If you don’t assess and make the hard decisions, you will need to make even harder decisions later on - procrastination is not your friend. That's always been my motto. And over the course of 20+ years, it has served me well in weathering the storms of the fashion industry.
A realist, I understood early on in my career that fashion can be more than just making pretty things, that big business opportunities exist in redefining fashion trends into salable clothes that add value to a consumer's life. That is my area of expertise and it is challenging work that requires the right balance of creative and analytical. Luckily, both are my strong suits.
After graduating from Parsons School of Design under the tutelage of iconic designers Cynthia Steffe, Carolyne Roehm and Donna Karan, at age 24, I became the youngest head designer of a leading volume-driven fashion brand.
My next rewarding accomplishment was as design director for FYC Apparel Group, where we successfully grew a $20-million business into a powerhouse brand of $80-million. My well-tailored silhouettes with a feminine twist hit a chord with professional women looking for contemporary prices, and FYC quickly flourished into a strong niche business at major retailers.
This success confirmed my keen eye for design and impeccable skill of fitting garments. I became addicted to the exhilaration of growing a business that had found its niche!
On the other hand, I learned my toughest lessons during the challenging years at HMS Productions. In 2015, I joined HMS with a sales partner to launch a new division, and for the next five years we battled the challenges of trying to excel in a company that was under re-organization. Yet each obstacle rewarded me with new opportunities to work side-by-side with my sales partner and design team and, through hard-work, we ultimately built a $14-million division within five years.
I love riding the ever-changing waves of the fashion landscape. I have been fortunate to create a career following my passion and the ups and downs have all been a part of the fabulous journey. My parent's voyage to America lit a path for me to achieve despite obstacles, and it is a value I have taken to heart and now share with my husband, rambunctious daughter and the designers I mentor.
Today's retail and fashion climate is indeed complicated, but I am optimistic that it is also an unprecedented opportunity for those with innovative ideas and gumption. Armed with experience, and the wisdom of a die-hard New Yorker who has weathered many storms, I am ready for the challenge. Are you?
