Design Director Customer Accounts
Resume:
Lauren Finelli
******.*******@*****.***
HAWTHORNE, NY, 10532
EDUCATION
Fashion Institute of Technology
State University of New York
BFA in Accessories Design, 2008
AWARDS
• 2009 Finalist for Best
Handmade Handbag
Honored by the Independent
Handbag Designer Awards
• 2006 Winner for Best
Handmade Small Leather
Designs for FIT Accessories
Design Awards chosen
by Ralph Lauren Leather Goods
SKILLS
• Adobe CC: Illustrator
• Photoshop
• Footwear sewing and
patternmaking.
• Knowledge of footwear
components.
• Global/domestic sourcing
of materials.
• Ability to sketch by hand.
us design patent
USD847502S1
Binding Bag
Senior Footwear Designer
Steve Madden, February 2022- July 2024
• Sr Footwear Designer working within the Steve Madden kids branded footwear team.
• Apart of 30-40 mill business, working in a fast paced environment.
• Supported the design director and team on all aspects of the design process.
• Rendered footwear designs by hand then transfers sketches into CAD form.
• Created detailed spec sheets that are sent to overseas agents for development.
• Reviewed and corrected upper trial patterns and last/constructions.
• Managed footwear designs for retail and wholesale customer accounts.
• Presented seasonal trends and footwear lines during FFANY shows to customers.
• Researched major trends each season through comp shopping and online research etc.
• Worked cross-functionally with sales and production teams on daily tasks. ESO- Senior Footwear Designer
Nine West, March 2019-January 2022
• Lead designer responsible for building the Nine West girls footwear line.
• Worked closely with the licensor ABG on building each collection.
• Met with the Nine West womenʼs team at the beginning of each development season to review key trends, details and materials.
• Sold to all major footwear retailers (Macyʼs, Shoe Show, Shoe Dept., Kohlʼs Marshalls, Von Maur etc.)
• Ordered, organized and managed footwear samples for each customer.
• Worked closely with each customer on any special sample modifications/requests to meet their liking.
• Personally presented the Nine West shoe line each season to customers during FFANY shows.
• Built collection from 0 to 5 mill, projections are 8 mill despite how the pandemic had impacted retail.
Rampage Girls and Sugar, July 2014-March 2019
• Girlʼs footwear designer responsible for the missy Rampage Girls, Sugar kids and French Toast girlʼs lines.
• Designed, developed and managed key brands from concept into production.
• Built design business from scratch, increasing sales revenue up to 20 mill.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of current and future trends through seasonal domestic and international travel (Including Miami, LA, Las Vegas, Italy, London, Paris, Amsterdam and Antwerp)
• Ensured that all styles reflect current demographics.
• Key brands are sold at major retailers such as Belk, Burlington, Fred Meyer, DSW, Kohlʼs, Macyʼs, Marshallʼs, Meijer, Payless, Ross, Shoe Carnival, Shoe Show,Shoe Dept., Stage.
• Increased relationships with key factories in China by traveling 2-4 times a year annually to review prototypes, fit and materials.
• Greatly improved efficiency through enhancing communication with overseas agents & factories.
• Developed a sample report to improve efficiency and track workload resulting in better usability.
• Merchandised the Rampage Girl and Sugar girl missy showrooms for all FFANY shows.
• Presented all seasonal trends and lines to customers during FFANY meetings, giving on average 10 key presentations weekly during high season.
• Oversaw all aspects of private label kids design specifically for customers including Kmart, Sears and Kohlʼs, also assisted in designing for Payless & Target accounts- managed a 20 mill account within a 40 mill business.
• Enhanced and finished footwear designs from proto-types to confirmation traveling to China twice a year.
• Researched and shopped Domestic trends in the competitive shoe market.
• Worked cross-functionally with Design Director & Sales team to ensure cohesiveness across all categories to maintain specific retailersʼ aesthetics.
• Consulted with fit team on any manufacturing or development issues to ensure fit. NINA- Footwear Designer
Private Label, JULY 2012-JULY 2014
Design Director
Sam Edelman and Sam & Libby (Esquire Brands),
• Lead the design and development of seasonal footwear collections for both Sam Edelman and Sam & Libby kids lines, from concept through final product.
• Collaborated closely with the Sam Edelman and Sam & Libby women's team to align on key trends, silhouettes and brand direction.
• Managed and mentored an associate footwear designer, fostering professional growth and creative development.
• Created and executed strategic design plans that support brand identity and meet business goals.
• Partnered cross-functionally with sales and production teams to ensure design feasibility, target costs and market needs are met, increasing overall business by 10%.
• Maintained a deep understanding of market trends and consumer insights to drive innovative and commercially successful collections.
• Shopped for seasonal inspiration in London, Paris and Antwerp to stay up to date on current trends.
• Traveled to China to meet with manufacturers to review fit, proto-types, materials & hardware.
• Merchandised the Sam Edelman and Sam & Libby kids showroom for all FFANY shows. Work Experience
July 2024 - April 2025
Handbag Designer & Founder
DEAR FINELLI, MAY 2020 - Present
• Founder of DEAR FINELLI, handbags.
• Sketches and designs the full line from concept to production.
• Researches major trends happening each season in the handbag market.
• Sources and develops materials and hardware with factories.
• Sends detailed spec sheets to agents for samples and corrects handbag patterns and protos.
• Built and manages the Dear Finelli website, social media and marketing accounts.
• Sells line DTC and at retailers such as Assemble, Manymoons and Maris DeHart. WEBSITE
WWW.DEARFINELLI.COM
• Served as key customer contact through ongoing communication.
• Met with private label customers during FFANY meetings and traveled domestically for customer meetings.
• Designed all categories of Womenʼs and Juniorʼs private label footwear within a 20 mill business.
• Designed/Developed a “Hanging” Footwear lin e for Kohlʼs department storeʼs PL.
• Acted as a liaison between our customers and our fact ories to ensure order implemation/QC.
• Worked closely with sales team to develop CAD pr esentations and monitor sales trends. OLIVIA MILLER INC.
Womenʼs Private Label JULY 2008-JULY 2012
• Created original styles for retailers such as Urban Outfitters, Kohlʼs & Macyʼs. Work Experience
References
Jill Green
Sales Manager at Steve Madden
Regina Hoffman
Senior Product Engineer at Deckers Brands
Marissa Hendricks
Footwear Designer at Esquire Brands
Footwear Designer
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