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Diane Cain CV 2016
- 1. Diane Cain Mobile: 07932 597746/email: dianecain4@gmail.com • An experienced and successful Womenswear designer with a substantial track record of creating bestselling lines at both Brand and High St level. • Distinctive and design-led handwriting supported by in-depth technical understanding, strong communication skills and organisational ability. • Experienced in developing and delivering successful design projects and innovation packages aligned to the business long term strategy. • Deep understanding of the trends/market and identifying significant opportunities for product development. • An excellent eye for developing/commissioning/researching commercial prints aimed at the target customer. • Skilled customer focus service approach to all aspects of product development. • Effective interpersonal skills within the business organisation and with their retail customer base. Courtaulds /CUK Ltd 1999—2015 Head of Design 2002—Dec 2015 As Head of Design I combine commercial and design responsibilities. I work with the commercial and sales directors to define and deliver the business strategy for a £30 million Womenswear business. I continue to design and develop commercially priced, trend driven product ranges for Coast, Oasis, Lane Bryant USA, Sears USA and M&S brands, in particular its Woman dress range. In the four years since I assumed sole responsibility for the range it has grown into a £10 million business. In 2013 we doubled the annual revenue from dresses from £4m to £8m, cementing Courtaulds’ position as number one supplier of dress product. I have ensured Courtaulds constant presence in the M&S weekly Top Ten Dress lines. As Head of Design I : • Manage the design team budget. • Lead a team of 12 designers and 20 pattern cutters and sample machinists. • Ensure that the design team fulfils the business strategy in creating successful high volume lines while developing new trend driven products. • Influence and oversee the trend research for each season in terms for all product categories. • Travel to factory locations worldwide and have in depth knowledge of working with Far East factories and sample rooms. • Identify, source and deliver the fabric brief and visit major fabric fairs eg. Shanghai. • Lead major presentations to customers and make the range selections for meetings. • Develop and nurture customer liaison by building close relationships with senior management and buyers within our customer base. • Ensure the smooth transition from sketch to first sample by working closely with sample rooms both in the UK and offshore. I support and advise the team throughout the fit and technical process drawing on my extensive technical skills and knowledge of how to achieve accurate sample/production specifications, lab dip and all pre-production approvals. • Developed and launched the M&S Drop a Dress Size and Secret Slim campaigns using Courtaulds heritage as a lingerie expert and translating this into a Womenswear innovation. Design Executive 1999—2002 • Extended the light-sewing division of Courtaulds with product designed specifically for China production. Significantly grew soft separates and dresses with the strength of the embellished linen, silk and polyester products across all price ranges.
- 2. • Developed the M&S linen range, which established Courtaulds as the number one supplier of linen product across embellished and printed separates and established M&S as the market leader in linen in the UK marketplace. • Demonstrated a natural flair for print and became expert in printed separates through the European market and then migrated this expertise to China sources. Significantly grew Courtaulds’ share of the printed M&S business and displayed a commercial eye for bestselling print lines. • Worked exclusively on all embellished products for our customer base which included developing original embroidery, hand beading, laser cutting, applique , drawn thread work and heat seal designs. I travelled to the Far East and India to develop with factories and create collections. • Designed the tailored suits and separates range for M&S and established Courtaulds as joint No.1 supplier with constant innovation of both fabric and silhouettes. • Created a new and commercially successful tailored dress range for M&S within their work wear offer. Claremont Garments Ltd 1990—1999 Senior Designer Responsible for designing the coat, jacket and skirt ranges for the UK's premier Womenswear tailoring supplier to M&S. • Worked closely with M&S buyers to produce ranges within very specific price parameters. • Ensured Claremont's core business was protected and maintained each season • Regularly increased the turnover for my designated accounts. • Augmented the range with new trend-driven styles for trial prior to bulk production. • Researched and developed new fabrics and innovations with key strategic fabric partners. • Ensured that all products from high volume lines through to trend-led premium ranges were executed with commercial understanding. • Co-ordinated and presented comparative shop reports for presentation to customers. • Researched and presented trend information and identified key shapes for each product area. Cojana Ltd. 1989—1990 Senior Designer • Developed and designed an up-market collection of co-ordinates for wholesale to the American and European markets. • Built distinctive collections that were expertly tailored using luxury fabrics and developed highly embellished product. Windsmoor (London) Ltd 1983—1989 Senior Designer 1986—1989 As Senior Designer, I designed 70% of the tailored collection including a range for their Petite customer. Designer 1983—1986 • Designed within the tailoring division of the Windsmoor brand co-ordinated collection covering smartwear coats, jackets, suits, separates and dresses. • Solely responsible for designing softer, fluid dresses specifically aimed for Far East production in Windsmoor's Hong Kong factory. • Illustrated and co-ordinated presentation packages when Windsmoor expanded into the contract market such as uniforms and exclusive ranges.
- 3. • Illustrated and assimilated the portfolio taken to prospective stores when Windsmoor launched its Precis label in 1988. Debenhams 1982—1983 • Staff training officer with special duties to oversee their YTS programme. Trained all new members of staff on their induction into the business responsible for the instruction and training of 25 YTS students and the progression of the YTS course. • Freelance fashion illustration commissions with Vogue, Lancashire Life and Cheshire Life magazines. Education Liverpool Polytechnic 1979-1982 • BA(Hons) Fashion & Textiles: 1st class Honours o Chief area of study: Fashion design