As UW-Stout alum Kirby Hanson watched the Summer Olympics in Paris from her home in Vancouver, British Columbia, she and her family had a more personal reason to cheer on their nation’s athletes.
Hanson, an apparel design and development 2007 graduate, is the technical development manager for lululemon athletic apparel company, the official outfitter of Team Canada, which includes more than 430 Olympians and Paralympians.
She was excited to see the apparel her team developed as Canada’s athletes made their way to the medals podium, donning the Team Canada x lululemon Collection, complete with the traditional red and white maple leaf motif.
Hanson, originally from Isanti, Minn., believes UW-Stout gave her a strong foundation to jumpstart her career.
“The professors were engaging and pushed us to think outside the box and think past a sketch. As a visual learner, it was important for me to have hands-on projects and real-life scenarios to experience. That really set me up for success,” she said.
Hanson brought her talents to lululemon in 2015 when she started as a fit specialist in women’s product. As well as helping manage the Team Canada line, she is the technical development manager for men’s casual, overseeing a team of nine.
“What I love most is mentoring others, the collaboration and seeing our product come to life,” she said.
Developing apparel is a very collaborative process between designers, technical developers and pattern makers, Hanson added.
“We first understand the aesthetic and type of fit designers want, then we work with our vendors to make samples. We take a lot of care in our fittings to make sure we nail the balance and fit of every piece.
“At lululemon, we also want to make sure all our product is functional, so there is a lot of wear testing and feedback along the way to make sure we meet our guests’ expectations,” Hanson said.
Hanson loves the company culture, its priority of supporting the whole person – physically, mentally and socially – and how it puts employees first.
“Lululemon also has some big sustainability impact goals,” she said, as the company is working to reduce its environmental impact, including reducing wasted materials and partnering with leading sustainable materials innovators.
Hanson encourages current apparel students to “be a sponge, ask lots of questions, write things down and keep a growth mindset so that you are always learning. Learn from your mistakes, learn from things you did right and learn from others.”
Lululemon, based in Vancouver, has more than 710 stores and 38,000 employees around the world. This was the company’s first Team Canada Summer Olympics collection. It previously designed the team’s clothing for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.
UW-Stout’s apparel design and development program, now fashion design and development, is part of the university’s School of Art and Design. With more than 1,300 students, it is the largest public art and design school in the Upper Midwest.
SOAD offers 10 undergraduate degrees, including animation and digital media; game design and development; graphic design and interactive media; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; video production; and, new this fall, illustration. It offers two master’s programs in design; and design, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
The university’s 2022-23 First Destination Outcomes survey reported that 100% of new fashion design graduates were either working within the industry with an average yearly salary of $53,000 or are continuing their education.
