Product Development Sales

Michelle Wahlen

**** ******** ****** #*, *** Francisco, California 94109

T: 415-***-**** E: ************@*****.***

Experience Circa of America LLC, San Francisco, California. March 2003 – Present Vice President/ Senior Creative Director

• Executive leadership team member

o Collaborate on company product mix/direction and set costing/margin objectives o Prioritize target client list and co-lead business development strategy o Create digital channel distribution (Amazon) strategy for company’s internal brand

• Design direction

o Manage design and sample room team (14 professionals) o Clients/brands include: J Crew, Madewell, Gap, Banana Republic, Land’s End, Tory Burch, Ann Taylor, Loft, Calvin Klein, Levi’s Everlane, Anthropologie, Target o Extensive travel for trend research and inspiration

• Creative direction, brand identity and social presence o Launch company’s proprietary brands: “Circa Leather Goods” and “c. 1967” o Responsible for “Made in USA” product strategy and brand positioning o Manage company’s brand image and marketing: collateral, website, Facebook and Instagram Anne Klein and Company, New York, New York. November 2001 – March 2003 Design Director

• Partnered with VP, Design to align accessories and apparels creative direction in support of brand

• Design direction for Anne Klein New York, AK Anne Klein and A Line

• European, Asian and American market research, trend forecasting and product development

• Managed design team

• Collaborated with Sales and Merchandising to plan seasonal assortments and sales forecasts

• Worked with Asian factories on product development and sourcing Esprit de Corps, San Francisco, California. June 1995 – November 2001 Senior Designer

• European, Asian and American market research, trend forecasting and product development

• Designed product for Esprit de Corps, Esprit Sport and E Collection

• Created concepts and style boards for executive reviews/presentations

• Sketched designs, wrote tech specs and managed small design team

• Worked with Asian factories on product development and sourcing

• Educated Sales team and Retail Buying Groups

Amity Leather Products Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. September 1993 – June 1995 Designer

• Designed wallets, handbags and small leather goods for proprietary brands and Harley-Davidson

• Pattern making and samples for all designs

• Collaborated with factory to optimize production Education Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Bachelor of Arts (Magna Cum Laude), Major in Fashion Design, May 1993 Interests

Paris Fashion Institute, Paris, France

Certificate of Fashion Design, January 1991

• Travel and visual story telling

• Avid Yogi, Pilates and Spinning enthusiast

• Regular guest speaker at the Academy of Arts: “Introduction to Fashion” class

• Volunteering: Glide Memorial, San Francisco Food Bank and Project Open Hand

• Enjoy film, music, art, hiking and all things design Senior Fashion Design Executive with a successful track record of building brands, rejuvenating product lines and generating sales through trend forecasting, innovative design and team building.

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