Darin Hager

HEYDAY - noun - the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor

www.HeydayFootwear.com

Founded in 2007 by veteran footwear designer and entrepreneur, Darin Hager, Heyday Footwear is the design driven, direct to consumer and independent sneaker brand for fresh, young and wired hip hop dancers, body builders and taste makers worldwide, who share our passion to stand out from the crowd, whether on the street, in the gym or on the dance floor.

All Heyday Footwear styles are EXCLUSIVE and LIMITED EDITION product. Once a design is sold out, we never make it again. Heyday is available ONLY from the designer at HeydayFootwear.com and not in stores anywhere. People (sneaker heads, especially) want what nobody else has, and with production limited to just 100-200 pairs per color, you're guaranteed to have what no one else does.

Heyday Footwear's focus has always been on building an amazing and strong independent brand, supported by knowledgeable customers who truly LOVE what I design. The amazing, personal customer service provided by the owner and all the direct interaction with my fans whether in person, by phone, or online are as much a feature of the brand as our freshly designed footwear.

Directly responsible for all footwear design, development, branding, digital marketing, word of mouth marketing, licensing, international distribution, logistics including import, export, freight and domestic shipping, contract negotiation, direct sales, social media content, celebrity, athlete and influencer endorsements and relationships, personal customer service, EDI + UPC management, trade shows, pop up shops and conventions.

www.HagerDesign.net

Hager Design, Inc. is a full service footwear and product design firm offering concept development from sketches to technical packages, sourcing and development, brand strategy, and photorealistic renderings. We have over 17 years experience in footwear and product design and will go the extra mile in providing top notch fashion, casual and performance footwear design in a professional and timely manner.

Complete design and development of Spring 2015 footwear collection for upstart lifestyle brand, Category 5 Boat Shoes

Guest lecturer and design critic for Associate Professor Colleen Ellis' Advertising Design course

Senior Designer
Sperry Top-Sider 2004-2006
•Designed trend + brand right footwear by championing Sperry's design integrity for authentic nautical footwear with the latest innovations in aesthetics, performance, and constructions
•Participated in field research with product management to identify trends, competitive direction,
customer expectations and current consumer perceptions
•Developed product strategy for the brand
•Ensured that designs are technically feasible and manufacturable within established cost parameters
through frequent trips to Chinese factory partners
•Worked with Sourcing to drive development and sourcing of materials and fabrics in Asia
•Established lasting relationships with key retailers including The Tannery, Jeffrey NY and Modern Amusement resulting in new product and retail placement
•Mentored junior design staff
•Over a dozen editorial hits in trade and national magazines including Footwear News, Playboy and Men's Journal

Footwear Designer III
Puma AG 2000-2004
• Designed lifestyle, running, cross training, and sandals incorporating Puma's signature mix of sport and fashion
• Extensive domestic and international market exposure
• Design highlights include: the Japandal flip flop, featured in the
Graphis Product Design 3 coffee table book; the Scrill,a highly successful climbing lifestyle shoe which
was featured in Puma's first US television commercial; and the Kendo martial arts
shoe featured in I.D. Magazine

Footwear Design Manager
Hi-Tec Sports USA 1999-2001
• Designed and developed outdoor adventure footwear
• As part of a very small team, transformed a satisfactory nylon and suede hiking
boot business into a top outdoor brand
• Served as Lead Designer for Hi-Tec's Magnum brand of tactical and work boots combining
athletic details and construction with traditional boots to enhance performance + comfort

Footwear designfor a small consulting office for New Balance, Saucony, and Tecnica

Design of licensed action figures, vehicles and play sets including Spider-Man, The X-Men, Hulk, Hercules, Xena, and Star Trek.

Nearly cut off my thumb on a table saw...