PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Pearl Global Industries Ltd - New York, NY
April 2016 - February 2018
- Responsible for embellishment, fabric, silhouette, styling and trend direction to India based design team of 8 designers.
- Provided US account base Co-Creation partnership reflecting each account’s brand identity, working within their target costs:
Dressbarn: Missy, Plus Sizes
Gap: Infants, Toddler Girls, Girls 7-16
Gap Outlet: Missy
Justice
Kohl’s Department Stores*: Girls 7-16, Juniors, Missy, Maternity, Plus Sizes
* 300% comp increase of bulk order dollar value over LY for 2017
Lane Bryant
- Established processes and best practices improving overseas cross functional teamwork.
- Traveled domestically and internationally for market research, product approvals and account presentations.
SENIOR DESIGNER, SONOMA Missy Wovens
Kohl’s Department Stores - Menomonee Falls, WI
May 2013 - May 2015
- Grew Sonoma Missy Wovens category to $185M (15% comp increase for 2014), driving newness and innovation.
- Responsible for all Woven Bottoms, Denim, Dresses, Jackets, Skirts and Tops.
- Directed and managed design team of 3 direct reports through entire creative concept, design and development process.
- Responsible for Denim fabric, silhouette, styling and wash direction to domestic denim vendors and internal denim development team.
- Established processes and best practices improving cross functional teamwork.
- Traveled domestically and internationally for market research, denim development and production approvals.
SENIOR DESIGNER, SO Juniors
Kohl’s Department Stores - Menomonee Falls, WI
April 2010 – May 2013
- Grew SO Juniors brand to $330M (20% comp increase for 2013), driving newness and innovation.
- Responsible for all Active, Denim, Graphic Tees, Knits, Sweaters and Wovens.
- Identified as “white space” an Active product assortment within the SO Juniors brand adding $70M in incremental sales first year.
- Directed and managed design team of 4 direct reports through entire creative concept, design and development process.
- Responsible for Denim fabric, silhouette, styling and wash direction to domestic denim.
- Established processes and best practices improving cross functional teamwork.
- Traveled domestically and internationally for market research, denim development and production approvals.
DENIM DESIGN DIRECTOR
Axis Denim - New York, NY
May 2007 - December 2009
- Responsible for Denim fabric, silhouette, styling and wash direction for Axis account base:
Aeropostale
American Eagle Outfitters
Maurice’s
The Buckle
- Directed and managed freelance designer.
DESIGN DIRECTOR
CFL NY - New York, NY
September 2005 – December 2006
- Responsible for design and fabric direction of apparel and accessories, including Denim, for CFL NY account base:
Equinox Gyms
Express
JCrew
Macy’s: American Rag (Young Men’s), INC (Missy)
Madewell
Le Tigre
Paper Denim & Cloth
Victoria’s Secret
- Directed and managed design team of 2 direct reports through entire creative concept, design and development process.
- Designed and developed a licensed, Young Men's Mack Truck work wear collection of Knits, Wovens and Graphic Tees.
- Established processes and best practices improving overseas cross functional teamwork.
- Traveled domestically and internationally for market research, denim development and production approvals.
SENIOR DESIGNER, Women’s Wovens
Calvin Klein Jeans - New York, NY
August 2003 – September 2005
- Responsible for all Woven Bottoms, Denim, Dresses, Jackets, Outerwear, Skirts and Tops.
- Directed and managed design team of 3 direct reports through entire creative concept, design and development process.
- Traveled domestically and internationally for market research, denim development and production approvals.
SENIOR DESIGNER, Women’s Knits & Wovens
Levi Strauss & Company - San Francisco, CA
1999 - 2003 SENIOR DESIGNER RED TAB Misses, Petite & Plus Sizes
- Responsible for all Bottoms, Denim, Graphic Tess, Jackets, Skirts, Sweaters and Tops.
- Directed and managed design team of 3 direct reports throughout entire creative concept, design and development process.
- Traveled domestically and internationally for market research, denim development and production approvals.
1998 – 1999 SENIOR DESIGNER RED TAB Tops: Juniors, Misses, Girls 7-16 Knits & Wovens
1997 – 1998 SENIOR DESIGNER SILVERTAB/ L2 Tops: Juniors, Misses Knits & Wovens
EDUCATION
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY - Kent, Ohio
Shannon Rodgers & Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design & Merchandising
- Bachelor of Fine Arts - Fashion Design
- Minor - Business Management
SKILLS
- Microsoft Office 365
- Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator & Photoshop
- Web PDM/ PLM Systems