowboarding products rejuvenated the roots of my design career.

2015 / BONFIRE SNOWBOARDING

An honorable revisit to Bonfire as designer of men’s and women’s street crossover outerwear + fleece, and creative direction for design of the main line collection.

2015 / Eastern Mountain Sports

Designed men’s and women’s outerwear and insulators.

2012- '14 / Easton Bell Sports

This premium hardgoods brand asked me to design uniforms, fleece, jerseys and warm-ups for hockey and baseball.

2011- ‘13 / Outdoor Research

While designing for OR I touched a broad spectrum of multi-season products, ranging from garments engineered for rock climbing, ice climbing, skiing off- piste, yoga, and drinking beer at the pub. This work with OR expanded my portfolio from snowboarding specific to the broad scope of today's outdoor apparel.

2010- ‘11 / Planet Earth Clothing- K2 Sports

Rediscovering Planet Earth's fundamental design philosophy, creating new fit blocks and engineering garment features, while assisting with the sourcing and development of ecologically sensitive fabrics and trims.

2004 / The North Face

Designing new pieces to update the classic North Face Steep Tech Collection by Scott Schmidt -- garment icons in urban street culture-- was an honor. Affectionately named “Zipper Tech” the Steep Tech project contrasted the ultra clean trend of the outdoor industry.

2004- ‘09 / VANS

Four seasons of creating men’s and women’s outerwear for Vans-- a footwear brand rich with heritage and street culture. I combined this urban skate culture with technology available through The North Face. Custom prints were a prime elements of these designs.

“At Bluesmiths we build the hardest-working, most versatile waterwear in the world. Based in Maui, Hawaii, we live for real innovation & problem solving, best-in-class fabrics, timeless styling and uncompromising manufacturing standards.”

— Bluesmiths ©