Stylistic, passion-driven, and tactical entrepreneur who combines creativity and strategic thinking with an acute focus on business and brand growth. Infused with extensive expertise in trend recognition, design execution, forecasting, and visionary marketing in alignment with business objectives. Capable of leading design teams and overseeing product development processes across cultural and time barriers to effectively cross-pollinate ideas as well as deliver creative vision, popular brand identity, and successful innovation from concept to the final product. Recognized as an expert trend spotter with the eye of an experienced global traveler. Possess a high sense of fashion aesthetics, an impeccable work ethic, and a commendable record of dependability and integrity.
2017 - 2024
Design Director
FULLBEAUTY BRANDS | New York, NY
Lead in identifying the business needs of departments involved in marketing and merchandising, effectively sustaining business operations, ensuring profit maximization, and guaranteeing loss minimization.
Set seasonal brand visions and directions and subsequently incorporate elements from trending or popular colors, prints, silhouettes, and styles creatively and uniquely.
Supervise several operations involving sample review, technical fittings, costing, planning, e-commerce merchandising, and mail catalog marketing.
Foster a culture of effective collaboration with cross-function teams in product development and strategic launching of new women’s plus-size collections, resulting in overall business increases and more project assignments.
2015 - 2017
Creative Director / Owner
DAVID ALBOW | New York, NY
Created women’s ready-to-wear collections that amplified messages of freedom of spirit and celebration of expression, inspired by everyday adventures of women as well as modern bohemian styles.
Set achievable and cost-effective sales and design targets to satisfy customer needs and expand the brand’s creative horizons.
Adopted constructive and encouraging techniques in collaborating with marketing and advertising teams to maintain optimal
productivity and consistent branding.
Evaluated team suggestions, improved them, and turned them into feasible project plans with the intention of appealing to the general public and generating revenue for the organization.
2014 - 2015
Design and Merchandising Director
ANGELES NEVER DIES | Istanbul, Turkey
Directed the design team in creating and strategically merchandising a sportswear collection characterized by a unique signature of styling, hand-crafting, garment dyes, and embellishments.
Built color stories and theme inspirations aligned with ongoing fashion trends, resulting in the collection's efficient production and high profit-yielding merchandising.
Facilitated collaborative processes with various designers on silhouettes, sample development, and the strategic merchandising of all aspects of the collection.
Oversaw the “catwalk” preparations and execution of the new collection and strategically presented the new season to the sales representatives, leading to effective marketing and sales outcomes.
2011 - 2013
Design Creative Director
HANES BRANDS INC. | New York, NY
Developed seasonal strategic “big ideas” by identifying key macro trends in theme, color, fabric, silhouettes, print, pattern, and graphics, resulting in an incremental $20M above plan in 2012.
Led a team of seven very capable fashion designers in creating relevant brand concepts and seasonal collections, including the Just My Size brand that generated $350M in revenue for the company in 2012.
Explored domestic and international markets in the process of sourcing for artistic and stylistic inspirations and strategies for
effectively presenting brand concepts to retailers.
Cultivated a system of deliberate feedback involving product development teams and clients to maintain or improve existing programs while incorporating new styles and up-to-date fashion trends.
2009 - 2011
Senior Design Director
LANE BRYANT | Columbus, OH
Assigned with directing a team of 11 designers in conceptualizing and launching the Lane Bryant Sportswear Collection, reporting directly to the Senior Vice President of Trend and Design.
Created initial concepts for each season, including 10 collections per year, teaming with the Trend Department to finalize and deliver color stories, print and pattern directions, and overall trend presentations.
Ensured close communication and collaboration with merchandising partners to consistently meet business needs and actively identified growth opportunities for each season.
Oversaw fit processes and worked to perfect the Plus Size fit for potential and existing Lane Bryant consumers, resulting in the maintenance of the company’s reputation as the nation’s number 1 plus-size clothing chain.
2008 - 2009
Design Director
CHICO’S FAS INC. | Fort Myers, FL
Executed hands-on leadership in managing the design direction of the brand’s Career Lifestyle division comprising 600 retail stores, reporting directly to the Vice President of Design.
Determined and incorporated trending silhouettes and fabrics into designs, ensuring a focused collection for each season.
Developed innovative designs for the brand, mainly by exploring multiple markets for unique inspirations involving new embellishments, embroideries, and fabric treatments.
Maintained constant promotion of brand signature through a variety of marketing techniques, including international travel.