Laura Lockyer

-Collaborating with companies, from start-ups, to established brands on the design and development of women's and children's footwear and accessories collections.
My packages include;
• Market research and trend analysis.
• Directional mood boards and range development. • Construction, heel and upper design.
• Specification packs for manufacture.
• Technical sole and insole design development.
• Brand development and identity.
• Accessory design, Bags, travel bags and wallets.
• Factory communication, and product development. • Fit analysis.

Maintained brand identity through creative design and product development including prototyping, modelling,
• Working within the constraints of strict RRP margins and costing brackets while maintaining brand integrity.
• Consistently traveling to the Far East and Portugal to work directly with factories and suppliers.
• Designed and headed the development of sub collections including
but not limited to soft accessories and seasonal packaging.
• Responsible for the creation of best selling Irregular Choice 'Iconic' ladies footwear collection increasing profit by 30% each season.
• Maintained and built relationships with external partners growing company business and increasing revenue through the design of wholesale product and special edition collections.
• Implemented systems and processes designed to increase productivity, critical path management and organisation ensuring all deadlines are met.
• Traveled regularly to Portugal, Hong Kong, Paris and Italy for inspiration, trend research and material direction.

Managed all fitting and sealing stages across women's footwear collections reducing returns rates, faulty product and leading risk assessment to achieve fit first time samples.
• Effectively collaborated with product development and sourcing teams in the Far East and Portugal, maintaining technical development standards and brand integrity through comprehensive and clear design briefs while maintaining pro active working relationships.
• Created and maintained all technical development packs for specialised heels, constructions and hardwear to overcome potential risk at development stage.
• Effectively collaborated with the buying and design department to discuss and maintain critical paths ensuring deadlines are met and product integrity preserved.
• Regular factory visits to oversee production, uphold critical paths and lead SMS processes.
• Clear understanding of heel, pattern and embroidery gradings effectively adapting for styling through the use of my design skills and experience.

Assisted with the design of Irregular Choice women's collections pushing design boundary's and delivering on commerciality. Conducting market/ trend analysis through regular trips to the Far east to conduct market research and source new materials and hardware.
• Presented the CEO/ Head of design with my research findings and seasonal direction.
• Created and maintained all technical packs and renderings, overseeing the development processes in the far east and regularly leasing with oversees development and sourcing teams.
• Collaborated with the technical team on heel development, sealing processes and fit analysis.

• Assisted the head designer with the ideation/creation of all 2011 footwear and accessories collections. This included conducting in-depth research to identify leading seasonal trends, key shapes and presentations.
• Partnered and travelled to overseas offices to assist with product development, prototype analysis and the maintenance of factory specification packs.
• Regular correspondence with the buying department to identify productive costing brackets for projects assigned to me.
• Participated in range-building meetings to asses fit quality, maintain company standardisation and identifying technical issues relating to the product development.