Laura Galbraith Chambers

add696@r.postjobfree.com

737-***-****

Experience

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT (Austin, TX) Jan 2020-present

• Advise clients and manage entire product development process for new brands (material and factory sourcing, design viability, testing, specs, shipping, order management). VAEVEN Design (Austin, TX) August 2017-present

Founder & Creative Director

• Founded, concepted, designed, and executed a line of home textiles inspired by historical overshot coverlets, a form of weaving popular in 1700-1850s America.

• Developed product from scratch with a collective of artisan weavers in the remote Peruvian Andes.

• Styled and directed photo shoot, designed website, built brand identity, merchandised line.

• Exhibited at Brad Ford ID’s Field & Supply makers’ show in Kingston, NY in Oct 2019.

• Currently building the brand and creating and maintaining buyer relationships with interior designers, store buyers and independent clients.

Aritzia (Vancouver, Canada) June 2015 – Oct 2019

Director of Fabric

• Led the seasonal research, presentation and complete product lifecycle for fabrics.

• Identified seasonal priority elements and ensured incorporation of key trends and innovations into new collections in collaboration with merchants and designers; liaised with print and color teams to achieve desired aesthetic/ execution.

• Built internal brand lines with balanced novelty and core items in order to propel brand and maximize sales.

• Oversaw supply base strategy and seasonal programs from concept to bulk delivery, including fabric price negotiation, calendar deadlines, color development and quality assurance processes.

• Travelled internationally to stores, trade shows and suppliers to research trends, review programs, find new vendors and nurture relationships.

• Managed and mentored direct reports.

Nili Lotan, Grei NY, Zady, O’2nd, Draper James (New York, NY) Feb 2015 – Aug 2015 Freelance Design, Print and Fabric consultant

• Advised design, print and fabric teams according to various brand needs, focusing on design development, brand growth, merchandising, strategy and production allocation. Helmut Lang (New York, NY) Jan 2014 – Nov 2014

Director of Fabric

• Led seasonal concepting meetings and fabric direction with creative directors; presented fabric, print, color trends.

• Developed original fabric designs in collaboration with CAD team and mill.

• Conducted thorough market research, responded rapidly and effectively to shifting brand direction.

• Partnered with CFT leaders to establish calendar, realize merchandising plan, strategize production program allocation.

• Monitored seasonal sampling budget, negotiated pricing.

• Identified necessary fabric and garment testing, managed wash approvals.

• Travelled internationally to stores, trade shows and mills for research.

• Managed and mentored direct report in fabric R&D team, acted as interim manager for CAD team. Club Monaco (New York, NY) Oct 2011 – Jan 2014

Director of Fabric

• Led seasonal fabric and trend research; collaborated with design team to conceptualize new season; presented direction to CEO.

• Advised team on fabric adoption; developed and sourced new fabrics to meet trend needs.

• Met with suppliers, attended trade shows, visited mills and factories in Europe, Asia, US.

• Provided rapid solutions to business requirements in response to sales and merchandising feedback.

• Partnered with SVP of Production for seasonal creation of calendar, sourcing and production strategy.

• Worked within price ramifications, negotiated pricing, monitored sampling budget, managed sampling and bulk deliveries.

• Managed strike-offs, lab-dips and compliance testing approvals.

• Managed two internal direct reports and guided three Hong Kong-based team members. Marc by Marc Jacobs (New York, NY) Jan 2011 – Oct 2011 Senior Manager of Fabric R&D – Accessories

• Researched, developed and presented new materials for all woven and non-leather handbags and scarves.

• Managed sampling and testing process, negotiated pricing, gathered technical information. Marc by Marc Jacobs (New York, NY)

Manager - Men’s Product Development and R&D Jan 2006 – Jan 2011

• Fully managed product lifecycle of menswear product development department: sourcing, development, sampling.

• Negotiated prices and minimums, led weekly calendar meetings, managed assistant. Education and Qualifications

Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, 2005

AAS Degree Textile Development & Marketing

Istituto Europeo di Design, Barcelona, Spain, 2004 Fashion & Textile Design

University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 1997-2001

MA – English Literature 1st Class (Hons)/ summa cum laude Skills

Color – 100% on Munsell 100 Hue color test

Computer – Microsoft Office, web PDM, Adobe CS

Languages – Spanish, Danish, French, basic Italian

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