An accomplished fashion innovator, I possess a level of leadership and expertise that comes with 18 years in accessory design including 9 years the creation and success of my own shoe brand.
My early career was spent working with fashion leaders in New York City such as DKNY, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein in accessories. I refined my design aesthetic while also developing an ability to anticipate market trends and an acute understanding of industry mechanisms.
The physical connection between shoes and travel — the way a pair of great boots can carry a woman across a room or around the world — was a concept I had always found very romantic. By 2004, I could no longer ignore the overwhelming inspiration of this idea and launched the independent shoe label 80%20, based on the notion that 20% of a wardrobe is worn 80% of the time.
Striving to be the favored 20%, 80%20 debuted at the revered downtown NYC retailer Steven Alan and developed a loyal following almost immediately. The brand achieved a major milestone in 2007, when I first released and trademarked the Original Hidden WedgeTM. The new styles were lauded by the press and featured in Elle, Nylon, Lucky and Marie Claire, amongst many other publications and fashion sites. Celebrity fans photographed in the shoes include Vanessa Paradis, Jessica Alba and fashion archetype Susie Bubble. The brand’s popularity with both media and style icons was reflected in excellent sell-throughs in the metropolitan US and at stores in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the UK, and The Netherlands. The hidden wedge is now widely adopted by other brands, from the street fashion of Nike to boho chic darling Isabel Marant, deeply penetrating the market throughout the spectrum of fashion, and becoming a footwear collection staple.
Feeling satisfied with the Entrepreneurial Journey, I relocated to the West Coast, as Vice President of Design and Product Development at American Accessories. I lead a team of 12 to design and develop original, trend appropriate accessories for Harley Davidson, Carhartt and Lodis (our own house brand). Our business multiplies further by creating product extensions for a wide variety of Private Label clients including Freshly Picked baby moccasins, Guess and BeBe. It is here that I have learned the in and outs of the Mass Market business model. And also learned that my true love is for contemporary footwear.
The Footwear and Accessories business is at an exciting crossroads. New advancements in technology, distribution, and marketing are revolutionizing the field. I’m inspired and energized by the possibility of deepening my creative contributions to the industry.