Leslie Byron
Leslie Byron
Summary
A creative design leader with fiscal responsibility and a thorough understanding of merchandising, planning, product development, sourcing, and production. Track record of achieving commercial and financial success across multiple brands simultaneously. A team builder who recruits top industry talent, inspires a team to achieve success and maintain loyalty to the brand.
Perry Ellis International
Creative Director
2014 � 2018
� Creative Director for Rafaella brand; charged with elevating all product categories, specifically prints and patterns.
� Responsible for year to date increases in sales on average of 30% per door.
� Instituted shop door program, showing increased revenue of 50% to 75% per door.
� Initiated dress program, outerwear program, and new Denim with Benefits program that grew to $20 million wholesale from Fall 16 through Spring 18.
� Created Weekend casual capsule that is seeing 20% annual growth year over year.
� Launched Harper & Liv plus size contemporary brand and grew to $10 million wholesale in one year.
Nygard International
Vice President of Design
2013 � 2014
� Recruited to spearhead turn-around of this $200 million brand.
� Recaptured and elevated the design aesthetic for the Peter Nygard brand.
� Responsible for team reorganization, planning product, system calendar development, driving division to meet profit margin goals, returning design focus to brand.
� Returning profitability to the line by focusing on the development of a key item program.
� Repositioned brand within key department stores to a more advantageous location.
� Maintain close working relationship with department store executives.
Vince Camuto Group and Bernard Chaus, Inc.
Design Consultant � Director of Design
2012 � 2012
� Invited to design and develop special product for Vince Camuto and Chaus lines.
� Conceptualized and oversaw the design of all categories of Chaus and Chaus Sport.
� Directed concepts and development of all product, focused assortment to meet requirements of vendor partners. Grew Nordstrom account for Chaus line.
Jones Apparel Group
Vice President of Casual Design
2008 � 2012
� Successfully turned around Jones New York Sport, taking it to the most profitable division in the corporation while concurrently overseeing the design of Jones New York Signature brand.
� Delivered + 65% over plan for Sport division for year 2010, and maintained solid positive growth through 2012.
� Consistently achieved before break sell-through on top performing product categories of 40% - 70%.
� Responsible for division concepts, color stories, and print direction, silhouette development and technical fittings.
Leslie Byron
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Anne Klein / AK Sport
Design Director
2006 � 2008
� Successfully expanded doors in AK accounts by 50% in first year, and maintained doors and steady growth through 2008, while also delivering consistent and continued growth for Jones NY Signature.
� Worked with sales and key store accounts to develop an exclusive contemporary AK Sport product line that aligned the aesthetic of the AK line to a casual weekend wardrobe.
Jones New York Signature
Design Director
2003 � 2006
� Led the Jones New York Signature division to the most successful brand launch in recent history with first year sales over $200 million.
� Responsible for corporate styling and all showroom presentations to buyers, color and silhouette storyboards, print and color palette selection, and ultimate style adoption.
� Supervised fittings, participated in costing and allocation finalizations, and planning meetings with heads of sales team.
Lauren Ralph Lauren
Design Director
1999 - 2003
� Directed design and execution of Lauren Ralph Lauren and Ralph by Ralph Lauren division sweaters and cut and sewn knits, casual wear, and outerwear.
� Part of selected team that launched both divisions under license agreement between Jones Apparel Group and Polo Ralph Lauren.
� Directed the successful growth of the line from inception to over $500 million.
� Travelled extensively in the US and Europe to research current and vintage trends and styling details.
Jones New York Sport
Designer
1993 - 1999
� Responsible for the design and execution of all knit wear for Sport line.
� Supervised prototype through production fittings and technical corrections.
� Styled showrooms for quarterly sales presentations to executive management and buyers.
� Instrumental in broadening the base of Jones New York Sport; helped build the division to 500 million in annual sales.
� Responsible for all technical sketches, and detail information.
Education
Fashion Institute of Technology / Parsons School of Design
Fashion Design / Fashion Illustration
The Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering
Leslie Byron
Summary
A creative design leader with fiscal responsibility and a thorough understanding of merchandising, planning, product development, sourcing, and production. Track record of achieving commercial and financial success across multiple brands simultaneously. A team builder who recruits top industry talent, inspires a team to achieve success and maintain loyalty to the brand.
Perry Ellis International
Creative Director
2014 � 2018
� Creative Director for Rafaella brand; charged with elevating all product categories, specifically prints and patterns.
� Responsible for year to date increases in sales on average of 30% per door.
� Instituted shop door program, showing increased revenue of 50% to 75% per door.
� Initiated dress program, outerwear program, and new Denim with Benefits program that grew to $20 million wholesale from Fall 16 through Spring 18.
� Created Weekend casual capsule that is seeing 20% annual growth year over year.
� Launched Harper & Liv plus size contemporary brand and grew to $10 million wholesale in one year.
Nygard International
Vice President of Design
2013 � 2014
� Recruited to spearhead turn-around of this $200 million brand.
� Recaptured and elevated the design aesthetic for the Peter Nygard brand.
� Responsible for team reorganization, planning product, system calendar development, driving division to meet profit margin goals, returning design focus to brand.
� Returning profitability to the line by focusing on the development of a key item program.
� Repositioned brand within key department stores to a more advantageous location.
� Maintain close working relationship with department store executives.
Vince Camuto Group and Bernard Chaus, Inc.
Design Consultant � Director of Design
2012 � 2012
� Invited to design and develop special product for Vince Camuto and Chaus lines.
� Conceptualized and oversaw the design of all categories of Chaus and Chaus Sport.
� Directed concepts and development of all product, focused assortment to meet requirements of vendor partners. Grew Nordstrom account for Chaus line.
Jones Apparel Group
Vice President of Casual Design
2008 � 2012
� Successfully turned around Jones New York Sport, taking it to the most profitable division in the corporation while concurrently overseeing the design of Jones New York Signature brand.
� Delivered + 65% over plan for Sport division for year 2010, and maintained solid positive growth through 2012.
� Consistently achieved before break sell-through on top performing product categories of 40% - 70%.
� Responsible for division concepts, color stories, and print direction, silhouette development and technical fittings.
Leslie Byron
------------
------------
Anne Klein / AK Sport
Design Director
2006 � 2008
� Successfully expanded doors in AK accounts by 50% in first year, and maintained doors and steady growth through 2008, while also delivering consistent and continued growth for Jones NY Signature.
� Worked with sales and key store accounts to develop an exclusive contemporary AK Sport product line that aligned the aesthetic of the AK line to a casual weekend wardrobe.
Jones New York Signature
Design Director
2003 � 2006
� Led the Jones New York Signature division to the most successful brand launch in recent history with first year sales over $200 million.
� Responsible for corporate styling and all showroom presentations to buyers, color and silhouette storyboards, print and color palette selection, and ultimate style adoption.
� Supervised fittings, participated in costing and allocation finalizations, and planning meetings with heads of sales team.
Lauren Ralph Lauren
Design Director
1999 - 2003
� Directed design and execution of Lauren Ralph Lauren and Ralph by Ralph Lauren division sweaters and cut and sewn knits, casual wear, and outerwear.
� Part of selected team that launched both divisions under license agreement between Jones Apparel Group and Polo Ralph Lauren.
� Directed the successful growth of the line from inception to over $500 million.
� Travelled extensively in the US and Europe to research current and vintage trends and styling details.
Jones New York Sport
Designer
1993 - 1999
� Responsible for the design and execution of all knit wear for Sport line.
� Supervised prototype through production fittings and technical corrections.
� Styled showrooms for quarterly sales presentations to executive management and buyers.
� Instrumental in broadening the base of Jones New York Sport; helped build the division to 500 million in annual sales.
� Responsible for all technical sketches, and detail information.
Education
Fashion Institute of Technology / Parsons School of Design
Fashion Design / Fashion Illustration
The Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering