I am curious about fashion and the energy it brings when strategy, creativity, and innovation meet. With over 20 years of experience in product development, creative direction, and transformation projects, I bring a fresh, modern perspective to brands looking to evolve. I founded Velvet & Cigars to help fashion companies rethink their collections and creative processes, with a clear focus on agility, collaboration, and relevance. My approach is both hands-on and strategic, always built around people, ideas, and meaningful change. I’m driven by innovation — especially where digital tools and sustainability intersect. I believe fashion must now be thought differently: more responsible, more agile, and more connected to the world around us. This means transforming not only what we create, but how we create it. After years working with French and international brands, I am now looking to open a new chapter in my career — one that connects me with inspiring, forward-thinking labels across the premium and mass-premium segments. I want to be part of global teams that are building smarter, more sustainable, and more creative futures for fashion. My strength? Being the hub of transformation projects — where strategy meets creativity, and where teams align to move faster and better. I believe modern fashion needs strong collective intelligence, cross-functional thinking, and a deep awareness of societal shifts. Let’s bring new energy to your vision.
Share knowledges on visual merchandising from basics to create specific projects for brands.
Strategic consultant in creative direction, innovation, and product development for fashion, textile, and lifestyle brands. Recognized expertise in fashion markets and consumer behavior analysis, with a proven ability to identify trends and transform insights into actionable brand and product strategies. A strong strategic perspective on global fashion shifts. International collaborations on development, industrialization, and quality enhancement. Contributions to product storytelling and innovation projects for brands such as AMI, Damart, and Devred.
450 stores, 7 collections per year. Oversaw the brand’s global style and visual identity. Developed the brand’s fragrance and diversified product lines (accessories, collaborations). Rebuilt the creative process and integrated consumer data into product development. Coordinated design, production, marketing, and retail teams to ensure brand consistency and commercial impact. Manage a team of 7 people.
4 collections per season, 500 ref/co per year, 7-15% of the turnover. Create and manage the range of bags, belts, shoes, jewelry, loungewear, winterwear, beachwear as well as specific products according to the capsules. Manage development critical path from initial design through to pre-production fittings within the allocated delivery window. Source and research materials according to design and collection brief. Attend development and production fittings, provide proactive and focused input on quality and fit Manage the costing process and analysis of margins, aligning negotiation strategies. Allocate styles among factories ensuring make standards and target prices. Monitor and respect seasonal development budget. Partner with suppliers and communicate on day-to-day operations, including on-site visits Maintain balanced communication and good working process with cross functional partners to meet all product requirements.
Manage the denim department, leather goods, belt, loungewear, beachwear and shoe licenses offer. Manage development critical path from initial design through to pre-production fittings within the allocated delivery window. Source and research materials according to design and collection brief. Attend development and production fittings, provide proactive and focused input on quality and fit Manage the costing process and analysis of margins, aligning negotiation strategies. Allocate styles among factories ensuring make standards and target prices. Monitor and respect seasonal development budget. Partner with suppliers and communicate on day-to-day operations, including on-site visits Maintain balanced communication and good working process with cross functional partners to meet all product requirements.
Source and research materials according to design and collection brief. Purchase and negotiate all supplies associated with clothing in coordination with the Studio. provide proactive and focused input on quality and fit. Manage the costing process and analysis of margins, aligning negotiation strategies. Develop specific projects for the fashion shows. Organize and optimize stock management.
Association law of 1901 for the promotion of Design. Supported brands in implementing industrial design projects, facilitated design thinking and design management processes. Led and contributed to European projects and international workshops. Promoted design through conferences and events (e.g. design biennial), and developed strategic tools such as a designers’ network and a dedicated website. Conducted trend monitoring and promoted the evolution of design methodologies.
I had the chance to work with Sébastien on different projects during the Global Fashion Management MBA at Institut Français de la Mode. Sebastien is really creative and future minded while remaining very business oriented. For him the best ideas are the ones we realize. He has very strong project management skills and can lead a cross functional team. Sebastien has an hollistic view on fashion and is able to have impact on different levels. From the top management to the different teams. Sebastien is connected to the newest technologies and will not feel lost in contact with his gen z colleagues.