Experienced and qualified in Luxury Leather Goods Design, I have achieved numerous creative projects and gained valuable transferable skills in my career so far. Enthusiastic and strongly committed to delivering exquisite products to a high standard. Currently working on the re-launch of an old Parisian luxury brand from the design & development side, setting new brand codes & DNA and creating its new handbag & SLG collection. Previously led the after care solutions for contemporary luxury leather goods with a focus on craftsmanship, materials and colour. Advocate of sustainable practices and passionate about the Fashion industry as a whole and how it shapes and responds to society, economics, politics, culture, consumer behaviour, art, technology.
-worked on the re-launch of the Parisian brand: setting new brand codes / DNA and designing and developing its first bags & SLG collections to the highest quality from conception to final prototype. -creation of all detailed spec files in French and English for bags and hardware. -sourced raw materials (top grade calf leathers and suede, coated canvas & other textiles for accessories). -design & development of new collection of hardware / metal pieces. -daily liaise with manufacturers from France, Spain and Italy.
-co-lead the Atelier in order to ensure top productivity, quality and technical development. Managing multiple proj ects to support the company´s growth; doubled the Atelier size in 4 months by succesfully onboarding 18 artisans. -innovationmanagement: actively explore new techologies, technical processes and colour recipes to elevate the current offering and develop solutions ahead of client´s needs and in line with emerging product trends. -creatingstandard commercial pricing and service packages per product / technique. This project increased sales and contributed to smoother operations across the Atelier, Marketing and Customer Services. -evaluatinghistoric data and client feedback in order to improve the quality of our techniques. -reportto top management weekly performance and blockers, and provide adquate solutions according to my experience and product knowledge in order to succeed in a fast paced environment of growth.
-manager of a growing team of 14 artisans; responsible for their training, mentoring and professional development. -restoration of items for VIP clients, premium goods and of the more complex techniques. -trips to trade fairs in order to source materials, build supplier relationships with a focus on sustainability and identify key trends related to design, material, colour. -strong understanding of luxury products, market and competitors. -leading creative and technical innovation through R&D to develop new sustainble techniques and finishings. -executing risk assessments of all coming projects to determine best creative & technical approach. -writing Case Studies for the website in a commercial manner, providing technical content and Fashion context. -participating in Marketing events to perform restorations and educate clients about after care and sustainability. -strategic production management: planning, organisation and prioritisation in order to meet all deadlines , hit targets and ensure the highest level of craftsmanship and productivity. -enriched the department´s technical portfolio and services by 40%, and enhanced our in-house performance. -excellent eye for colour and knowledge of leather tannery, materials, after care processes and manufacuring.
-restoration, re design and customisation of luxury handbags and shoes to the highest standard whilst respecting the brand´s DNA, quality and leather / material finishing. -restorationexpertise include: colour mixing & matching (aniline, semi, pigmented), hand-painting, lettering, air brush, exotics, dyeing leather suede and silk, metallics, patent, glittering, flocking, embroidering, saddle stitching. -writingdetailed technical files to feed and update our Learning platform. -initialassessment of items to provide customer services team with an accurate quotation. -brandsinclude: Chanel, Hermès, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Céline, Balenciaga, Louboutin, Ferragamo, etc.
-designed for 3 main lines (Leather Goods, RTW and Knitwear) covering end to end design process from research and moodboards, design and CAD technical pack, fittings and development until final sampling. -researchedemerging trends related to shape, colour, material, construction techniques and product. -deliveredreports from online, catwalk shows, shopping trips and streetstyle. Ability to interpret macro trends and themes, conceptualise and develop then into new IT products. -dailyliaise with national and overseas suppliers (India, China, Argentina, Perú, Bolivia, Italy) to supervise the development of the collection. Experience working with a wide variety of fabrics and materials. -excellentsense of style through feminine and unusual combinations. Contacted new suppliers and factories bring ing in new materials and developments, enriching the collection with newness and innovation. -activelyparticipated in regular meetings with the Merchandising and Production teams to ensure product variabil ity, commercial viability and accurate price ranges. A significant number of products I have designed have been featured in collection campaign and look book photo shoots, which generated new sale-points in New York and improved the brand´s positioning and image.
-print designer (fabrics) and responsible to the development of textiles and intermediate processes (laser cutting, embroidering, printing, etc); the amount of print designs per collection was raised by 25%. -developedmoodboards reflecting the creative vision, updated collection & style boards on a daily basis. -producedhigh quality CAD drawings with all technical information for all RTW and accessories collection. -ensuredmeeting deadlines by taking on Production tasks on critical path dates to provide solid support to the team (production order technical specs, tracking production).
-successfully designed and developed the contemporary jewellery line, from concept to final product. This line attracted new customers and increased the sales. Awarded with A-DESIGN AWARD WINNING 2014. -preparedall CAD drawings and technical specs for all bags collection and designed new commercial styles. -researchedand sourced leathers, fittings and materials. -ensuredproduction quality and meeting deadlines by effectively communicating with and visiting factories. -representedthe brand at Parallela Gift Fair @Sao Paulo.
Catalina is an extremely talented, dedicated, kind and hard-working person. She is really passionate about design and has a critical eye and excellent perception. It was an incredible experience working with her and highly recommend her.
Catalina has been a star since the beginning. She has improved our techniques, managed a super fast-growing team and worked relentlessly on our R&D and efficiencies. She is a talented designer, target driven and has been essential to The Restory growth.