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Creative Director/ Brand Development Manager
DESTINO VERO DESIGNS & APPAREL
New York, NY
Jan 2012 - Present (12 years 5 months)
www.destinovero.com
* Responsible for the creative direction, development and launch of a new trend right menswear apparel line, Destino Vero
* Create and design a better menswear brand from concept through final execution
* Accomplished distribution at Bloomingdales, Hudson's Bay and Lord and Taylor within 4 months of launch
* Facilitates sales contracts and price negotiations with top tier apparel retail buyers
* Recruited and manages a team including a marketing manager, design assistant, technical designer, graphic designer and production associate
* Spearheads and designs an additional private label Menswear & Activewear division
* Pioneers trade shows and sales presentations, using multi-media i.e. PowerPoint, boards and visual lifestyle merchandising
* Travels 6 to 8 times per year throughout USA, Europe and Asia for market research, sample shopping, line development, sourcing and production
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Creative Director / V.P of New Development
FASHION BUSINESS CORPORATION
New York, NY
Dec 2004 - Dec 2011 (7 years)
Fuel Line, Refuel, Rival, Bahama Palms, Cactus Clothing Co. and a private label menswear division
* Recruited by CEO for strategic role in expanding company revenues through design and product development strategies
* Analyzed menswear business and lead the charge in revitalizing all product categories to expand and grow the companies established brands
* Managed team of designers, tech designers and graphic designers, production and product development
* Started and designed new private label menswear division
* Executed sales and trend presentations with and without sales teams, using multi-media i.e. PowerPoint, boards, garments
* Tailored timely products specifically to the sales executives connections/relationships while maintaining brand vision, fiscal goals and forward looking focus
* Created young men's brand, which was placed at a limited higher level of specialty distribution
* Created a young men's, boys and kids sub-division which was placed at mid tier levels of distribution
* Traveled to Europe and Asia for market research, sample shopping and seasonal sample development
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Chief Designer/Creative Director
JAZZMAN SPORTSWEAR CORPORATION
New York, NY
Apr 2004 - Dec 2004 (8 months)
Red Snap, Prototype, Sacred Earth, Jazzman and Private Label
* Collectively established new lines to cover all target markets
* Designed & executed young men's and boys premium denim lifestyle collections
* Managed team of assistant designers, tech designers and graphic designers
* Traveled to Asia and Europe for sample development, sourcing and production
* Participated in sales presentations and enhanced two existing menswear collections
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Head Designer
NESI APPAREL GROUP
New York, NY
Oct 2002 - Apr 2004 (1 year 6 months)
Vincente Nesi & Creative Director of all Nesi Brands & Licenses, Le Tigre, Rockawear Juniors, School of Hard Knocks, Shady, Nesi AG
* Worked closely with CEO to design a complete young men's, menswear and juniors collections
* Frequented Hong Kong and mainland China to oversee sampling and production
* Managed and gave creative direction to a team of graphic designers and assistant designers
* Executed the development and presentations for all Nesi in house brands and licensed brands
* Worked with corporate clients to fit garments for production and photo/music video shoots
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Designer
NICOLE MILLER (Focus Design Group)
New York, NY
Jan 2001 - Oct 2002 (1 year 9 months)
* Shopped the domestic and European markets for concept and sampling development
* Designed, sketched and specked garments to ensure all fits were production quality
* Created style and presentation mood boards
* Produced computerized flat sketches and tech packs
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Graphic Designer / Men's Knitwear Designer
MIGNONE GRAPHICS & APPAREL GROUP
New York, NY
Jun 1998 - Jan 2001 (2 years 7 months)
* Illustrated computer graphics and flat sketches using Photoshop and Illustrator
* Conceptualized mock-ups and mood board graphics for clients
* Supported the CEO in day to day design and manufacturing decisions
* Worked with overseas factories to execute all garment details