Ololade C. Olamigoke

Design and create statement jewelry by hand. Inspired by the need to express the authentic creative voice, and the dichotomy existing between organic and industrial elements. Bone and stone beads created by West African artisans are layered with hand-made hardware components along with vintage sourced hardware bits and pieces. The resulting work are visually impactful statements of style.

Working with Clients to identify brand needs and goals.
Providing support in various areas throughout the design process to ensure brand growth and success. Services offered are catered to the need of the Client, some of which include: design concept development, sketching, line building, footwear technical fit corrections, managing developments with Asia and South American factories, vendor sourcing, material sourcing, leather and fabric development management, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop rendering, trend and color research/development, creating technical specs for factories.
Product categories include: footwear, handbags, small leather goods and accessories.

Hired to design Spring & Summer 2012 women’s contemporary footwear collection, update best-sellers and create stronger connection to the apparel division
• Initiated development meetings with apparel team pulling key concepts that would lend well to footwear styles and materials.
• Achieved well-balanced footwear assortment, which complimented the apparel collection; the editorial team ended up only using the footwear styles for their lookbook.
• Decreased production cost by 13% by working with factory costing manager to identify resourceful development options without effecting the integrity of the designs
• Traveled to Asia to establish development standards to be following in each factory. Leveraged new business relationships with factories and tanneries while in Asia

Hired to design and develop women’s private label junior contemporary footwear brand with $35 million in revenue. Took each style designed from concept to actual product sample
• Successfully designed and developed redirection and launch of private label “GB” brand
• Designed 7 best sellers. Increased market orders and brand sales by profit 15%
• Maintained daily correspondence with overseas factories to follow development
• Traveled 4-6 times a year for development to Brazil and China
• Presented design groups to Vince Camuto, buyers, and Committee on Design
• Created specs, line-sheets, design packets for factories and sales team

• Promoted within first 6 months to interim line-builder, charged to create Fall 2009 collection
• Corrected fit and design of each style from proto through production sample stages
• Overseas travel to Brazil to follow development of prototype and Lot samples
• Sourced leathers, fabrics and ornamentation for each development season
• Created specs, line-sheets, design packets for factories and sales team

• Sketched styles, created specs and line sheet; compiled design packets
• Traveled 4-6 times per year to South American factories for development.

Identified vision of each design concept of Client. Worked with Client to build from original concepts to designed styles. Each design was sketched and technical spec'ed, ready for proto development submission. Samples were later were used for runway shows in Brooklyn, NY.

Hired to assist head bag designer create the Ralph Lauren “American Living” collection brand launch
• Instrumental in the successful launch of the Ralph Lauren “American Living” handbag collection
• Designed, sketched, created tech specs, corrected proto samples
• Prepared sample cards for factory submission; created design boards
• Used Illustrator to create hardware designs from direction from head designer

Hired to develop Fall 2008 concept book for submission to Mr. Giorgio Armani
• Researched trends and design concepts
• Sketched designs, created mood presentations for each design group
• Made corrections to Summer 2008 protos; prepared comments for the factory

Hired to create handbag and belt collection presented to Sales and Merchandising teams
• Hand sketched and designed 30 belt designs for 3 brands using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, resulting in a few designs put into production
• Designed hardware and belts using Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop; hand sketching
• Created trend/mood boards, sample cards, and researched trends

Hired to assist footwear designer in the designing of footwear collection seasons.
• Researched and pulled relevant design concepts and trends, sketched and color rendered designs, Sourced materials at tradeshows
Hired to assist footwear designer in the designing of footwear collection seasons.
• Material sourcing at leather trade shows and local vendors; trend and inspiration research