Bio
Mark Pimentel is an Apparel Designer from Portland, Oregon. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest has given him a unique perspective and intimate experiences with Technical Outerwear, Performance, and Active Sportswear.
Design Philsophy:
Garments should not hinder any end-user experiences.
The feel, smell, sight, and sound of one’s garments should never inhibit the experiences, memories, and thoughts of the user. I want them to remember the sunset after a hike, not the uncomfortable feel of the jacket during it.
Fashion is your personal container of emotions, perspectives, opinions, and reasons.
The wearer decides what cards to show. My objective is to give them a good hand.
Design clothes that fit the person, not just fit a person.
Thoughtful design includes not only the proper aesthetics and material, but takes in account the end-user’s emotions, intellectual processes, ethical views, economic resources, and physical limitations.
Garments live on, even if the style dies out.
Environmentally responsible materials, processes, and life-cycles, should always be considered. Is there a way to reclaim parts of the garment, turn the garment into something else for a completely new life-cycle, or serve different purposes? Thought will always be given to these questions while I design.
Project OR + Professional + Academic + Misc
In January of 2010, he was selected as one of five designers from across the country to participate in a 48-hour prototype design competition at the nation’s premiere outdoor trade show, Outdoor Retailer. Within 48-hours, Mark brainstormed, designed, presented, and prototyped an insulated Women’s Performance Technical Outerwear garment using some of the textile industry’s most advanced technologies.
Professional experiences include a position in Columbia Sportswear’s Men’s Design Department as the Men’s Sportswear and Outerwear Apparel Design Intern in 2009. Mark provided support for the entire Men’s design department and joined the Men’s Water Category design team for the S11 design cycle. He worked closely with Senior Designers and the Men’s Design Director for initial line planning and end-use-specific performance sportswear concept design.
Mark is a graduate of Oregon State University’s Apparel Design program with Bachelor’s of Science degrees in both Apparel Design and Retail Merchandising Management. Though a very little known program, Oregon State University’s Apparel Design program provided him with a traditional fashion design background, as well as a highly specialized sportswear perspective.
Beyond apparel, he’s also an avid photographer, vinyl collector, hip-hop purist, video gamer, sports junkie, all while moonlighting as a music producer.
The wisest men follow their own direction. – Euripides
Professional experiences include a position in Columbia Sportswear’s Men’s Design Department as the Men’s Sportswear and Outerwear Apparel Design Intern in 2009. Mark provided support for the entire Men’s design department and joined the Men’s Water Category design team for the S11 design cycle. He worked closely with Senior Designers and the Men’s Design Director for initial line planning and end-use-specific performance sportswear concept design.
Mark is a graduate of Oregon State University’s Apparel Design program with Bachelor’s of Science degrees in both Apparel Design and Retail Merchandising Management. Though a very little known program, Oregon State University’s Apparel Design program provided him with a traditional fashion design background, as well as a highly specialized sportswear perspective.
Beyond apparel, he’s also an avid photographer, vinyl collector, hip-hop purist, video gamer, sports junkie, all while moonlighting as a music producer.
The wisest men follow their own direction. – Euripides