Simon Oates Email & Phone Number

London, Gb

London

Leading the product Design and Development team on an exciting journey as we countdown to launch of the first Arksen Labs apparel collection. Part of the wider ARKSEN group.

London

Providing specialist design, development and sourcing direction to branded apparel and accessory businesses - Start-ups, SMEs and established brands.- Top Line Creative Direction.- Design and techpacks.- Developing samples from sketch to shopfloor.- Fabric sourcing, trim development , manufacturing and supply chain management.Previous and current clients include:RaeburnFrahmShackletonIffley RoadPack a PonchBhodeST95Left hand Vaela.cc

London, England, United Kingdom

- Setting compelling and relevant seasonal Creative Direction for the Albam menswear offer.- Devising seasonal colour palettes, fabric and silhouette stories appropriate to the seasonal concept.- Range planning of 4 seasonal collections.- Managing a small design team.- Hands on day-to-day design of collection across all categories - Travel to garment factories and other relevant supply chain components.

Working with the Founder and Developent Team on various clothing and accessories projects , including product design , fabric sourcing, and manufacturing on a freelance consultancy basis.

Leading the Menswear team in delivering a full Men's collection for SS and AW seasons including technical and non-technical outerwear. knitwear, jersey, shirts, pants and denim (250+ SKU'S)Establishing seasonal stories, strategies and concepts for the collections and briefing the Design and Marketing team accordingly.Conceptualising and implementing the seasonal colour palette across all product categories.Working with specialist fabric mills (eg Gore/ Polartec/ British Millerain) to develop relevant technical and non-technical fabrics for the season.Responsibility for range planning based on detailed sales analysis/ market feedback and seasonal trends.Responsibility for all costings and pricing of the range for domestic and international markets.Working with UK sales force, UK sales agents and international distributors Management and implementation of the critical path from concept to store for the category.Sourcing product appropriate factories, liaison / negotiation with suppliers and agents in the Far East, Europe and the UKExtensive travel to the Far East to develop designs with factories.Presenting the range to sales agents and distributors at 6 monthly sales conference.Liaison with and coordinating between, board of directors, marketing, sales and production on all aspects of the product rangeTravelling to relevant trade exhibitions to conduct research, source new factories, fabrics etc and suppliers.Many examples of my work can be seen at www.musto.com

Full responsibility for all Musto accessories across all categories - Lifestyle, Sailing, Shooting and Equestrian.Design and development of all luggage, headwear, gloves, belts and socks across both sexes and all disciplines.Established proper development procedures and processes for accessories.Established lifestyle accessories range and grew the accessories business by 20% (£1.67m - £2.07m)Management and implementation of the critical path from concept to store for the accessories categorySourcing factories, liaison / negotiation with suppliers and agents in the Far East, India, Europe and the UKTravel to Far East, India etc to develop designs with factoriesPresenting the accessories range to sales agents and distributors at 6 monthly sales conferenceLiaison with and coordinating between, board of directors, marketing, sales and production on all aspects of the accessories product rangeTravelling to relevant trade exhibitions to conduct research, source new factories, fabrics etc and suppliers.Many examples of my work can be seen at www.musto.com

Design of accessories for the Marks and Spencer men's accessories and luggage accounts.Established Marks and Spencer belt business within my product area Design support and consultation for women's accessories for Marks and Spencer account and other national accounts.Trend research, fabric research and leather selection for men's accessories ranges.Presentation of design concepts and range to client.Far Eastern travel and factory liaison as part of the seasonal development process.Part of the Men's Accessories and Footwear team responsible for factory sourcing.

Senior designer for Reebok UK and Europe - responsible for 15 in-line ranges per season (men's, women's juniors, kids, infants):Presenting concepts and samples to the client.Fabric and colour selection, logo design, and all product related graphic designDay to day liaison with the client regarding design issuesManaging Junior designer's workloadResponsible for initial research, development and presentation of NIKE concepts.Overseas travel for market and product evaluation purposes.Travel to Far East (Hong Kong and China) to oversee sample development and production.

I held the role of senior designer for the Reebok accessories account within JPM Resources.My role involved working with the account manager and providing direction to other designers in order to produce a range of bags and headwear for Reebok UK and Europe.My role also involved presenting the product range to the client.During my time at JPM I travelled extensively to the Far East in order to develop the range.I also helped, on occasion, with work on the Nike accessories account which JPM were also involved with in Europe, Asia and the US.

Senior designer of handbags luggage and small leathergoods for all Hartstone clients including:Jasper Conran, ELLE, John Richmond, Orla Kiely, Ozwald BoatengDesigner for specific made to order product for major High Street retailersDesigner for Carlton International Luggage and travel goods and in-house brand "WONDERBAG"Trend, fabric and colour prediction for clients and in-house brandsGraphic design of product related literature (catalogues and show cards)Travel to Far East to oversee development and production

Ba (Hons), Business Studies And Marketing

Education record

in Business Studies, History and Design

Education record

(grade C or above) including English and Maths