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MADRID FRANCOIS
madridfrancois@aol.com
Phone # 917-648-6951
E-Portfolio: https://stylecareers.com/person/madrid

OBJECTIVE
I am a Fashion Industry professional with 20 years of managerial experience seeking the opportunity to work for the state of New York. My goal is to find a position that will utilize my credentials, expand my knowledge, and provide opportunities for personal growth. I aim to identify needs, formulate strategies, and implement solutions that will help better processes affecting the work environment. My skills include but are not limited to:
• Problem Solving and Troubleshooting
• Planning and Negotiating
• Product Design
• Research and Development
• Team Building and Management

EXPERIENCE
Qualifications: Results Oriented Fashion Industry Professional with a record of turning around organizations. Proven leadership capabilities in revitalizing and launching products. Restructuring territories for maximum profitability. Background includes designing products for Free People, Urban Outfitters, Maurice’s, Aldi, NORDSTROM, Bloomingdales, Saks, Victoria’s Secret, Calvin Klein, Hanky Panky, Kohl’s, K-mart, Walmart, Target, JCPenney, Sears, Dillard’s, BELK, AVENUE, Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, Candies, SEX AND THE CITY INTIMATES, HOUSE OF DEREON, WET SEAL, KIDS APPAREL CLUB, CHARTER CLUB, MUDD, LEVI’S, TOMMY HILFIGER. International Fashion experience in Europe (Alexander McQueen, GIVENCHY, CERRUTI, ISSEY MIYAKE ), Latin America (Oscar De La Renta) and Asia ( Factories in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, India) with fluency in French, English and Spanish.

Senior Designer- E.S.Originals (8/16 – Present)
Young Missy/Junior Sleepwear/Intimates - Average & Plus Size – Aldi- JCPenney, K-mart, Target, Walmart, Costco, Forever 21, Free People, Urban Outfitters, Torrid, Hot Topic, Wet Seal etc…
* Develop Line plans down to Classifications and Styles.
* Participate in strategic meetings with recommended assortments.
* Interpret specific color palettes, patterns and prints for the season.
* Shop the trend market seeking design inspiration (materials, fashion, color, trade shows)
*Lead the research, design, and product development processes.
* Coach, lead and inspire a team to achieve their potential and develop in their careers.
* Negotiate costing for all styles to achieve competitive pricing and strategic mark-up targets.
* Plan and Recommend strategies for new products and processes.
* Prepare line and presentation material for line previews and buy meetings.
* Manage workflow and encourage interactions with cross-functional teams
* Review development samples.
* Compile design development packages and distribute them to technical design.
* Attend fit sessions to review and approve counter samples for design silhouette.
* Collaborate with Product Manager in set-up and presenting to customers at line reviews.
* Map out e-commerce page layout for better customer experience.
* Organize photo shoots that include glam squads, models, and photographers.

Freelance- Amerex ( 7/14 – 7/16): Young Missy Contemporary Sportswear
Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales.
* Create comprehensive, cohesive brand presentations.
* Fully responsible for the entire product design process including color, print, fabric and trim research, concept board creation, sketching, and fit.
* Tech packs

Senior Designer/Project Manager – Richard Leeds International- (10/13 – O6/14 )
Young Missy/Junior Sleepwear/Daywear - Average & Plus Size - JCPenney, K-mart, Target, Walmart, Costco, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Torrid, Hot Topic, Wet Seal etc…
* Develop Line plans down to Classifications and Styles.
* Coach, lead and inspire a team to achieve their potential and develop in their careers.
* Negotiate costing for all styles to achieve competitive pricing and strategic mark-up targets.
* Recommend strategies for new product developments, enhancements/upgrades and discontinuation.
* Create comprehensive, cohesive brand presentations.
* Analyze trade publications to identify industry trends and new product opportunities.
* Manage workflow and encourage interactions with cross-functional teams.

SENIOR DESIGNER/MERCHANDISER – COURTAULDS/PD, New York (4/08 – 9/13)
Young Missy Contemporary Intimates/Foundations - Average & Plus Size - JCPenney, Puma, Calvin Klein, Victoria’s Secret.
* Travel to Europe/Asia to identify emerging themes and new inspirations and work with vendor partners.
* Manage Product Development activities to ensure that Time and Action plan is followed.
* Develop Line plans down to Classifications and Styles.
* Adhere to the seasonal time and action calendar for the area of responsibility.
* Train, coach, lead and inspire a team to achieve their potential and develop in their careers.
* Negotiate costing f to achieve competitive pricing and strategic mark-up targets.
* Sourcing overseas to deliver high-quality, trend-right merchandise.
* Monitoring, reporting, recapping, analyzing & finalizing goods by Program and Style.
* Analyze current and historic sales/margins and market trends.
* Assist Customers in placing appropriate assortments at Line Previews and Buy Meetings.
* Recommend strategies for new product developments, enhancements/upgrades and discontinuation.
* Lead the working relationships between all parties involved in the development and production processes.
* Create comprehensive, cohesive brand presentations.
* Ensure products conform to all legal requirements and is packaged and labeled appropriately.
* Analyze trade publications to identify industry trends and new product opportunities.

SENIOR DESIGNER/MERCHANDISER - KOHL’S CORPORATE, WI-Menomonee
Falls (3/07 – 3/08) Young Missy Contemporary Intimates - APT. 9/Sonoma
* Travel to Europe/Asia to identify emerging themes and new inspirations and work with vendor partners.
* Revitalizing stale products & restructuring the lines.
* Set and directed seasonal color palettes and color flow.
* Researched global markets (Europe/Asia) in order to identify new trends, fabrics, techniques. (INTERFILIERE LYON),
* Adhere to the seasonal time and action calendar for the area of responsibility.
* Managed the entire Product Development Process.
* Sold ideas/concepts and convinced others to adopt a course of action.
* Partnered with the Buyers to drive the process, develop products, determine private brand assortment, and create brand integrity.

HEAD OF DESIGN/MERCHANDISER, CONCEPTS NYC, New York (1/05 – 2/07)
Junior Intimates: Foundations, Sleepwear, Daywear - Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Charlotte Russe, JC Penney.
*Travel to Europe/Asia to identify emerging themes and new inspirations and work with vendor partners.
* Researched global markets (Europe/Asia) & Worked in partnership with vendors at overseas factories for product development (Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, India)
* Manage workflow and encourage interactions with cross-functional teams.
* Adhere to the seasonal time and action calendar for the area of responsibility.
* Interview, hire and provides expert guidance and leadership to more junior staff.
* Identify industry trends and new product opportunities through global market research.
* Analyze current and historic sales/margins to assist Customers in placing appropriate assortments at Line Previews and Buy Meetings.
* Partner with overseas sourcing and vendors to deliver high-quality, trend-right goods.
* Quality Assurance conformed to all legal, packaging, and labeling requirements.
* Negotiate costing to achieve competitive pricing and strategic mark-up targets.
* Create a comprehensive and cohesive concept and brand presentations.
* Design process including color, print, fabric, trim, sketching, tech packs, and fit.
* Product Dev. and R&D recommendations for enhancements and discontinuations.
* Monitor, Report, Recap, Analyze & Finalize merchandise by Program and Style.

DESIGNER/MERCHANDISER - SARAMAX New York (11/02 – 1/05)
Twin/Junior/Missy Intimates: Foundations/Sleepwear/Daywear - K-mart, Target, Kohl’s, Walmart, Shopko, JC Penney.
* Domestic and International market research for future trends based on seasonal concepts (LINGERIE AMERICA). Europe/China/Hong Kong
* Technically addressed: fit, patterns, fabrics, and graphic designs.
* Travelled to Factories in Hong Kong/China.
* Styled and developed category collections within price points while integrating merchants' line plans and overall creative direction.

DESIGNER – Mister Noah New York (12/98 – 10/02)
Junior’s & Kid’s - Cut & Sew Knits and Denim - Walmart, Target, K-Mart, Rave Girl, Conway, G & G, Rainbow, Strawberry.
* Responsible for creating and distributing fabric development packages.
* Develop flat mechanical sketches for design development packages and request development samples.
* Adhere to the seasonal time and action calendar for the area of responsibility.
* Trend forecasting, fashion design, Product development, Print and embroidery development.
* Technical specs for overseas sampling and production.

EDUCATION
MBA, Business Management, University of Phoenix Online 2018
BS Management, University of Phoenix Online 2016
BFA, FASHION DESIGN, ESMOD PARIS 1998
AA, FASHION DESIGN, PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN, Dominican
Republic, 1997
Certificate in Fashion Business Management: CREAPOLE, Paris,
1998
Certificate in Marketing & Merchandising: ESMOD, Paris, 1998

COMPUTER SKILLS & LANGUAGES

• Fluent in English, French & Spanish.
• Strong color sense / print sense.
• Ability to view and differentiate the color spectrum.
• Proficiency in Outlook, Mac & PC operation, MS office and Excel.
• Working knowledge of Illustrator, Photoshop, and PLM.