Leah Owen
@leahowen
Apparel quality and development specialist driving AI-enabled QA and product excellence.
What I'm looking for
I am an apparel quality and development specialist with 8+ years' experience across China and Southeast Asia, focused on delivering technical QA, product development, and client-facing solutions for global fashion brands.
I have led regional teams and managed portfolios of 50+ key accounts, supporting brands such as GAP, Ralph Lauren, SKIMS, M&S, Zara, John Lewis, and Next, and driving measurable improvements in inspection accuracy and defect reduction.
I contributed textile engineering data to AI training pipelines and supported the launch of an AI-powered inspection summary tool that automated root cause analysis, corrective actions, and service recommendations, enhancing client value and upsell opportunities.
Known for human-centered leadership, clear cross-functional communication, and rapid problem-solving, I combine hands-on technical expertise with data-driven decision making to stabilize operations and improve first-time pass rates.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Managed 50+ global key accounts and led a regional team of 18 textile engineers, driving an increase in inspection mandays and improving inspection accuracy while reducing client escalations. Oversaw root-cause investigations and defect-reduction programs that boosted first-time pass rates and stabilized operations.
Visited production sites and authored technical documentation to align client-specific inspection standards, trained global inspection teams, and supported quality system implementations to onboard 20+ clients and improve QC consistency.
Product Developer
Cohen & Wilks International
Jun 2017 - Jul 2019 (2 years 1 month)
Managed full-cycle product development in a partner factory for brands including M&S and Zara, creating tech packs, BOMs, and construction specs while approving materials to ensure cost, performance, and brand compliance.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Manchester Fashion Institute
Bachelor of Arts, Fashion Design & Technology
2013 - 2017
Grade:
Activities and societies:
Completed a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design & Technology focused on garment construction, tech packs, and product development.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
Social media
Job categories
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