2020 – 1989
The story so far

July 2020: Simple garments consulting

Set up of a small boutique consultancy, offering direct and confidential support for brand and organisational evolution, with a strong focus towards bringing sustainability into the context of an organisations capabilities and future goals, enabling the successful repurposing to sustainable business models and circular product lifecycles. Embedding of SUSTAINISM as an organisational, product and communication philosophy throughout the value chain. Creating environmental, societal and economic value for an organisation, its products, services whilst creating new levers for growth and profitability.

Nov 2019 - present

Individual consultancy projects:
Restructuring family business in the UK • Repurposing to sustainable business models, road maps • Brand positioning and business development in relation to repurposing to sustainable business models • M&A advising • Creative direction for brand evolution and business development

Aug 2019 – Dec 2019
Study Block

University of Cambridge

Institute for Sustainability Leadership
CPD course in business sustainability management

TU Delft

Open source courses in:
circular economy & sustainable packaging in a circular economy

mai 2012 – sept 2019
falke group, schmallenberg

Managing director marketing/ business development

Responsabilities

Design, product management, trade marketing, marketing, PR and communication for Falke Legwear, Falke ESS, Burlington Legwear, Esprit Legwear (License)

Full digitisation and digitalisation of design, product development, content development, VM, sellin and web shop architecture. Including fully integrated photo studio to optimise market start and digital selling in all channels • Continued development of omni-channel strategy • Continued development of Shop concepts and VM logic creating new customer experience for controlled POS • Assortment reduction and optimisation, while driving innovation in new product heroes • Segmentation strategy to reach new end consumer groups • Continued development of portfolio optimisation strategy, through strong category shop menus, and new business concepts • Continued drive to grow online channels and social media • Continued evolution of communication strategies relevant to the digital age, and all end consumer touch points

Jan 2009 - May 2012
Falke Group, Schmallenberg

Managing Director Falke Fashion, Head of Design, Product management, Marketing Falke legwear

Responsibilities

Full P&L Falke fashion, including sourcing, production and logistics. Design, product management, product development, marketing, PR and communication for the Falke Group. Falke Legwear, Falke ESS, Burlington, Esprit Legwear (License)

Restructured product development workflows throughout the group to optimise time-to-market, with first stages of digitisation and digitalisation • Implementation of KPI management through areas of responsibility • Refocussed the positioning of each line, to evolve from low interest product areas to high value accessories brands with unique USPs, and broader international appeal. Therefore minimising internal cannibalisation between brands in the group portfolio • New communication strategy to support the evolution to high interest accessory brands with unique USPs • Redefined retail, SIS and VM concepts to optimise attractivity and sell through at POS • Market and channel potential analysis • Shop menu strategy to focus, channel and international growth with core product heroes to optimise sell through and assortment management • First phase of implementing colour strategy as growth driver for the Falke brand • Drive to develop online communication and selling, in own webstore and pure player channels

Jan 2006 - Dec 2008
Esprit, Ratingen

Men’s collection Global Business Manager

Responsibilities

Full P&L Esprit men’s collection. Design, product management, sourcing, online, retail and wholesale development

Repositioned mens collection and assortment to create clear USPs within the Esprit portfolio , and added value proposition for end consumer • Redefined sourcing strategy and structure to upgrade core competence and perceived value in key product categories • Refocussed POS and VM concepts to optimise key category presentation and sell through across all controlled channels • Redefined business planning process with each channel and regional business unit to optimise growth

Nov 1998 - Dec 2005
Escada, Munich

Division Manager, Escada Sport

Responsibilities

Total P&L with second division manager (sales). Operational responsibilities: Design, product management, sourcing

Strategic responsibilities

Marketing, trade marketing, communication and PR

Redefined emotional, market and product positioning • Redefined sourcing and production strategy in line with positioning and profitability goals • Introduction of sport spirit line extension with Golf and Ski collections • Retail and SIS concept development and implementation • Retail and franchise development in core markets and new markets Russia, China and Korea • Development of license extensions in eyewear and perfumes • Development of line extension in accessories, shoes, bags and SLGs • Early adaptor to COLAB potential with Vespa, Swarovski, Mini, Siemens, K2 and Volant skies

Nov 1996 - Oct 1998
Calvin Klein, New York

Design Director CK jeans and khakis

Responsibilities

Strategic design direction for global design and product development. Collection approval for global license partners. Briefing and coordination of global communication concepts to marketing and PR.

Development of global fit strategy and design management process • Development of global product R&D and innovation process • Development of Jersey, sweat product extensions • Spring/Summer 97: Original Calvins concept relaunch • Fall/Winter 97: Stealth jeans concept launch • Redefined marketing and communication strategy following Marky Mark media storm

Sept 1995 - Sept 1996
Katherine Hamnett, London

Design and Product Management for men’s and women’s denim collections

Responsibilities

Designing and managing product development with global license partners in Italy (Europe and Middle East) and Japan.

Strategy to introduce sustainable fabrics in denim collection • Introduction of a new generation of Fits in jeans and jeans jkts • Assortment restructuring • Development of new product categories to denim line, outdoor, leather and heavy knits • Introduction of new graphic direction to build on core t-shirt and sweatshirt business

Sept 1993 - Sept 1995
Esprit de Corp, Dusseldorf

Designer in menswear team

Responsibilities

Seasonal design of esprit mens collection within a team of three. Jersey, outdoor and jeans.

Team leader to introduce digital design process within the design team, early PDM • Team leader to integrate Ecollection concepts into standard lines. Recycled denim concept, recycled outdoor concept in partnership with Gore • Reposition and relaunch Esprit men’s jeans wear collection 1995

Mar 1990 - Sept 1993
Nigel Cabourn,
Newcastle

Designer in menswear team

Responsibilities

Working on all aspects of the collection and consultancy business. Design, sourcing, and production in the UK, Italy, Portugal, Hong Kong and Japan.

ANGBLOBAL Tokyo, Cabourn license in Japan. Developing and extending the line for the Japanese market,15 POS retail and concession stores. Visiting Tokyo four times a year to work with merchandising, production teams and manufacturers in Japan.

CARBON JEANS Launch. Winter 1992. A non seasonal designer jeans collection, sourced in the UK. Development and sourcing, business development, production, pick and pack logistics and controlling.

Consultancy designing and sourcing for premium retailers

MCKENZIE Newcastle, Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow

WOODHOUSE London, 8 locations

Consultancy for global brands

NAUTICA New york. Winter 93/94

KILLY France. Winter 92/93 and 93/94

CONSULTANCY for textile groups supporting Nigel as lead in projects. COURTALDS, M&S, MITSUI, from 1990 - 1993

Jan 1997 - Jan 1990
Work placements and freelance experience while studying

Jan 1987 - Feb 1987

Daniel Hechter Menswear, Paris

April 1987 - Aug 1987

Katherine Hamnett: London

Sept 1987 - Feb 1989

Nigel Cabourn: Newcastle upon Tyne

Jan 1990 - Feb 1991

Ripkit Surfwear: Newcastle upon Tyne

Jan 1990

Tyne Tees television: Newcastle upon Tyne. Starred in a documentary
through work as a cycle courier on the bicycle as a solution to urban congestion

Education

1979 - 1982
King James school, Almonbury.
QUALIFICATIONS
O levels in Mathematics, English language, English literature, geography, physics, chemistry, general studies, art and design.
AWARDS
Burmah star trophy for design, English literature prize, Jessop trophy for 1500m, 3rd national school cycling championships.

1982 - 1984
King James sixth form college, Almondbury
QUALIFICATIONS
A levels in English literature, geography, economics, general studies with spoken English.

1984 - 1985
Huddersfield Arts Foundation, Huddersfield.
QUALIFICATIONS
Pass with destinction.

1985 - 1989
Newcastle upon Tyne Polytechnic, Newcastle upon Tyne.
QUALIFICATIONS
BA honours in fashion design
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Founder member of the horse riding club, the Oliver Read appreciation society, and the surf club.