•   Seven-times recognized front page in "O" the Oprah Magazine.
•   Led large-scale global design efforts for Liz Claiborne and grew brand volume 100% to over $200M.
•   Produced two New York Fashion Week shows annually; showcasing Richard Metzger Collections.
•   Developed clothing line to include A-list celebrity clientele.
•   Launched secondary and licensed clothing brands and extensions.
•   Selected by CEO to lead change committee on process reform.
•   Created industry recognized pant fit and solution technology mirrored by many companies.

Recruited into the role to revamp and direct the design direction of the Pennington's plus size brand. Edit assortments and drive big picture growth ideas. Style and direct outfit curation for in-store and look book use. Develop fit ownership
and solution technology. Daily leadership, development, and coaching with a strong focus on individual and team
success.
• Developed a high-growth strategy and presented initiatives for buy-in.
• Guided the design team on best-in-class practices to achieve higher adoption rates through focused edited
connections.
• Adjusted patterns, styled, and directed outfit curation for use in both in-store and lookbook.
• Revamped the Pennington's plus size brand through transformational leadership and shifting the design
direction with a versatile assortment to focus on customer engagement.

SENIOR STYLE CONSULTANT

Direct design of Zenergy, Travelers and Black Label collections, representing half of Chico's volume. Chico's FAS, Inc. is a cultivator of brands serving the lifestyle needs of fashion-savvy women 30 years and older. Create new relationships and
strengthened existing relationships with merchants; successfully set seasonal goals and delivered in monthly comp gains
due to strong overall customer engagement. Present monthly brand direction to merchant team and ensure cross-
functional buy-in. Shop regularly to identify emerging trends and categories to drive newness and growth.
• Mentored and oversaw a team of 15 designers and product development professionals; focused on employee
engagement and motivational leadership.
• Tasked to create a compelling assortment of the new, higher-end line for Chico's Black Label. Developed distinct
color stories and prints, which resulted in a vast differentiation from Chico's other product lines.

SR. DIRECTOR OF DESIGN & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT- COLLECTIONS

Oversaw the re-branding of the Rafaella brand to empower women to rely on fashion that fits and flatters. Directed
seasonal themes, color palettes, print selection, and silhouette design. Maintained and established seasonal time and action calendars. Mentored the design team on concept, design, and project collaboration.
• Partnered with EVP of Production on costing to maintain strict seasonal margins.
• Created extensive private label programs for Kohl's, JC Penney, Macys, Belk, Lord & Taylor; as a result, maximized profitability and increased overall volume.
• Launched modern contemporary brands Ellavie and Nicole Miller Chartreuse.
• Pioneered brand-new slimming technology, "fit your shape" solutions & easy care to drive market share.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF DESIGN ? Rafaella Sportswear

Oversaw Garfield Marks & Plenair design direction. Managed design team which consisted of 10 direct reports.
Onboarded, trained, and mentored the team to meet product and quality standards. Traveled globally for sample
development, fabric research, and inspiration.
• Implemented a team to align strategic sales/brand efforts with all seasonal and merchandising plans and brand
strategies.
• Developed and collaborated on exclusive & private label programs for key retailers such as Nordstrom
• Applied complex change management leadership with direct reports and cross functional teams during an acquisition; focused on brand management and employee engagement.

DIRECTOR OF DESIGN

Launched one of the first high end plus size collections, garnering clientele including Oprah Winfrey, Queen Latifah, Star
Jones, Cousin Johnny, JMS Avenue Stores, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Worked large design projects concurrently while helping with the creative design and direction for Dana Buchman, prior employer. Presented and sold the collection to
buyers, securing contracts with Saks Fifth Avenue and boutiques nationwide.
• Designed the entire collection incorporating custom "red carpet" celebrity evening pieces.
• Built the company from the ground up with zero funding to become a profitable business within a six-month
timeframe.

OWNER & DESIGNER

Dana Buchman was an upscale women's fashion brand that was a record-breaking collection under the Liz Claiborne
corporation. Travelled to Asia, Europe, and US to work with both suppliers and manufacturers.
• Built the knit and sweater business, tripling overall revenue by 200% within 2 years.
• Designed four seasonal collections for three global divisions of the record-breaking bridge collection.

Technical Skills
Adobe, Photoshop, Illustrator, FlexPLM, Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, PowerPoint

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Find out detailed information about Richard Metzger,  

Richard Metzger:

Richard Metzger

Reitman's

Chico's FAS

Perry Ellis International

Garfield Marks

Richard Metzger Collection

Dana Buchman

Fashion Institute of Technology