-
Specialist - Global Sourcing – Jewelry & Accessories (Global Stores & e-commerce)
WALMART Global Sourcing INDIA Pvt. Ltd.
Bangalore, India
Feb 2013 - Sep 2014 (1 year 7 months)
• Conduct Market Research and Trend Analysis.
• Visit factories and consult on vendor capacity and technical ability to support the business requirements.
• Execute department initiatives that are aligned with company's global strategy.
• Defining Sourcing Matrix and Supplier Alignment by product category.
• Functional reporting using MS Office Tools.
• Manage the buying trips from planning to execution & business results.
• Monitor & Analyze supplier performance to ensure it meets/exceeds company KPIs.
• Provide solution to markets on items
• Add value engineering proposition to the markets to enhance the product and lower the cost of goods sold (COGS) for EDLC & EDLP.
• Multi-functional coordination with stakeholders & support systems.
• Coordinate and validate any new business propositions from vendors.
• Identify and resolve product spec issues upfront. Direct product specs to the right supplier after discussion with the appropriate Global market.
• Understand and communicate product requirements to supplier base.
• Assume additional responsibilities and perform special projects as needed or directed.
-
Assistant General Manager (Design)
Normak Fashion (P) LTD
Hyderabad, India
Apr 2011 - Jan 2013 (1 year 9 months)
• Connecting strategic goals to the brand identity for execution of design methodology to set expectations and standards for creative team attitude, behavior, teamwork and professional development in order to ensure high quality of creativity and production is upheld, maintaining consistently high standards.
• R&D - Design Trends, Customer Preferences, Innovation in technique & material
• Range Planning, Reviewing the existing range to ensure the competition, and thus maximize profit and provide a commercially viable range. Advocate and inspire new ideas and work with the Design team to develop those ideas into fully expressed design solutions and teach creative philosophy, values, and beliefs. Mentoring Designers to facilitate the conceptual framework for projects and provide clear and objective critiques.
• Merchandising, Production Planning & Sourcing.
-
Contribution To Design Education.
National Institute Of Fashion Technology, INDIA
Hyderabad, India
2006 - 2012 (6 years)
• Active Member of the Final Year Graduation Project & Semester end jury panel - Fashion & Lifestyle Accessories Department of NIFT Hyderabad & Ghandhinagar, INDIA. - 2006 – 2012
• Modules Taken - NIFT Hyderabad, INDIA. - 2007 – 2012 (90 sessions for 270 Hours) covering the subject like – Design Methodology / Material & Processes / Fashion Studies / History & Philosophy of Design for various batches of Accessory Design & Fashion Communication Department.
• Lectures Delivered - NIFT Hyderabad, INDIA. - 2007 – 2011, covering the various topics like – Indian Fashion Industry, Growth & Prospects / Design / Design Philosophies / Visual Merchandising etc.
-
Freelance Projects.
Various
2003 - 2012 (9 years)
• 22nd Jan’12 to 5th Feb’12 - Design and Development Workshop, Tribal Jewelry Cluster of Devarakonda District Of Andhra Pradesh, INDIA, Sponsored by Khadi & Village Industries Commission of INDIA (Under SFURTI Program)
Khadi & Village Industries Commission Of INDIA intended to educate the craftsmen of Tribal Jewelry Cluster towards the contemporary styling of the jewelry in order to make the product commercially viable and acceptable in the metro cities of India.
• 2007 - Visual Brand Identity project
Reliance intended to create a brand identity for Reliance jewels using its logo in such a way that it can become a part of every design. At the same time the motif/pattern should not be an obvious representation of the logo but still has to be prominent enough to become symbolic representation of the brand
• 2003 - Display design for DuPont (Lycra Exhibition 2003-2004)
• Design development and prototype of the mask according to the designer (J.J.Vallaya) for Lakme India Fashion Week 2003.
• Worked for hand paper industries, Delhi for packaging design in the year 2003.
-
Creative Head – Design
Normak Fashions (P) LTD
Hyderabad, India
Aug 2007 - Mar 2011 (3 years 7 months)
• Managed design and model making Team and teach the creative/design philosophy, values, and beliefs.
• Trends Research and Analysis to interpret trends in Innovative New Concepts/ Designs
• Mentor Designers and provide clear objective critiques of creative work to inspire great ideas and work with team to develop those ideas into fully expressed design solutions
• Ensure the deadlines are complete, accurate and followed. Make presentations internally and with senior level clients
• Visual Design Management (includes Merchandising and packaging) Liaison with vendors in area of design
• Assisting marketing team in their creative elements and Develops content for communications
-
Projects
Various
2003 - 2010 (7 years)
2003 - Craft based design project (Sponsored by RDTDC) - New Delhi, India
• Objective - To work with the artisans of Pilkhuwa (Uttar Pradesh) and develop a unique identity of Block Printing.
• Approach - Recognizing the origin, understand the influential factor to provide an edge over other woodcrafts.
2003 - I.I.L.F. Leather Product Design - Chennai, India
• Objective - To design a bag for a teenager, an organizer and a cell phone case for an executive and a businessman.
2002 - Craft Documentation - Rajasthan, India
• Objective - To study the potential and reason of their extinction of crafts made out of Terracotta, Bamboo, Lantana and Stone Carving of Jhalawar District, Rajasthan.
2010 - Packaging and Display Design - Hyderabad, India
Packaging and Display Design project (Normak Fashions (P) Ltd and Accessory Design Department Student of batch 2008 -2011 Hyderabad): -
Objective - To study the positioning of “Estelle” as a brand in the market and conclude creative packaging and display solutions to revamp the brand identity
-
Manager – Design
Normak Fashions (P) LTD
Hyderabad, India
Oct 2005 - Jul 2007 (1 year 9 months)
• Based on merchandising line plan, assemble tear sheets and initial sketches to jump start design process with Design Director. Draw big ideas for new collections.
• Create sketches and product prototypes throughout the conceptual design process.
• Create presentation boards for each collection; update as collection evolves.
• Partner with creative team to refine seasonal concept, materials, hardware, and color palette for jewelry collections.
• Responsible for timeline adherence; ensure all design cards are completed accurately and delivered to Product Development on time; ensure all prototypes are available for product presentation and finalization.
• Responsible for upholding design integrity, high quality execution, and timeliness through the entire development process from concept through engineering and commercialization.
• Partner cross-functionally with Merchandising and Product Development partners throughout the process to maximize salability, drive the product and process forward, ensure accuracy, troubleshoot issues, and eliminate process roadblocks.
• Liaise with vendors in product development process to ensure samples are progressing on track. Ensure the coordination of raw materials including models, waxes, stones, findings, and sourcing.
• Mentor and develop design associates and assistants.
-
Designer – Jewelry
Normak Fashions (P) LTD
Hyderabad, India
Sep 2004 - Sep 2005 (1 year)
Responsible for designing the quarterly collections based on the fashion forecast of ‘the’ particular season for brand Estelle.
• Interpretation fashion trends and generating ideas to develop jewelry design concepts.
• Initiating and managing design projects, formulate design brief with specs for projects to meet specific price targets.
• Supervision of quality control maintained during and after production of material.
• R&D for various plating & finishes.
• Provide technical inputs for the ease of mass production of the white metal jewelry.
-
Graduation Project
Estelle, Normak Fashions (P) Ltd.
Hyderabad, India
Feb 2004 - Aug 2004 (6 months)
Objective - To get the student/designer to closely interact with the market, work on live briefs from the clients, work within deadlines and apply their theoretical knowledge to the best.
Focus - Evolve three collections for the already existing segments of Estelle collection - Estelle Fashion, Estelle Regular and Estelle Signature, for the domestic market, keeping the brand image of Estelle in mind
Design Requirements –
Research.
Strike a balance between design and production.
Product identity.
Styling and Quality.
Exploring and manipulating material.
“True Lies” - A twenty-two weeks graduation project undertaken at Normak Fashions, Hyderabad.
Theme - Exploration of Negative and Positive Space/s.
-
Internship
Design Crescendo
Jodhpur, India
May 2003 - Jul 2003 (2 months)
Objective - Understanding the working functions/departments of an industrial organization and production procedure’s.
Project - Study of the company functions, infrastructure and export procedures. Design development, master making, costing and processes of handicraft products made with different materials like leather, metal, wood, ceramic, and beads.
Evolved different finishes and a range of leather tabletop accessories, metal lampshades, and wooden hooks for hanging coat.