Kalina Smirnova
Fashion Designer and entrepreneur in San Francisco
Kalina Smirnova
[email protected]
San Francisco, CA
Profile
Creative and business-minded fashion designer with over 9 years of experience in luxury couture and limited-edition collections. Skilled at transforming artistic concepts into commercially successful designs while building lasting relationships with high-end clients. Career spans Lithuania and the U.S., including founding two luxury beauty boutiques and a private fashion studio. Proficient in integrating AI tools into the creative process to optimize design, production, and client experience.
Skills
Luxury Couture Design
Fabric Sourcing & Global Supply Chain Management
Fashion AI (Trend Forecasting, Pattern Generation, Inventory Optimization)
Client Relationship Management & Brand Building
Creative Project Management
Visual Merchandising & Styling
Cross-Cultural Team Collaboration
Experience
Private Fashion Studio – San Francisco, CA
Founder / Creative Director | 2019 – Present
Design and produce over 80 high-end custom garments annually for private clients, artists, and performers.
Integrated AI tools such as Midjourney and custom pattern generation, reducing concept-to-prototype time by 40%.
Established partnerships with fabric suppliers in Italy, Japan, and France to source rare and premium materials.
Designed stage costumes for Bay Area artists and featured in local fashion media.
Estée Lauder Licensed Luxury Beauty Boutiques – Vilnius, Lithuania
Co-Founder / Operations Director | 2013 – 2019
Opened and managed two high-end beauty boutiques offering personalized skincare and makeup experiences.
Achieved 20% year-over-year sales growth through VIP events and cross-brand collaborations.
Organized joint fashion and beauty showcases, integrating luxury cosmetics with couture-style presentations.
Built a loyal client base with a 65%+ repeat customer rate through personalized service and relationship management.
Freelance Fashion Designer – Lithuania & USA
Designer | 2009 – 2013
Designed wedding dresses, stage costumes, and wardrobe styling for individual clients and independent brands.
Participated in European boutique fashion shows and collaborated with emerging designers on limited-edition collections.
Education
Parsons School of Design, New York – Master’s in Fashion Design & Management (2011 – 2013)
Lithuanian Academy of Arts – Bachelor’s in Fashion & Textile Design (2007 – 2011)
Certifications
Sustainable Fashion & Circular Economy (Fashion Revolution)
Fashion & Retail AI (Online Certification)
Community & Leadership
Member, San Francisco Independent Designers Association
Annual participant in charity fashion shows raising funds for cancer treatment