Adwa Cooper-Henry Email & Phone Number

New York, United States

VMGROUPE, A full-service agency unlike any other. Creating desire and achieving transformation growth for leading and high-profile brands.

250 W 39

• Implemented design direction for women’s handbag collection, led seasonal inspiration with collection concept vision, communicated and oversaw proper execution with the design team
• Designed and facilitated women’s luxury leather goods, created and led the full product lifecycle for Emily Cho products, designed the concept collections, designed all technical specification, color palette direction.
• Identified emerging trends short and long term and implemented design components that translated to the end consumer within the brand DNA
• Partnered with key merchants and internally with PD and merchandising to communicated price, product, placement, public relations and partnership strategy, in effort to provided a sales strategy for continued revenue.
• Built teams product development calendar in accordance to company calendar needs, coached and motivated team at each stage while ensuring design budget and calendar were being met
• Technical development of fashionable and function handbags and footwear, built design specifications with a precise merchandising roadmap for the current consumer while opening the door to a new loyalist consumer.

Greater New York City Area

• Directed, managed, produced and developed creative concepts for high profile fashion and footwear accounts/clients to re-brand lines
• Collaborated and develop close working relationships with other heads of design, merchandising, Product development and production
• Produced and assembled development teams, supervising the teams from beginning to end of process – responsible for fashion and footwear branding, art direction or a storytelling campaign concept; to name a few clients.
• Identified apparel fashion and accessory accounts launch problems and solutions, relating to visual and product execution
• For new/boutique brands; troubleshot with factories and managed timelines, set up and conducted seasonal line presentations (retail, sales etc) as per calendar
• Creative directed and generated fresh ideas that are appealing to the target market, with strong comprehensive communication skills of those ideas with other members of the design team that allow the vision to manifest.

New York, New York

• Designed from visual concepts collected through inspiration and market based trend research, monitoring in-house constructions, hand sketching monthly reviewed by Vince Camuto himself, applying the seasonal color.
• Developed all seasonal product development; new construction, new heels and new upper design development
• Partnered in design with the handbag and apparel team to keep DNA and overall esthetic parallel where needed
• Managed pre-production team of 40+; checked production on Proto’s, Lots and CFM samples that result in a desirable perceived higher than cost value product
• Followed through on multiple styles and collections at early stage development, i.e. identified construction problems and solutions, correcting prototypes with technical specification for 3D product
• Assisted design VP, communicated with developers and vendors overseas regarding status of prototypes, sale samples, production, confirming any changes to production styles with sales team

Hong Kong

• Relocated to Hong Kong, assembled and manage women’s private label team/collections from conceptual sketches to final approval confirmation samples
• Designed up to 600+ styles, seasonal collections and A-seasonal for specific doors buying gaps; hand sketches, technical drawings, detailing concepts for color schemes, fabric/material ordering, mood/inspiration boards.
• Coordinated a strategic approach as a direct supplier to design with fresh constructions and innovative materials for specific doors in Hong Kong, China and the United Kingdom for Hogan rebel working directly with.
• Managed sample room development leather and PU footwear, overseeing pattern makers, cutters, material purchasing dept and schedule, is communicated and understood on each design spec
• Analyze and modify design/product elements based on cost as hierarchy of importance, in consumer dynamics and reaction to trends
• Sourced material and hardware ongoing from Mainland China markets, establishing strong relationships with multiple suppliers in Guang Zhou directly to maximize growth in a ever-changing fashion market for best labor.

New York, New York

• Designed flat sketched and Created an innovative made-to-order collection based off the five pocket jeans silhouette with 50’s – 80’ theme, later launching tops, active wear and outer wear and eventually full RTW.
• Created along with my design team spec/the packages, flat sketch measurements, construction details, measurements, construction details, measurement specification and hardware details
• Ensured time line completion and corrected sample for market
• Facilitated fittings on body and oversaw all corrections, expert knowledge in pattern correction and sample development
• Assembled and managed creative team for e-commerce product shots on figure and campaigns, makeup artists, talent/models, and crew for each individual campaign to ensure understanding of goals and deliverables; location.
• Produced casting session to find the unique talent for each specific marketing and advertising project

New York, New York

• Designed collection with Holly Dunlap and directed design team; motivate junior designers while keeping track all core buyers request and needs are being met within theme, silhouette, color trend etc with backup plans.
• Creative directed, pre-produced, produced and post-produced print ad and campaigns each season directly with founder Holly Dunlap
• Communicated with sourcing to insure costing goals achieved, making material changes to improve margin
• Communicating with developers and vendors overseas regarding status of prototypes, sale samples, production
• Shopped for fabric and designed ornaments to be produced and followed production confirmation
• Traveled to France, Spain and Italy, oversaw sample development, and to attended tradeshows, in-depth knowledge of material sourcing and pricing to source.

New York, New York

• Sketched multi designs and corrected the final 3D design by EOD with line builder and design director on a daily basis
• Coordinated and developed samples with in house sample room/factory between pattern makers and cutters
• Leather and ornament/hardware purchasing weekly with NY suppliers for sampling
• Communicated daily with overseas factories insuring deadlines are kept
• Sample correction, fittings and spec preparation
• Monitoring high-end fashion designs and interpreting commercial styles and trends

Associate Degree In Accessories Design

Full Scholar Music Advancement Flute Student

• Studied musicianship, composed music and performed at Lincoln Center