PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Strategic Raw Materials leader with 10+ years of experience across luxury and contemporary fashion brands. Expert in material innovation, development, and global sourcing across leather, textiles, knits, synthetics, and hardware. Recognized for translating trend and design vision into commercially viable, high-quality materials while driving cost efficiency, sustainability, and supply chain performance.

EXPERIENCE

DECKERS OUTDOOR RETAILER - UGG                                                                                                                                                                         

Senior Manager - Footwear Material Direction

June 2025 - June 2026

•  Led seasonal development of trend-driven materials, elevating the aesthetic and quality of footwear collections. 

• Defined material design direction and seasonal narratives through trend forecasting and market research. 

• Partnered cross-functionally with Design, Development, Sourcing, and global vendors to deliver materials aligned with aesthetic, performance, and sustainability standards. 

• Presented material concepts and seasonal direction to internal and external stakeholders, influencing product strategy and design execution. 

• Collaborated on brand partnerships, developing materials for special projects with JW Anderson, Willy Chavarria, Aimé Leon Dore, and Sacai. 

• Drove innovation by identifying emerging materials, trends, and supplier opportunities through global research and international trade engagement. 

ALEXANDER WANG                                                                                                    

Director - Raw Materials 

March 2024 - February 2025

• Oversee seasonal development calendars, budget and material development.

• Lead the development and sourcing of materials, trims and colors from design inspiration through production.

• Developed and implemented raw material sourcing strategies that aligned with the company’s objectives.

• Establish and analyze key performance indicators (KPI) for the department, including sustainability, costing, system accuracy, adoption rates, and timelines.

• Developed and oversaw material testing, quality and compliance protocols adhering to global regulations and material standards.

• Negotiate contracts, pricing, and delivery schedules with suppliers to ensure favorable terms and timely delivery. Collaborate on cost engineering initiatives to identify and cost-saving opportunities, while maintaining or improving the aesthetic quality and performance of materials.

TORY BURCH                                                                                                                                         

Senior Manager - Raw Materials Development      

September 2019 - March 2024                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

• Led the development and innovation of all raw materials, ensuring alignment with design vision from concept to production.

• Collaborated with suppliers and factories to oversee material developments, maintaining design integrity and intent.

• Attended domestic and international material trade shows to identify potential suppliers, trends, and innovations.

• Partnered with Design, Merchandising, and Product Development teams to assess sourcing needs in alignment with product and business goals.

• Negotiated material costs for sampling and production to optimize budget efficiency.

• Coordinated with cross-functional teams in Asia, Europe, and Brazil to ensure timely delivery of materials that met quality standards and maintained integrity.

• Established core material processes and developed a robust supply chain for sustainable materials within the footwear division.

RAG & BONE                                                                                                               

Manager - Product Development/Material Development        

August 2017 - July 2019                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

• Managed raw material development and innovation, ensuring alignment with design aesthetics and execution.

• Managed collaborations with factories and suppliers to meet design intentions and budget constraints.

• Created and maintained a comprehensive material and color library, establishing a core raw material supply chain.

• Developed technical packs for sampling to ensure precise execution of designs by overseas factories.

• Collaborated closely with factories and in-house engineers to guarantee samples met design intent and company fit standards.

• Implemented cost engineering strategies to facilitate manufacturing in Europe.

• Oversaw material reviews and lab dips to ensure color accuracy and adherence to specifications.

• Managed special collaborations with high-profile partners, translating blueprints and 3D renderings for final approval.

NINE WEST GROUP (One Jeanswear Group)                                         

Manager - Production

May 2026 - August 2017

• Oversaw denim production for women's brands including Nine West, Bandolino, Vintage America Blue, and Code Bleu.

• Worked collaboratively with design, technical design, sales, and quality assurance teams to streamline the production process.

• Coordinated production hand-off meetings and ensured timely delivery of approvals and information to manufacturers.

• Managed fabric and denim sourcing, contributing to the PLM Council for company-wide PLM transition.

• Generated reports to identify production trends for merchandising and product development analysis.

GLOBAL BRANDS                                                                      

Manager - Production 

August 2015 - May 2026

• Managed production orders for women's footwear brands including Coach, Calvin Klein, and Aquatalia, ensuring adherence to delivery schedules.

• Acted as a liaison between the Jimlar warehouse and factories to resolve inbound rejections.

• Maintained SAP data and coordinated bookings to align with vessel schedules.

• Reviewed prototypes and market samples to ensure compliance with quality and company standards.

TAPESTRY - COACH                                                                                                  Manager, Global Materials Management                                                              August 2011 - May 2025                                                        

• Responsible for the global sourcing, development and commercialization of all Men’s Categories. Conducted in-depth QA analysis to ensure materials meet Coach standards.

• Responsible for color development and approval as well as maintaining the Men’s database of approved leather with X-rite Spectrophotometer.

• Partnered with Design, Merchandising and Product Development Teams to determine sourcing needs based on product.

• Played a key role in Coach’s first Men’s Press Presentation ensuring all products where up to standards and materials were available for production. Managed special collaboration project including partnerships with brands such as: Billy Reid, Philip Crangi, Tivoli Radio, Scrabble, Omersa, James Nares, Hugo Guiness, Onitsuka Tiger and Monopoly.

• Sourced and supplied exotic materials, aligning region supply with manufacturing of finished goods. Control of cities and fish and wildlife certification. Collaborated extensively with the company’s transition to EcVision.

• Worked with cross-functional partners in both Asia and the US to ensure all materials needed for sampling and production met Coach standards and where at the factories on time.

SKILLS & EXPERTISE

• Material Development: Leather, textiles, knits, synthetics, trims, hardware

• Sourcing & Strategy: Global sourcing, supplier negotiation, cost engineering, supply chain optimization

• Product Development: Concept through production lifecycle

• Sustainability: Responsible sourcing and scalable material innovation

• Systems: Illustrator, D365, Color Space, PDM, PLM, SAP, Microsoft Office

• Languages: English (fluent), Spanish (fluent), Italian (working proficiency)

• Leadership: Cross-functional team leadership, KPI development, process optimization