Zorana Stjohn
End-to-end expertise across creative, development & production | Womenswear & Leather Goods With over 15 years of experience leading cross-functional teams across design, product development, and global production, I specialize in building cohesive, commercially strong collections that balance creative identity and operational excellence. I’ve driven creative direction and collection strategy for both emerging and established luxury/premium brands, managing teams across RTW, leather goods, accessories, and eyewear. My background includes full-cycle product ownership — from seasonal mood-building and construction to technical development, sourcing, and supplier negotiation. Adept at scaling from concept to delivery, I’m particularly skilled at leading multidisciplinary teams, aligning with merchandising and commercial goals, and ensuring critical path timelines are met. My sourcing and production experience spans Europe, North Africa, and Asia, giving me a global edge and grounded industry know-how. Leadership Highlights: • Creative Direction & Collection Strategy • Product & Production Team Management • Global Sourcing, Costing & Supplier Partnerships • Cross-category: RTW, Leather Goods, Accessories, Eyewear • Critical Path & Line Planning Oversight Tools & Skills: • Technical Design & Construction • Print & Textile Design • International Art + Photography Projects • Multilingual: English, French, German, Serbian, Russian 📍Currently based in London with strong connection to Paris | Open to leadership roles in creative direction, design management, and product strategy across luxury and premium fashion.
- Development and management of all creative and production projects of the brand (design, product and image) - General brand strategy and development with the Company Director - Team Leadership
- Managing the collection development and production process for Luxury Leather Ready-to-wear and Accessories - Collaboration on product development with Creative direction and Design - Responsible for overseeing the critical path, from concept to delivery - Global sourcing and liaising with manufactures and suppliers - Regular traveling for leather and textile fairs, as well as meetings and quality controls with manufacturers in Portugal, France, Spain, Italy and Romania
- Development and management of luxury, womenswear Resort 19 collection - Follow through design developments - Managing the studio and atelier team (pattern cutters, seamstresses and interns) - Managing a variety of factories and workshops in London and globally - Solving technical problems in sampling development - Sourcing of raw materials, trims and factories - Consultant
- Supporting the Luxury Womenswear Designer and Company Director, Michael Halpern, in the development, execution and sampling of the AW18 collection and bespoke orders - Draping and Construction - Temporary Freelance Contract
- General management and development of the high-end womenswear brand - Design and creative direction - Product development and production management with manufacturers in France, Serbia, Italy, Germany, and UK - General management of communication and sales projects such as fashion shows, show rooms, and trade shows in following countries: France, Canada, Germany, and Algeria - Managing a team consisting out of a Freelance Communication Manager and Freelance Sales Manager
- General management and development of the entire fashion design department (womenswear, menswear, leather goods, accessories and gifts) - Reporting directly to one of the company's Presidents/Owners, who was in charge of supervising all the creative departments - Researching trends and developing product concepts including development boards to be presented to the President of the company and Marketing and Sales teams - Direction and design for all fashion product groups: bags, camera bags, apparel and accessories - Development of design with following techniques: 3D Molding, Fashion Illustration/Drawing, Photoshop and Illustrator - Preparation of technical specifications for factories - Since 2011 creative direction of camera limited editions - Managing a small team of Fashion Design Interns and occasionally Graphic Designers - Working closely with Production and Logistic Offices in Hong Kong and Vienna - Sourcing and visiting trade shows in France (Premiere Vision, Texworld), Italy (Lineapelle) and China (ACLE Shanghai) - Product development and production management with factories and productions in Egypt, China and Italy - Overseeing all communication to Production Offices and production factories - Analysing weekly sales reports to plan how to best monetize developing sales trends - Creation of marketing concepts for fashion segment - Working closely with Marketing, Sales, Retail and Web Design Teams
- Creation and design of sunglasses and optical glasses for the brand Avanglion of Einar Group - Researching trends - Sourcing and visiting trade show in Milan (MIDO) - Preparation of technical specifications for factories - Product development with factory in China - Freelance Contract
- Assistant designer in Woman’s Ready to Wear and Haute Couture Studio - Work on embroidery for the A/ W 2005 Haute Couture collection and on the prints and embroidery for the S/S 2006 Woman’s Ready to Wear collection - Internship
- Work on the archive of press releases - Internship
- Womenswear Fashion Design and Accessories Design Assistant - Creation and design of apparel and accessory products for the S/S 2005 Women's Ready-to-Wear collection - Researching trends - Preparation of technical specifications for factories - Internship
- Assistant in the womenswear et accessoires show room - Internship