Joni Michelon
Northcote,VIC
Summary
A skilled and highly experienced product developer and designer, I have extensive experience in garment range design and trend forecasting, to bear on a diverse range of high street and boutique brands.
I have form across Women's, Menswear and Childrenswear, in multi-product categories, for Australian and UK markets.
More recently I have applied forecasting and development skills, to furniture and home furnishings, for the events industry.
My design experience includes working with both vertical retailers and wholesalers, successfully developing trend driven product, whilst maintaining target pricing, leading to strong sales results.
Please see my online portfolio for examples of all recent work and projects.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Product Development Coordinator
EPH Creative UK
04.2022 - 07.2023
- Identified opportunities for new products and improvements to existing products to increase sales
- Managed product lifecycles by monitoring product research, development and determining retirement dates
- Trend and product research for furniture, rugs and accessories for event hire and styling
- Strong knowledge of trends in all categories
- Responsible for completing new product briefs for designers, including market information and input from internal and external partners
- Submit proposals/briefs for evaluation from Creative team
- Responsible for generating mood boards to accompany new product briefs
- Sourcing of new products and material whilst maintaining agreed profit margins
- Create ideas for seasonal and functional product packages to increase sales
- Responsible for style guides and look books to be communicated internally and externally
- Responsible for package/montage photography preparation and execution
- Compiling look books for finished collections and product areas.
Trend research and retail reports
Adairs / Designworks
10.2021 - 04.2022
- Whilst in London, compiled comprehensive trend and store reports for Australian retailers
- Comp shopping
- sample buying
Womenswear, Childrenswear and Menswear Designer
Brand Collective: Elwood, Umbro
10.2019 - 04.2022
- To design ‘Athleisure' ranges for the Australian marketplace, complete life cycle of product from initial concept and sample development, right through to bulk production
- To develop new concepts for licensed brands including Umbro, for all DDS accounts
- All trend research and comp reports
- Garment fittings and communication to manufacturers
- Range design, presentation, tech pack completion according to critical path
- Deliver on time SMS ranges to market
- Working on design for SME accounts and online business.
Womenswear Designer
Obus
06.2018 - 10.2019
- Worked closely with Creative Director to develop new seasonal ranges and improve silhouettes and fits
- Took on ambitious mandate to build out complete range offering for Anthropology US, including: Creating range boards and presentations for Buyers
- Fine tuning product lines against emerging trends and customer requirements
- Contributed to design efforts to embed commercial viability, through: Building marketable range (presented in stories)
- Management of yardages and other critical cost inputs
- Created knit and woven product, swimwear and footwear ranges for Australian market
- Oversaw end-to-end design and production
- Concepts and range boards
- Tech packs for international factories
- New fits and improvement of existing pattern library
- Piloted offshoring with shoes and Fully fashioned knitwear whilst working closely with local manufacturers for our woven and jersey styles
- Conducted competitor analysis and continuous trend research
- Assisted with all aspects of look book photoshoots and web shoots.
Product Developer
RES Denim
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Took on product design role during critical business transformation exercise, with mandate to: Create brand presence in Australia for new streetwear brand for men
- Create streetwear for new brand specializing in knitwear and wovens
- Design range of menswear products, drawing on existing in-house capabilities
- Managed denim product development, embedding understanding of: Fabrication processes
- Washes
- Stitching trims and branding
- Built out women's and menswear across wholesaling channels, supplying to Surf stitch and Surf, dive & ski
- Created custom lines for boutique brands and smaller stores
- Conducted competitor analysis
- Liaised with sales agents and buyers from major retailers to compile ranges
- Collaborated with US-based sales agents, advising on technical elements and trend analysis
- Set up all technical information for sampling
- Including: All garment specs and tech packs.
Designer
Bardot Junior / Bardot
2010 - 2016
- Initially hired for Womenswear category, was later re-engaged for Kidswear category
- Designed complete ranges, providing end to end management, of: Girlswear design for 0-14 age groups
- Weekly drops with c
- 25-30 styles per age category
- Adhering to buy plan
- Liaised with Planner and Merchandiser to oversee integration of styles into management system
- Created styles in AP21
- Led all fits, production and tech pack set-up
- Engaged with Head Designer to build range
- Presented final boards to sales team and managers
- Oversaw brand and range representations, across: Photo shoot preparation
- Freelance graphic designer services
- Led development of Myer exclusive ranges with sales team
- Adhered to critical path and production timelines
- Participated in weekly sales meetings & processed sell through data and product category analysis
- Conducted competitor analysis.
Senior Apparel Designer
The Overland Group
2008 - 2010
- Oversaw apparel design function for sporting and lifestyle apparel manufacturer and retailer
- Managed design across multiple Licensed brands, including: Diadora, Bolle, Major League Brands
- Oversaw all design areas for licensed products through seasonal ranges
- Managed clear strategy for brand, through careful range planning
- Oversaw team of Graphic Designers, resourcing and workflow
- Led trend research and planning, including handover of sample ranges to suppliers in China
- Presented ranges, to all major accounts
- Drove maximum profit for brand, through careful sourcing and costing
- Range analyses of sales and PAD data from retailers
- Led OS buying trips.
Product Developer
Brand Collective
2006 - 2008
- Designed for skate and street brands Independent and Everlast
- Played critical role during period of brand transition, post-acquisition by Pacific Brands
- Managed trend forecasting, colour and styling development for each range
- Led overseas buying trips for relevant street wear and sports categories
- Ran costing exercises with factories, to achieve set margins and maximize profits
- Presented fully costed ranges to Buyers.
Education
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment -
Boxhill TAFE
Melbourne, VIC01.2016
Advanced Dip. in Fashion Design -
The Melbourne School of Fashion
Melbourne, Australia01.2003
Higher National Dip, in Fashion & Textile Design -
The Berkshire College of Art & Design
Reading, UK01.2000
London College of Printing Diploma in Merchandising And VM - VM And Merchandising
London College of Fashion - Merchandising
London01.1996
Skills
- Garment Design
- Trend forecasting
- Range Development
- Project Management
- Tech Pack creation
- Presentations and Range Boards
- Oversight of International Manufacturing
- Fabric knowledge
- Garment fits
- Adobe Creative suite- Advanced Illustrator
- Microsoft office
- Zoho CRM
- Basecamp
- Canva
Technical Skills
Websites
Timeline
Product Development Coordinator
EPH Creative UK
04.2022 - 07.2023
Trend research and retail reports
Adairs / Designworks
10.2021 - 04.2022
Womenswear, Childrenswear and Menswear Designer
Brand Collective: Elwood, Umbro
10.2019 - 04.2022
Womenswear Designer
Obus
06.2018 - 10.2019
Product Developer
RES Denim
01.2017 - 01.2018
Designer
Bardot Junior / Bardot
2010 - 2016
Senior Apparel Designer
The Overland Group
2008 - 2010
Product Developer
Brand Collective
2006 - 2008
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment -
Boxhill TAFE
Advanced Dip. in Fashion Design -
The Melbourne School of Fashion
Higher National Dip, in Fashion & Textile Design -
The Berkshire College of Art & Design
London College of Printing Diploma in Merchandising And VM - VM And Merchandising
London College of Fashion - Merchandising
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