Gemma Hanley

Fairfax & Favor - CONSULTANT

Product Types: Boots, Trainers, Sandals, Deck Shoes, Loafers, Espadrilles Manufactured: Spain, Portagal

• Collaborated with the Product Director to develop and introduce new categories and styles, driving business growth.
• Identified needs of customers promptly and efficiently.

Dragonfly Ventures - DESIGN CONSULTANT

Product Types: Hiking Boots, Specialist Technical Footwear Manufactured: Far East

• Designed innovative technical sportswear collections for both men and women, focusing on functionality and performance.
• Collaborated with stakeholders on design solutions that meet business goals.
• Researched trends in technology, material and manufacture development.

L.K. Bennett - DESIGN MANAGER

Product Types: Sandals, Courts, Boots, Trainers, Loafers, Espadrilles Manufactured: Spain, Italy, Portagal & Far East

• Led design department, setting creative direction for collections.
• Fostered growth within the design team, and ensured collaboration across business departments to exceed expectations.
• Oversaw work of junior designers, keeping team members working within established deadlines.
• Oversaw product development to maintain quality and partnerships.

Lulu Guinness - HEAD OF FOOTWEAR

Product Types: Trainers, Boots, Sandals & Dress Shoes Manufactured: Spain & India

• Defined brand identity for footwear category.
• Built the footwear department from the ground up, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.
• Managed multiple design projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines.

Rue St - DESIGN CONSULTANT

• Designed the SS18 and AW18 footwear collections in collaboration with the founders and SIX London.
• Managed factory relations, including travel to Portugal to oversee development and production.
• Created and updated design systems.

Product Expertise: Dress Shoes, Casual Footwear, Trainers, Wellies, Jellies, and Slippers
Manufacturing Regions: Spain, Italy, Brazil, and the Far East

• Assisted in managing entire process from concept to final range with team of two designers.
• Contributed to all aspects of collection creation, including concept development, range planning, construction, fittings, style reviews, and final edits.
• Designed a diverse product range, including show-stopping footwear featured at New York Fashion Week, fashion-forward collections, refreshed carry-overs, bridal designs, and slippers.
• Achieved international sales of collections through Kate Spade stores and renowned retailers including Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus.
• Traveled to New York eight times per year for collection development meetings and undertook additional trips to Europe, Brazil, and China to oversee manufacturing processes and ensure quality standards.

Product Expertise: Catwalk, Dress Shoes, Casual Footwear, Trainers, Espadrilles, and Bags
Manufacturing Region: Italy

• Played a key role in developing three high-fashion footwear collections annually, working in close collaboration with Tabitha and her team on all stages of the design process.
• Oversaw key aspects of collection development, including concept creation, color palette selection, prototype refinement, range planning, fittings, and preparation for the final sales phase.
• Conducted seasonal travel to New York and Paris for collection presentations and industry events, as well as regular visits to Italian factories to oversee production and ensure exceptional craftsmanship.

Hussein Chayalan – Footwear Designer

Product Types: Courts and Welted Derbys Manufactured: Italy & UK

Spearheaded design of SS12 and AW12 footwear ranges for both catwalk presentations and store offerings.

Shubiz – Footwear Designer

Product Types: Dress, Casual, Trainers, Wellies, Jellies & Slippers Manufactured: Far East

Worked with Shubiz, a prominent footwear supplier, producing designs for leading retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Next, Topshop, BHS, and Wallis.

New Look – Footwear Designer

Product Types: Dress, Casual, Trainers, Wellies, Jellies & Slippers Manufactured: Far East

As part of the largest UK footwear retailer at the time, I contributed to the design and development of diverse ranges, including mainline collections, wide-fit styles, and exclusive designer collaborations.

Adidas - Y3 & Stella McCartney for Adidas – Assistant Footwear Designer

Product Types: Trainers & Sports Sanadals Manufactured: Far East