Core Competencies + Trend Forecasting + Design Development + Sketching & Illustration + Draping & Pattern making + Technical Design + Fabric & Trim Sourcing + Product Development + Production Direction +Factory sourcing and liaison +Marketing and Branding initiatives +Product positioning within market
BAHATI COLLECTIVE - New York Present Role Designer and Cofounder · Luxury furniture start up project with a technical cofounder designing and manufacturing furniture in South Africa · Go to market strategy, product design, merchandising and operational design and implemention for launch
ESSENCE OF AUSTRALIA – Kansas City May 2019 – May 2020 Designer · Created best in class designs across multiple labels, drafting technical sketches, fabric selection and technical specifications since inception of designs in PLM · Negotiated costing for designs on-site with factories in China, bringing product to market within MSRP targets · Conducted quantitative and qualitative customer research through online surveys, client visits and feedback gathering at trunk shows. Analyzed data using Qlik dashboards and incorporated feedback in product development iterations · Executed A/B tests on 100+ SKUs per season. Collected, analyzed and reported test performance data. Integrated insights from tests into design sprints as part of the Agile design team
DONNA KARAN, DENNIS BASSO, CHRISTIAN SIRIANO, GULATI GROUP New York Apr 2016 – Apr 2019 Womenswear Development · Owned product development from ideation to prototyping, liaising between design/creative in the UK, Italy and New York, and factories in New York, managing sampling directly with these manufacturers · Created and standardized tech packs, specs and sewing reference sheets, reducing time to production by 20% · Streamlined sampling and production processes, factoring in the client’s business model and level of vertical integration to achieve optimal sampling times to as little as under two weeks for 40 individual garments · Optimized clients’ workflows to ensure cost reductions, and advised them on best practices for costing and pricing E-commerce Startup Hours (Gulati Group) · Contracted to provide all technical specifications, sizing and fittings consulting on best practices in plus size range
SARAH JANKS USA INC. New York Jan 2011 – May 2019 Founder and Director · Bootstrapped the bridal company and oversaw 10 people at its busiest working across 4 continents from standing start to a turnover of $800k in 3 years · Set up, monitored and managed complex workflow processes across multiple time zones and a partly remote team striving to exceed cost and time constraints · Grew our social media accounts to 7k on FB, 13K on Instagram and over 1K on Pinterest as the sole person responsible for all design, marketing and creative direction for the brand · Set up logistics, development and production lines. Framed and tracked KPI’s for accountability in each and multiple · Deployed software and CRM/PLM/PDM systems in house to track sales and marketing data · Directed sales, operations, shipping and negotiating contracts with raw materials suppliers both onshore and in China · Conducted customer research, iterating on products through inclusion of customer feedback · Partnered with 30+ suppliers of raw materials and with renowned factories in China, Hong Kong, and Italy · Secured $200k+ in funding grants for exporting Australian businesses · Invited to participate in White Gallery Designer Bridal Show (London, invitation only), and NY Bridal Fashion Week
SMOOTH AND SLIM STARTUP (SJ SUBSIDIARY) New York Jan 2014 – May 2018 Founder and Director · Registered patent for low back solution for brides, founded the shapeware brand and built e-commerce site · Prototyped, tested, and iterated on product until final version was achieved, liaising with manufacturer in FL · Reduced costs by 25% through suggesting optimized fabric selection and construction methods at the factory · Launched and successfully ran e-commerce store after testing in a B2B environment. Oversaw all marketing and branding efforts
ROLAND MOURET, JENNY PACKHAM, JONATHAN SAUNDERS, BIBA, ALL SAINTS, COS London September 1998 – November 2006 Womenswear Product Development EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
LONDON INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF FASHION Johannesburg, South Africa 1997 Fashion Design and Marketing Degree (Graduated with Distinction)
CORNELL UNIVERSITY New York, NY 2020 Product Management
