Richa Kirpalani
A dynamic, professional and results focused Head of Product development, spanning a decade of successful track record specializing in womenswear and experience in menswear product development across RTW and couture brands. Developing from initial concept to pre-production stage, whilst managing the entire product lifecycle. I am a consumer focused team player, with excellent communication skills who seeks to build supportive, inclusive working relationships for myself and my team. I can build strong relationships, with stakeholders and teams across all levels of an organisation and I am best known for my resilience and 'can do' attitude, great attention to detail and a strong drive to deliver. As a process improvement evangelist, I continue to drive operational efficiencies across my line of business, evidenced by my innate ability to break down barriers, remove blockers and identify new and improved ways of working throughout the development lifecycle and wider production space. A fashion enthusiast with a deep understanding on the importance of sustainability in the world of fashion. Selected Key Achievements: * Implemented a cost management reporting solution for Rebbeca Taylor's Product Development Department, highlighting seasonal spending allocations across domestic and offshore suppliers, providing key insight and analytics for better decision making and future spending controls. * Improved overall process and communication across Embellishment and Design teams at Rebecca Taylor which saw an 80% increase on embellishments completed on time with lower leakage costs. * Introduced new SOP's for early development testing for fabric shrinkage, testing for interlinings and colorfastness. * Developed approxtimatly fourty-five collections across Rebecca Taylor, Marchesa, Helmut Lang and Mira Mikati to date. * Responsible for identifying and implementing a new team structure and roles across the atelier, driving creative freedom and demand management at Mira Mikati. * Ensured price consistency across all collections resulting in continuous profit margin growth at Mira Mikati.
Sew4Good Greenwich is a volunteer led initiative underpinned by a team of 40 passionate volunteers who combine their skill, experience and passion for volunteering entrepreneurship amidst the current Covid-19 pandemic. Sew4Good Greenwich focuses on providing scrubs and other essential products to frontline workers across the Royal Borough of Greenwich, London and surrounding areas. Product ranges include Scrubs, Non-Surgical Face Masks and Ear Saving Headbands. Richa Kirpalani, with fellow co-founder and textiles evangelist Nicola Fleming recently started the volunteer led initiative on the back of increasing demand for scrubs and other items to support a wide array of facilities, including hospitals, local GP surgeries, GP practices, care homes and hospices. During the initial stages of development, Sew4Good Greenwich received donations of bedding linen which were up-cycled and turned into scrubs and ear saving headbands. As demand increased, Sew4Good Greenwich then received further donations of fabric rolls from the wider community, including friends and neighbors to help fulfill additional requests. To date, we have produced 1500 units and continue to support our local community in the fight against COVID-19.
Spearheaded product development and collection management across four core collections & capsule collections. Managing a team of two full-time designers, and multiple freelancers to achieve on time delivery. Successfully implemented sustainability initiatives across denim, cut & sew jersey and knitwear, resulting in approximately 30% of the collection being eco-friendly over a one-year period.