Hilary Colpus
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About
I’m a commercially minded footwear designer with over 20 years’ experience working on fashionable casual and formal footwear for international brands, retailers and suppliers, across 3 genders.
I have a solid grounding in shoe manufacturing and really good, practical technical knowledge. I have a strong track record in creative problem solving and delivering attractive, profitable products on time and to cost. That's my strength - from styling the last to designing the upper, trims and unique soles to working with the factory on prototype development. I'm really happy working with sources in the Far East, India and Europe.
I’m open to new ideas, embrace a challenge and love problem solving, which I see as opportunities to learn. It is my goal to deliver quality, consistently.
I have excellent hand drawing skills, know my way around MS Office and am great on Adobe Illustrator CS6 and Photoshop CS6.
view some of my work at http://www.coroflot.com/hilarycolpus
Specialties: footwear design, brand development, logo design and specification, fitting and proportion, last development, outsole design, trend and colour boards -
Education
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BA (Hons) Upper Second Footwear Design and ManufactureDe Montfort University1987 - 1990
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BTEC Fashion and TextilesCanterbury College of Art1984 - 1986
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Langley Park School for Girls1977 - 1984
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Experience
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Freelance Footwear Design ConsultantHilary Colpus DesignLeicester, United KingdomMay 2006 - Present (18 years 6 months)Between Spring 2006 and Summer 2011 I lived and worked in Hong Kong where I developed a freelance design business working for a number of clients in the UK, USA and the Far East. Being on the ground enabled me to be closer to the factories, to work on a "right-first-time" basis and to help reduce lead times and associated development costs.
In summer 2011 I returned to the UK where I continue to provide a freelance design service for clients in the UK.
Specialising in -
- men's, women's and children's footwear;
- design and development of product from initial concept to final sample;
- working to a critical path and to a price point;
- producing detailed specifications for footwear and sole moulds;
- developing relationships with suppliers and factories and maintaining close liaison in order to manage prototype development;
- researching the market and trends; producing trend, mood and colour boards. -
Ladies' and Children's Footwear DesignerUNITOLoughborough, United KingdomDec 2013 - Mar 2016 (2 years 3 months)
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Design ManagerPaddersJan 2000 - Apr 2006 (6 years 3 months)Designed men's and ladies' comfort footwear for the brand Padders. I worked with sources in Europe, India and the Far East, as well as having a close involvement with our own factory in the UK.
I worked to improve quality and comfort, widen the product range and make it more stylish. -
Children's Footwear DesignerHush Puppies (UK) LtdAug 1994 - Sep 1999 (5 years 1 month)I was personally responsible for designing the Children's ranges of 40+ shoes, from infants to Senior sizes, boys and girls, working with factories in the UK, Europe, India and the Far East.
I helped reposition the range to become more stylish and more commercial, and saw sales grow in excess of 100% in 2 years. -
Footwear DesignerBritish Shoe CorporationJul 1993 - Aug 1994 (1 year 1 month)Responsible for designing commercial product on men's, ladies' and children's ranges for Saxone. I worked with factories in UK, Europe and Brazil.
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Children's Footwear DesignerClarksMay 1992 - Jul 1993 (1 year 2 months)I was jointly responsible for designing the Kidproof Range of Children's leather footwear from first shoes to senior sizes. I also worked on the Clarks Children's European Range.
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Junior Ladies DesignerPeter Black Footwear & Accessories LtdFeb 1991 - Apr 1992 (1 year 2 months)Working at Newbold Footwear, part of the Peter Black Group, I produced design prototypes for a major high street retailer.
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Skills
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot@hilarycolpus, member since 2012
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Following 8
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Followers 5
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