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11 years of experience across creative direction, brand strategy, apparel and accessories design, product development, and sustainable sourcing.  

In 2007, after holding positions in design and product development for Ralph Lauren and Coach, Courtney's desire to help preserve authentic methods of craftsmanship led her to Bolivia, India, and Guatemala to consult for non-profits and NGO's in the artisan sector on branding, design, and product development. Her vision lies in innovation through the process of merging traditional techniques with modern technology. 

As Creative Director, Courtney has led brand strategies to evoke authentic stories through visual messaging. Her background in design and product development has been integral in building design and product development programs to help link organizations to major domestic and international retailers such as J. Crew, Calypso St. Barth, Anthropologie, Lucky Brand, Canada's Holt Renfrew; Japan's United Arrows, Baycrew's and Isetan;  and France's Comtpoir des Contonniers.

www.courtneyhardt.com

Led the rebranding of Mercado Global, an award-winning and Clinton Global Initiative recognized non-profit.  
Integral to positioning the brand as a pioneer in ethical fashion while achieving elevated aesthetics, margin objectives, and quality standards that resulted in a 66%increase in annual sales.

• Partnered with Founder/ ED to grow the accessories business to 750k from the ground up
• Built close partnerships with board of directors, reporting and presenting growth strategies
• Partnered with production to develop quality control curriculum, scaling rural supply chain and production capacity to over 350 artisans across Guatemala
• Partnered with Sales Director, increasing account acquisition to over 200 retailers while expanding distribution to over 10 countries, including Japan, Europe, Australia and Canada
• Established global partnerships with brands including J.Crew, Lucky Brand, Anthropologie, Calypso St. Barth, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Holt Renfrew, and United Arrows
• Managed relationship with leading NYC-based PR firm, Krupp Group, garnering editorial exposure in Vogue, Elle, Harpers Bazaar, Marie Claire, and beyond
• Led silhouette build strategy, while doubling product assortment to meet sales response
• Conceptualized brand identity and marketing collateral, elevating brand aesthetics   
• Led website design, conceptualizing wireframes and execution with development team
• Established 5-year brand strategy build with merchandise growth plan 
• Established product development manual, technical package, and loom card templates, resulting in increased cross-functional/ cross-cultural team communication 
• Led and executed color palette, silhouette concept, and design for seasonal collections
• Built seasonal loom cards, carrying through final approval with production and artisans 
• Established and managed divisional design, marketing, and product development budgets
• Built and mentored design, product development, and marketing teams
• Led art direction, styling, and budget for seasonal campaigns in NYC and Guatemala with leading fashion models and photographers 
• Managing marketing team during execution of lookbook and collateral development

Creative Director

- Created and maintained technical outwear and woven bottom specs.
- Created and maintained tech packs
- Led fittings

Freelance Designer

Specialties included natural dyes, dabu resist dye, block printing, and indigo

• Evaluated artisan’s technical strengths and weaknesses while documenting the sustainable management of chemical dye usage and waste through SWOT analysis
• Built relationships with artisans while living remotely to photograph and document their daily lives. Results provided an authentic message to help build brand material

Design Consultant

Managed SLG team during initial stages of development through commercialization handoff 
while partnering with design, technical, fabric, and engineering teams. 
• Managed initial stages of development through commercialization handoff
• Partnered with cross functional team members to secure materials for sampling 
• Worked closely with print team on new developments

Product Development Manager

Managed product development and technical design for Blue label and American Living. Partnered with Director of Design to launch of Black Label Sportswear division
• Created initial fit, construction, and technical sketches while managing weekly fittings
• Established cross functional partnerships with mills in Italy, Asia, and Japan 
• Managed wash development with factories to achieve vintage aesthetics

Specialties included recycled glass, FSD certified wood, ethically mined silver 

• Proposed design and brand strategies to help position artisan product in the luxury market 
• Analyzed large scale mining facilities and the damage they impose on surrounding communities. Proposal resulted in alternative ways of working to incorporate sustainable practices

Worked directly with Senior Designer and VP of design during the launch of Rugby Ralph Lauren 

• Researched vintage prints, qualities, and color for seasonal fabric development 
• Created initial mill cards, carrying through final approval
• Created and updated technical packages, providing design dimensional information, technical sketches, and embroidery/print layouts

Associate Designer

Find out detailed information about Courtney Hardt,  in Mill Valley, CA

Courtney Hardt: in Mill Valley, CA

Courtney Hardt

Mercado Global

Ralph Lauren

Foundation for Sustainable Development, Udaipur, India

Coach, Inc.

Ralph Lauren

Various NGOs, Bolivia

Ralph Lauren

Fashion Institute of Technology