Reema O'Connor

Sourcing Raw material for RtW, Apres sport and Jersey groups across men’s and Women’s. Negotiate price, now and leadtime for all 90% bespoke developments Scale up fabric and trim team Managing and leading a team of 3 . Managing critical paths , organising sourcing strategy and trips for upcoming seasons.

Leadership management motivating of a team of six, Export, uk Sales , sample, junior marketing and showroom manager. Effective delivery of our brands' product strategies, such as – Product Sourcing sampling and marketing Creating and maintaining the critical path of product management from product design contribution, tech pack creation, patterns, toiles, fittings to pre-production samples. Planning, organizing and overseeing, collaborating internally and externally in day-to-day operations with regards to all production activities on both made to order for individual clients and ready to wear for wholesale. Overseeing technical aspects of development textiles and fabrication, staying up to date on trends and innovations. Managing fabric sourcing (including trade show visits) and ordering fabric and trim for any components required in the production of garments in line with the Company's quality standards and set budgets. Negotiating production prices with factories for each new collection. •Managing the launch processes for new collections, ensuring quality standards are met and brand image is maintained. •Production planning and cost analysis for sales tools, such as sampling, books, and showroom / marketing collateral. •Use critical path analysis for new production orders to ensure all new collections are delivered on time across global markets. •Product sampling development, striving for innovation and strong brand story as well as maintaining operational efficiency and cost control. •Liaising with pattern book manufacturers. •Coordination with sales team on trade show sampling and stocking showroom samples liaising with showroom manager. •Identify and implement streamlining processes for production development. •Ensure all internal systems are up to date with product information. Working with the design director on product sourcing, logging, development, and sampling for new collections. •The management of fabric stocks using stock management systems whilst working collaboratively with uk and export sales.

BABY SENSORY CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES WHOLESALE BOUGHT AND HAND FINISHED DESIGNS. •Managing the launch processes for new collections, ensuring quality standards are met and brand image is maintained. •Production planning and cost analysis for sales tools, such as sampling, books, and showroom / marketing collateral. •Use critical path for new production orders to ensure all new collections are delivered on time across global markets. •Innovating a strong brand story as well as maintaining operational efficiency and cost control. •Nurturing relations with selective suppliers, researching qualities and coordinating design Development to finalizing quality control for bulk production shipments. •Raise sample requests with factory and fabric mill according to customer brief and specification 24hrs within customer meeting. •Follow up technical risks cloth and trim submissions imminently to reach speedy approval with supplier to avoid delay on lead times and arrange supplier meetings to discuss where possible quality issues, production delays and price negotiation. •Carry out first to market fabric trend research via trade show visits, development trips with existing business vendors. •Manage all back order and replenishment requests accurately and promptly to ensure the required levels of stock are available for transfer in good time

Job Title: Fashion Sales Account Manager Dates Of Employment: Jan 2018 July 2018 •Coordination with sales team on trade show sampling and stocking showroom samples . •Identify and implement streamlining processes for production development. •Generating new business Accounts, namely of Asos, Burberry, Next, M&S and Debenhams were a few of the customer accounts I opened using my industry business links. •Arranging customer meetings on a weekly basis and following up full summary with customer and internal team within 24hrs of meeting to ensure reactive approach to keep relationships well nurtured with customer and well informed within the business. •Build on business with design director taking an above and beyond approach to source and achieve quality, standard and an enriched trusted long-term business from customer •Liaise with offshore team managing garment and fabric mills to set the brief and manage delivery times, foresee logistical obstructions and manage production terms. •Negotiate Fabric and Garment price as a total product when meeting with customers to keep our business vertical to offer customer a 360 service and enable the business to entirely manage the critical path •Import and Export management of raw materials from factory to showroom, management of deliveries, leadtimes, quality control approval. •Developing Fabric designs and new bases with customer accounts and offshore production team. •Researching new bases and fabric trends following Catwalk, stores and blog reports. •Utilising Salesforce Database to input sales and customer appointment feedback and report to overseas and internal teams. •Make Monthly shop reports on fabric and style trends forecasting pricepoint comparison . Company Name: Topshop Ltd Job Title: Senior Fabric Sourcer Date of employment: Jan 2015 Nov 2017 •Working with Design Managers to Prepare fabric trend research cloth boards for entire Topshop team for all divisions. •Coordination with sales team on trade show sampling and stocking showroom samples •Making large presentations amongst Head of Buying, design Directors and managers to set my vision of fabric trend patterns and direction for upcoming seasonal moods. •Sourcing and developing all fabrics for Catwalk, bringing first to market fabric research from Mill meetings, trade fairs, vintage archives and overseas development trips. •Working with Marsil and indian embroiderers on launching embellishment projects for the catwalk •Maintaining and building new relations with new mills based in Italy and Far East. •Bulk price and terms negotiation to reduce fabric sourcing to fall in margin and counter costing. •Development for special yarn dyes and exclusive prints and furs for Unique collections. •Managing the Catwalk fabric budget for fabrics bought and reporting back to Design Director. •Managing fabric expectation at bulk production •Negotiating Bulk prices and terms with use of excel spreadsheets and pivot table reporting fabric budget and spend.

Working closely with Design on Fabric developments for both Mens and Womens collections. •Building relationships with high fashion suppliers to develop exciting fabric developments, advising on weave structures, blankets and trials. •Placing bulk fabric orders and chasing delivery •Negotiating Bulk prices and terms with use of excel spreadsheets and pivot table reporting fabric budget and spend.

I organised weekly meetings with Brit design team to plan new fabric research and developments, •Advising Fabric mills on new weave developments and wash development for handlooms/finishing wovens for, Outerwear, tailoring's, softs, shirting, Jersey and Leather/Shearlings. •Working with luxury fabric mills, majority European and Far Eastern to research new season fabrics for Brit line that meet the aesthetic, quality and brand requirement. •trips overseas for appointments held with existing mill contacts and to source new mills. Viewing new fabric collections and discussing existing fabric development at Premier Vision and London Textile Fair. •Attends Cross-Functional meetings with PD and Merchandisers to revise reports pulled from PLM database of best sellers, fabric price and leadtimes. •Collaborative working with testing laboratories and mills building awareness of UK/EU fabric standards, textile trends/ developments and innovations. •Knowledge of commercial invoicing and International Shipping processing using SAP invoice system. •Negotiation and fabric sourcing experience combined with an understanding of how material costs impact pricing and quality.