Experience

FRANKiE4 Footwear

• Australia
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Footwear

  • Jun 2022 - Present

  - Driving the trend and design strategy for FRANKIE4 whilst aligning to company goals and wider business strategies- Designing ranges to be fashion-forward incorporating FRANKIE4's well-established comfort technology- New R&D for comfort innovations with our inspiring founder, Caroline McCulloch, and the team whilst maintaining fashion-forward styling- Identifying new product opportunities for market growth- Technical footwear design - construction design, last development, sock / outsole design and designing signature brand hardware and new branding elements- Colour palette and material / leather development - Development of design specification technical packs (CAD)- Close collaboration with Senior Product Developer / Technical designer on all technical aspects and sustainability development- Design team management- Supplier management



Next

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Footwear Designer & Hard Accessories Design Coordinator

  • Jun 2015 - Jun 2022

  • Hard Accessory Coordinator reporting to the non-clothing design manager. This role involves managing the critical path and driving trend presentations and trend coordination across footwear, bags and jewellery.• Technical footwear design - construction, pattern-making, last development, sock / outsole design and hardware• Development of design specification technical packs (CAD)• Fittings with team technologist - established new comfort specifications• Directing UK suppliers and designing directly with factories in China, Vietnam, Spain, Italy and Portugal• Colour palette development and material supplier consolidation• Designing price entry as well as high specification signature ranges• Working closely with buying /merchandising• Range building• Presenting in final reviews to buying, design, merchandising managers and department director• Research & trend direction across the department• Catwalk edit• Inspiration / development trips to Europe / Asia and USA• Working with clothing to produce cohesive and co-ordinated ranges• Critical path management• Managing a trainee design assistant



TOM GUNN

• Footwear Designer Director

  • Aug 2007 - Mar 2015

  For almost eight years, I ran my own footwear label in Australia with another designer. We had two boutiques and five staff members. We stocked to retailers across Australia and New Zealand and were featured regularly in Australian press. We designed 100% of the collection, and had our shoes manufactured first in Italy and then, China. • Designed seasonal collections - 15 in total• Technical design - construction and last development, pattern-making and hardware• Fittings - established brand fitting and comfort standards• Development of design specification technical packs (CAD)• Colour palette and material development / sourcing (Europe, Asia, South America)• Development / Inspiration trips to Europe / China• Showed at CAPSULE Trade show New York• Graphic design (packaging / look books / marketing materials), photoshoot direction, retail store visual merchandising• Production and quality control management• Critical path management• Business and retail management, customs and logistics, staff management, sales and marketing, finance and cash flow management• Winner Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards (SOYA) 2013 - Fashion category• Winner 2Threads Awards 2010 - Best Australian footwear brand



Colorado Group ltd

• Australia
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Footwear Designer / Product Developer - Colorado Ladies Footwear

  • Jan 2006 - Aug 2007

  • Design and product development of Colorado Ladies footwear (Comfort, casual) • Designed quarterly collections in line with latest trends, brand values & buyer requirements• Development of design specification technical packs (CAD)• Semi-technical 3D sole mould design - designed moulded units (PU heels and wedges, Phylon midsoles, Rubber outsoles) which were generated into to blueprints and then wood models by the mould manufacturers. Responsible for all final mould approvals • Designed ABS heels, branded trims, removable footbeds with comfort technology• Leather and colour palette development • Range building• Critical path management• Directed China based team (Guangzhou / Dongguan)• Pricing negotiation and cost price breakdown analysis• Mould ammortisation negotiation• Responsible for all brand fittings - trained with senior technologist• Regular travel to manufacturers in China (5 - 7 trips / year) • International travel for trend research (2 trips / year)• Prepared range plans / look books for range presentations• Presented ranges quarterly to buyers and department directors• Daily sales analysis to influence performance and improve product

• Footwear Product Development Co-ordinator

  • Sep 2005 - Dec 2005

  • Secondment based in Hong Kong – Reporting to Asia Business Manager (Antony Perillo)• Product development and administration • Sourcing factories, tanneries, agents• Worked directly with Colorado China team - travelled weekly to Guangzhou & Dongguan• Worked on re-design and development of company best-seller: REFLEX WALKER - a technical sports casual walker for PORTLAND brand. Specialised strobel construction, removable reflexology comfort footbed, phylon midsole and rubber outsole. Semi-technical 3D design and blueprint approval.



Colorado Group ltd

• Australia
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Footwear Product Development Assistant

  • Jan 2003 - May 2005

  • Mens, Childrens and Ladies PORTLAND Comfort footwear • Designed quarterly collections in line with latest trends, brand values & buyer requirements for businesses: Mathers and Williams• Product development - full range administration • Daily co-ordination with China-based Colorado team • Mens, Childrens and Ladies PORTLAND Comfort footwear • Designed quarterly collections in line with latest trends, brand values & buyer requirements for businesses: Mathers and Williams• Product development - full range administration • Daily co-ordination with China-based Colorado team



Quin & Donnelly

• Apparel Design Assistant

  • 2001 - 2003

  • Based in Dublin - Reporting to founders and designers, Liz Quin & Carolyn Donnelly• Pattern making, sewing samples & fittings• Assisting designers in all label administration as well as wholesale sales • Based in Dublin - Reporting to founders and designers, Liz Quin & Carolyn Donnelly• Pattern making, sewing samples & fittings• Assisting designers in all label administration as well as wholesale sales