With almost 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, Gina has led a productive career marked by constant and measurable growth. She has worked to establish herself as an innovative design and product development leader entrusted to deliver positive results by brand and retail management.
Throughout Gina’s time in the industry, she has analyzed trends and sales data to create cohesive lifestyle collections that build brand identity and market share. Included categories in her extensive portfolio are women’s and men’s apparel, accessories, and intimates, all purposefully crafted to stand out within their markets.
Gina’s unique design sense and strong leadership qualities have allowed her to excel at vertical retailers and in developing exclusive private labels. A collection is only as good as the team cohesion working behind it, and she has fine-tuned her managerial skills to build strong, interconnected teams through her transformational leadership style. One of her core strengths is bringing together cross-functional partners to best capitalize on white-space opportunities for the creation of new businesses and to develop customer-centric collections. Gina has the ability to adjust to change and thrives in a fast-paced environment.
WORK
EXPERIENCE
Design Director - Senior Director- Women's Sportswear | Perry Ellis International
May 2021 – Present
• Essential women’s sportswear team member overseeing design for Rafaella, ELLA, and special projects.
• Responsible for managing all aspects of design development including style aesthetic and print.
• Instrumental in the brand launch of ELLA and other special project brand initiatives.
• Streamlined the design development for club businesses including Sam’s Club, BJ’s, and Costco.
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Vice President- PD&D Owned Brands | Saks OFF 5th
August 2019 – June 2020
·Led design and merchandising men’s, women’s, footwear, and accessories teams
·Responsible for managing private label brand identities across multiple categories
·Managed development and design to achieve target costs and drive margin
·Conducted in-depth trend research to maintain a high level of relevancy
·Worked closely with the technical team to establish cohesive brand fit standards
·Responsible for identifying and executing opportunities for process improvement
Divisional Vice President Owned Brands | Hudson’s Bay Company
May 2018 – August 2019
·Spearheaded creation, development, and execution of innovative brand launches
·Managed modern women’s design, fabric, and cad teams across Saks Fifth Avenue,
Saks OFF 5th, Lord & Taylor, and Hudson’s Bay Company
·Developed and presented concepts to support brand continuity and growth initiatives
·Established strategic relationships with domestic and international vendor partners
·Built team culture by establishing an internal learning and development program
·Domestic and international travel to analyze trends and manage product development
Senior Designer – Director | Hudson’s Bay Company
February 2013 – May 2018
·Managed modern women’s design across woven and cut and sew knits categories
·Evaluated trends, sales, and market analytics to develop customer-focused collections
·Created flat sketches and technical packages to establish proportion, detail, and fit
·Elevated the design aesthetic while ensuring brand and customer integrity
·Communicated with vendors and factories on sampling, sourcing, and production
·Attended fittings and led aesthetic decision-making based on the target customer
Assistant – Senior Designer | New York & Company
February 2008 – January 2013
·Experience working on knits, woven, intimates, dresses, and loungewear categories
·Created design boards for monthly deliveries showcasing silhouette, print, and color
·Managed sketches and detailed design packages for sampling and production
·Researched trend, silhouette, and fabric innovation to enhance product further
·Created pattern and embellishment packages for development and production
Designer – Head Designer | Andrew & Co
May 2007 – January 2008
·Created sketches and detailed technical packages for sampling and production
·Collaborated with the sales team to present the collection to buyers and accounts
·Extensive communication with factories for sampling and sourcing
Graphic and Assistant Designer | Jaclyn Apparel Inc.
August 2005 – May 2007
·Designed original textile prints, embroideries, and logos
·Developed layouts for sales catalogs, product packaging, and hangtags
EDUCATION
State University Of New York Empire State University
Bachelor of Science- Business, Management, and Economics
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The Art Institue Of Fort Lauderdale
Associate of Science- Fashion Design
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THE FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Continuing education courses in Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, and Fine Arts
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