Kai Lemus

As a fashion and marketing graduate from Indiana State University, I have a passion for the fashion industry and its impact on society and the environment. I studied abroad in Italy, where I gained valuable insights into different cultures and styles, and enhanced my skills in social media, sales, and apparel buying.

For over a year, I have been working as a visual merchandiser at Target, creating appealing and engaging displays that showcase the latest trends and products. I collaborate with a diverse and talented team of store managers, sales associates, and designers to ensure that the visual presentation aligns with the brand identity and customer expectations. I also apply my skills in retail math, operations, and communication to contribute to inventory management, budgeting, and customer service. My goal is to make a positive impact on the fashion industry by promoting eco-ethical practices and products that support sustainability and social responsibility.

2022 - Ongoing Visual Merchandiser Target: Goshen, IN

Proactively plan and transform displays, amplifying apparel department appearance, creating trendy combinations producing shouts of joy from customers. Collaborate with team members during high-pressure periods, sharing workload to ensure quality assurance, receiving a payoff recognition from upper management in 2022. Influence ethical fashion practices in a retail setting, branding sustainable clothing, made with at least 20% recycled cotton, and dyes derived from botanicals.

2013 - 2017 Indiana State University: Terre Haute, IN College of Technology: Bachelor of Science 

• Major: Textiles, Apparel & Merchandising Minor: Marketing

Completed Courses: 
Promotional Strategy
Business Negotiations
Textiles II
Probs TAM: Accessories
Intro Fashion Merchandise 
Top: Event Planning
Eval Ready-to-Wear Apparel 
Fashion Analysis
Writing for the Workplace 
Intro Marketing 
Quant Analysis Merchandising 
History of Costume 
Buyer Behavior 
Product Pricing Strategy 
Channel Struct Strategy
Merchant Buy and Assort Plan 
Textiles and Lab 
Clothing I 
Perspectives of Dress I

2016 Florence University of The Arts: Florence, Italy Fashion, Accessories Studies & Technology: Bachelor of Science

• Major and minor transferred credits

Study abroad program, completed courses: 
Fashion Media, and Culture
Magazine Editing and Publishing 
Fashion Retail Management
Retail Operations: Experiential Learning