Dhyana van der Pols
Visionary and results-driven wholesale executive with 20+ years of leadership experience in global fashion, lifestyle, and apparel brands. Deep expertise in building and scaling wholesale channels across Europe, North America, EMEA and APAC. Adept at forging strategic retail and distributor partnerships, leading cross-functional teams, and delivering sustainable commercial growth. Recognized for entrepreneurial execution, deep buyer networks, and transforming growth-stage brands through agile, margin-driven expansion. Hands-on leader with cross-functional experience across product, marketing, ESG, finance, and digital acceleration. A passionate operator with an entrepreneurial mindset, known for blending strategy with sharp execution.
Advising global apparel and workwear brands on aligning digital supply chains with EU regulatory frameworks. Supporting compliance with AGEC, EUDR, DPP, CSRD. Facilitating sustainable sourcing shifts using traceable digital tools and ESG integration.
Luxury womenswear brand with global potential. Led financial and operational turnaround. Opened new wholesale markets in India, Middle East, and APAC. Reengineered supply chain for better margin and market responsiveness.
European leader in technical workwear. Directed production across multiple geographies. Implemented made-to-order and carbon-neutral collections. Opened new strategic accounts including motorsport and protective sectors.
Premium hybrid streetwear brand with strong global presence. Drove €5M topline growth, DTC & B2B, while improving margin structure.
Drove international expansion strategies and post-deal integrations for major fashion acquisitions including ModCloth, Janie & Jack, Brums Milano, and Hatch. Led go-to-market strategy across EMEA and APAC; sourced and negotiated partnerships with distributors and retail networks. Played pivotal role in margin improvement and commercial turnaround through SKU optimization, channel diversification, and performance marketing uplift. Identified synergies across wholesale and retail models, leading to improved revenue performance across brands. Turnaround for PE acquisition of Dutch lingerie brand
Advised CEOs of global fashion and workwear brands on growth strategies, retail & e-com performance, and B2B sales optimization. Delivered €40M in IMU improvements and €25M in WHS allocation savings at Guess?, driving alignment between product, sales, and logistics. Led market segmentation and private label development for Carhartt in EMEA and APAC; launched new product lines and regional distribution strategies.
Revamped commercial operations and launched new product strategies focused on international growth and sustainability. Secured €40M multi-year government contracts through competitive tendering and partner alignment. Delivered €6M in cost savings and increased gross margin by 6% via strategic sourcing and product line restructuring. Led transition from made-to-stock to made-to-order model, increasing customization and reducing inventory burden.
Spearheaded range planning and product lifecycle streamlining across global markets. Achieved €26M in margin gains through supply chain alignment and wholesale assortment optimization. Reduced lead times dramatically, moving from long-cycle to short-cycle collections in response to market dynamics.
Chaired global manufacturing committee with Nike, Adidas, and Puma. Directed textile R&D and innovation briefings to the world's leading sporting brands. Delivered trend and technology updates across fibres, yarns, and manufacturing. Collaborated with Adidas on development of circular innovations, including recycled running shoes. Speaker at global WFSGI conventions on future of performance apparel and sustainable sourcing.
Led commercial development projects in 10+ emerging markets, supporting export growth, supply chain upgrades, and EU compliance. Launched EU market strategies for fashion manufacturers in Vietnam, Ethiopia, Macedonia, and Pakistan. Drove $25M+ in export revenue growth by aligning product and supply capabilities with Western buyer demands.
Supported brands in scaling wholesale and retail operations across Europe, US, LATAM, and Asia. Partnered with retailers and agents to introduce EU fashion brands in North America; clients included mid-tier to premium lifestyle labels. Co-developed global sustainability frameworks (UN SDGs in Apparel).
Oversaw operations across owned factories in Africa and Asia for Europe's largest apparel producer. Managed cost control, factory planning, and EU buyer compliance.
Led brand repositioning during shift from wholesale to retail. Drove growth through targeted merchandising and collection development.
Dhyana was extremely beneficial to our project bringing her deep expertise in sourcing and fabrication, as well as vast knowledge of facilities to our clients project. She was a pleasure to work with, very flexible and the clients loved her. We have worked together since, and look forward to collaborating on more projects together!