Senior Leathergoods Designer, Maker and Repairer - New York, NY
(2025-09)
Senior Leathergoods Designer, Maker and Repairer - Atelier T. CIPOLLETTA - London, UK
(2023-03 - 2025-08)
- Transform clients' vision and needs into unique, considered, innovative, aesthetic and long-lasting products.
- Provide leathergoods design, development, making, circular fashion, handbag restoration and upcycling services for private clients and businesses (Richemont, repair platforms The Seam, Creptician, sneaker brand No Two Ways, biomaterial platform Modern Synthesis, vintage resellers Rewind Vintage, Phoenix Style, personal stylists).
- Serve as Circular Design Consultant & Repair and Upcycling Expert.
- Conducted personalized training for repair artisans (award winning ACS Clothing Glasgow - The North Face circular).
- Delivered a heavy touch point, operationally complex project from brief to final product in 3 days for UK's sneaker brand's No Two Ways product launch. Designed a functional mask by upcycling their sneakers and hand produced the mask in time for their photoshoot, with the project launch being a huge success on sales and socials.
- Designed and prototyped a 99% cellulose-based luxury card holder using bacteria biomaterials following the Head of Product's brief (Modern Synthesis) demonstrating adaptability to new techniques and excellent sourcing skills.
- Developed a tech pack with feedback, recommendations and risk assessment for product readiness adequacy to the luxury accessories market presented at the Future Fabrics Expo in London.
Craftsmanship Consultant - Richemont Group - London, UK
(2024-03 - 2025-06)
- Contributed to four key roles: creative consultant, strategic advisor to CEO, client experience, and operations.
- Presented top global artisans' expertise with elevated storytelling and concept development offering bespoke services, ranging from repair to personalization. Collaborated with Creative team developing concepts and mockups for CEO's approval.
- Designed a global strategy for craftsmanship services across multiple categories: service design, services offering, geographic regions strategy, user experience (UX), blueprint of end-to-end journey of the artisanal services, process design, and user needs. Handled project management and BOM.
- Researched, selected and recruited 70 artisans for Richemont's luxury maisons and trade and corporate clients.
- Represented Richemont at Homo Faber 2024 in Venice, connecting artisans to clients. Delivered creative services for UHNW clients.
Head of Atelier - The Restory - London, UK
(2016-06 - 2023-02)
- Founded and led the atelier that restored and redesigned over 30,000 luxury items, including Hermès, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton pieces. Provided the highest quality standard of leathergoods repair, restoration and upcycling services to the fashion world by creating unique and modern ways of delivering craftsmanship.
- Enabled startup's growth that accounted for 65% of the company's revenue, solidified the brand and exemplified superior customer service. Supported revenue that tripled year-on-year.
- Sourced and developed leather, fabrics, pigments and hardware from Italy and France establishing relationships with premium suppliers and innovating in the field.
- Partnered with brands (Manolo Blahnik, Nicholas Kirkwood) and retailers (Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Farfetch, Browns, Vestiaire Collective) to design repair and upcycling services.
- Built a Restoration Training Program and trained over 40 new artisans from zero to master expertise, while managing external partners between the UK and US. Developed global quality standard and risk assessment SLAs.
- PR press magazine contributions such as Elle, Vogue, Business of Fashion, The Times, Harper's Bazaar, Monocle.
Senior Handbag Designer, Maker and Product Developer - T. Cipolletta - London, UK
(2014 - 2016)
- Defied traditional handbag making by cross-transferring skills from fashion pattern cutting to handbag making.
- Developed unique handmade hardware with natural materials such as walnut and horn and exclusively screenprinted linen canvas for the lining.
- Created leather pieces made to be appreciated for a lifetime, inviting the owner to rethink their relationship with the objects they own and respect slow production.
Leathergoods Product Developer and Leathercraftsman - Anthony Vrahimis Design Studio - London, UK
(2013 - 2016)
- Prototyped leather accessories for brands including J.W. Anderson, Mulberry, Yuzefi, Bottletop, and Sophia Webster.
- Designed according to client's briefs, handbag pattern making, handbag making, saddle-stitching, leather machine sewing, wet molding, machine and manual skiving, leather upholstery, and boxwork.
- Managed projects and conducted meetings with clients and team to define project scope.
Accessories and Womenswear Fashion Designer - Shoulder - São Paulo, Brazil
(2009 - 2011)
- Designed womenswear, leather goods and footwear from concept to sample approval, including trend research, material selection, technical packs and fittings for this womenswear group with 500 million in revenue.
- Designed the Woven line with 110 items per drop. Shirt sales increased 30%.
- Drove product development in close collaboration with Creative Direction, merchandising, pattern makers, suppliers and production teams, ensuring design intent translated into scalable, high-quality outcomes.
- Created bespoke haberdashery, hardware, prints and embroideries for large-scale production, contributing to cohesive seasonal collections and brand differentiation.
