Experience

RIOT MATERIAL MAGAZINE

• United States
• Online Audio and Video Media
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CO-FOUNDER / CO-PUBLISHER / CREATIVE DIRECTOR

  • Nov 2016 - Present

  RIOT MATERIAL MAGAZINE I co-founded Riot Material with my partner, C von Hassett, at the end of 2016. It’s mission then and still now is to bring aboard the best writers from around the country to cover the Arts and art scenes in Los Angeles, New York City and more recently London. Riot Material looks closely, critically, and articulately at Art, niche Cinema, Literature, Jazz and Avant Garde Sound. We also publish excerpts from relevant new works in literature, poetry, nonfiction, and select music, via Riot Sounds. Riot Material’s newest endeavor is to foster a lively, youthful Los Angeles Jazz scene to both compliment and challenge those, still inspired and alive, in New York and London. RIOT MATERIAL The launch event of the inaugural printed edition of RIOT MATERIAL MAGAZINE, which is currently sold at the Whitney Museum, NY, The Underground Museum, LA, and Artbook, housed at Hauser & Wirth, LA, saw the birth of RIOT MATERIAL PROTEST WEAR with a complimentary art exhibition showcasing the works of our Protagonists shot in our comprehensive Ad Campaign, THE WAY FORWARD. The entire brand experience was an eloquently curated culmination of Art, Word and Thought, integral to the DNA of RIOT MATERIAL. RIOT MATERIAL ARTS FOUNDATION The RIOT MATERIAL ARTS FOUNDATION is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Arts and local artists in Los Angeles by hosting and curating art exhibitions throughout the city; highlighting and reviewing The Arts in RIOT MATERIAL MAGAZINE; sustaining the magazine itself without relying on advertising or subscription; publishing a bi-annual print edition of the magazine; bringing art and the craft of art criticism into local schools and art magnets in and around LA; and by tapping into young local talent from jazz programs at colleges and universities around Los Angeles in an orchestrated effort to bring fresh blood and innovative sounds into the LA Jazz scene. Show less



REID WILKIE / XI

• ART / POETRY

  • Aug 2009 - Present

  My poetry, written, spoken and performed, has led me to a life-long dream of working on a spoken word album. The XI project has been created, curated and realized by myself and my music partner, Eddie Hultén. The sometimes dream-like whispers accompanied by wistful guitar, often aggressive explosions of voice led by rhythm bass, the warrior-like declarations of womanhood guided by shamanic beats, create an epic tale of modern and classical, contemporary and mythical, spoken straight from the heart. XI was officially released in September of 2021. Show less



BLK DNM

• United States
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CREATIVE CONSULTANT

  • Aug 2018 - Mar 2020

  BLK DNM relaunched with Chapter Two! I collaborated with Johan Lindeberg and the new investors of BLK DNM to relaunch the brand with an evolved story to tell: CREATIVITY BEYOND BORDERS, told through an engaging social media marketing strategy. With the official relaunch in January 2020 in Paris, the brand invited our borderless community to celebrate the multicultural, inclusivity and equality, where creativity unifies the world. BLK DNM relaunched with Chapter Two! I collaborated with Johan Lindeberg and the new investors of BLK DNM to relaunch the brand with an evolved story to tell: CREATIVITY BEYOND BORDERS, told through an engaging social media marketing strategy. With the official relaunch in January 2020 in Paris, the brand invited our borderless community to celebrate the multicultural, inclusivity and equality, where creativity unifies the world.



7 FOR ALL MANKIND

• United States
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 500 - 600 Employee

• CREATIVE DIRECTOR

  • Mar 2017 - Apr 2018

  As Creative Director, I spent one year rebranding the image of 7 For All Mankind. I directed the teams from concept to product to a provokingly inclusive social media marketing campaign #WEAREMANKIND, and 7 For All Mankind once again became a brand that speaks to today’s ever-evolving culture. I directed the development of a progressive and youthful PR capsule collection MANKIND which sold exclusively to Harrods UK and Nordstrom USA with the mindset that this premium denim brand needed to embrace a design-into-marketing-concept philosophy. I took the initiative of relaunching the RTW collection and styling it back to the product base, denim, which, together, spoke to this inclusive, diverse and progressive denim lifestyle. The brand needed to communicate its relevance, not only to today’s demanding industry, but also through a global marketing strategy that spoke clearly and coherently to the intelligence and awareness of today’s youth. Show less



CALVIN KLEIN JEANS

• India
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• DESIGN DIRECTOR GLOBAL CONCEPT

  • Nov 2014 - Jan 2017

  I took on the role of Womens Design Director of Global Concept at Calvin Klein Jeans at a time when the brand had slipped from relevance, not only in the industry but amongst today’s youth. I was charged with lifting CKJ to the forefront of the marketplace. With year-round Global Design Direction from concept and design to marketing concepts for N. America, S. America, Europe and Asia, with seasonal global PR capsules that sold in Opening Ceremony NYC and Tokyo, with global key denim products such as the Sculpted Jean, which sold over 1.6 million jeans in one year - the biggest selling jean in 7 years - I influenced the perception of the brand from the inside out. The brand image gained traction and was once again attractive to internationally acclaimed designers such as Raf Simons. I worked one season with Raf Simons and Pieter Mulier in preparing the denim concept for their debut Fall 17 catwalk collection and Ad campaigns. This expression has now become Raf’s iconic statement of Calvin Klein Jeans and has been influential to all denim brands and designer brands of today. Show less

• DESIGN DIRECTOR

  • Oct 2009 - Jan 2015

  With my creative partner, Johan Lindeberg, BLK DNM came into being literally on a brownstone stoop in Manhattan, and within one year it was the hottest brand in the industry. 5 years later BLK DNM had 350 retail partners in 35 countries around the world. We created a DNA from zero, one which spoke to Downtown NYC-meets-Paris: artistic, liberated, chic with an activist attitude and in support of influential women around the world. With leather, denim and tailoring as its core, depicted through a social media docu-style photographic diary inspired by the notion of FREEDOM, the mens and womens collections soon became coveted around the world and worn by celebrities such as Jay-Z, A$AP Rocky, Thom Yorke, Chloe Sevigny, Caroline de Maigret and Giselle Bündchen, to name just a few. Our store in Soho became a cultural hub as we launched a series of events with live music and performances, curating the brand experience, inviting the NY creative community into our space. Two years in, the acting president left the company and from that point forward I essentially ran the entire business from design to production; from Design Direction of all product to Artistic Direction of all marketing shoots; from collection planning to managing profit margins, I was operating within all aspects of the business. Show less



NOIR NEW YORK

• ART DIRECTOR / CURATOR

  • Apr 2010 - Nov 2014

  NOIR NEW YORK Under the umbrella-entity known as Noir New York, and over a period of 4 years, I curated and directed several large-scale multi-disciplinary exhibitions in Manhattan. Noir brought together, on a bi-annual basis, artists, musicians, filmmakers, and performers in grand, at times abandoned or long unrented spaces, throughout the city. The largest of these events took place on the corner of Broadway and Houston, on three sprawling levels of a landmarked late-19th century building, where the entire exhibition covered nearly 20,000 square feet of energized floor space. The event showcased painting, photography, digital art, live painting, spoken word, dance performance, live jazz, emerging rock band and locally renowned DJ’s throughout the night. DOCUMENTS OF LOVE My partner, C von Hassett, and I curated and directed a monumental art exhibition at a Chelsea Gallery in New York City, the famed Hosfelt Gallery, where together we presented a languorous and long-running wall of poetry, rooms of paintings, our combined photography, and a short film, “Documents of Love.” The opening evening saw thousands in attendance: fellow collaborators, colleagues and friends in the art community. Show less



J. LINDEBERG

• Australia
• Retail Apparel and Fashion

• DESIGN DIRECTOR

  • Mar 2003 - Mar 2007

  I spent 4 years in Stockholm, Sweden, as Design Director of J. Lindeberg, elevating the brand from regional status to that of becoming internationally renowned, honing my director skills and developing my creative vision. From here came an opportunity to create a bespoke tailoring collection for Dave Gahan for the Depeche Mode world tour, Touring The Angel. This experience prepared me for my time with Justin Timberlake, where I curated his bespoke tailoring for all his performances and public appearances such as the Golden Globes and his induction of Madonna into The Hall of Fame. By the time I had moved to New York City, I had become a fully-fledged Design Director with a profound knowledge of the fashion industry and extensive experience in styling celebrities. Show less



COSTUME NATIONAL

• Luxury Goods & Jewelry
• 1 - 100 Employee

• HEAD DESIGNER

  • Jan 2001 - Mar 2003

  I spent 8 years in Milan, Italy, beginning my career and learning from the best, the then maestros. I developed my skills as a conscientious designer in Ready-to-Wear fashion, both mens and womens. I headed up the womens collection of Costume National in its hey-day. I assisted Carol Christian Poell through one of his most pivotal moments in his artistic history, when he launched his first womens collection. I assisted Alessandro Dell’Acqua when he was the newest, coolest kid on the block and became revered by Anna Della Russo and Franca Sozzani. Living in Milan and working in fashion during the 90’s was awe-inspiring and inevitably character-building! Designing for the RTW fashion shows, working with some of the best stylists in the world, dressing backstage the last generation of Super Models: Naomi Campbell, Kirsten Owen, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, throwing the best Fashion Week after-parties at our exotic apartment, which commonly became known as Caesar’s Palace, dancing with Karen Elson and Erin O’Connor in our living room, attending Giorgio Armani’s private parties in his townhouse apartment under strict orders to only dress in black or white; all contributed to my formative years as a burgeoning fashion designer. Show less



CAROL CHRISTIAN POELL

• DESIGNER

  • Jan 2000 - Dec 2001

  I spent 8 years in Milan, Italy, beginning my career and learning from the best, the then maestros. I developed my skills as a conscientious designer in Ready-to-Wear fashion, both mens and womens. I headed up the womens collection of Costume National in its hey-day. I assisted Carol Christian Poell through one of his most pivotal moments in his artistic history, when he launched his first womens collection. I assisted Alessandro Dell’Acqua when he was the newest, coolest kid on the block and became revered by Anna Della Russo and Franca Sozzani. Living in Milan and working in fashion during the 90’s was awe-inspiring and inevitably character-building! Designing for the RTW fashion shows, working with some of the best stylists in the world, dressing backstage the last generation of Super Models: Naomi Campbell, Kirsten Owen, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, throwing the best Fashion Week after-parties at our exotic apartment, which commonly became known as Caesar’s Palace, dancing with Karen Elson and Erin O’Connor in our living room, attending Giorgio Armani’s private parties in his townhouse apartment under strict orders to only dress in black or white; all contributed to my formative years as a burgeoning fashion designer. Show less



ALESSANDRO DELL' ACQUA

• Italy
• Retail Apparel and Fashion

• DESIGNER

  • Apr 1997 - Dec 1999

  I spent 8 years in Milan, Italy, beginning my career and learning from the best, the then maestros. I developed my skills as a conscientious designer in Ready-to-Wear fashion, both mens and womens. I headed up the womens collection of Costume National in its hey-day. I assisted Carol Christian Poell through one of his most pivotal moments in his artistic history, when he launched his first womens collection. I assisted Alessandro Dell’Acqua when he was the newest, coolest kid on the block and became revered by Anna Della Russo and Franca Sozzani. Living in Milan and working in fashion during the 90’s was awe-inspiring and inevitably character-building! Designing for the RTW fashion shows, working with some of the best stylists in the world, dressing backstage the last generation of Super Models: Naomi Campbell, Kirsten Owen, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, throwing the best Fashion Week after-parties at our exotic apartment, which commonly became known as Caesar’s Palace, dancing with Karen Elson and Erin O’Connor in our living room, attending Giorgio Armani’s private parties in his townhouse apartment under strict orders to only dress in black or white; all contributed to my formative years as a burgeoning fashion designer. Show less