Heather Verran
VP OF DESIGN, ACTIVEWEAR
heathervr@gmail.com
917.690.2905
Professional Experience
Adjunct Professor, Fashion Institute of Design - New York, New York January 2019-present
Professor of Active Sport Design at FIT co-currently with full-time position at SHAPE Activewear
Educate 6 and 8th semester students in all aspects of activewear design, construction, and fabrications.
Mentor for the Woolmark x Adidas challenge. A dedicated partner fostering collaboration with merchandising, budget, production and cross functional teams.
SHAPE Activewear, a division of Apparel Bridge, LLC- New York, New York Feb 2015-present www.shapeactivewear.com
Vice President of Design for a size inclusive Women’s activewear brand. A licensee of SHAPE magazine.
Equinox, Core Power, Nordstrom, Bar Method, Exhale, Peloton, Paragon, REI, are key accounts.
Creating brand from startup platform phase to multi million dollars in sales within 2 years.
Set an inspirational creative vision and high standards for the business in quality, fit and branding.
Oversee creative excellence and strategy, quality of craft, innovation within design team, and impact of product.
Explore new proprietary performance-based fabrics that will drive growth and new business.
Operating all facets of product to maintain standards in quality and fit.
Collaborate with Design, Account Executives, and Production teams to manage projects, and ensure compliance to all deadlines.
Fourlaps, LLC- New York, New York June 2014-January 2015 www.fourlaps.com
Creative Consultant to launch a new men’s run and training brand, Fourlaps.
Partnered with founder and CEO, Daniel Shapiro to create a fresh and functional fitness brand in the men’s marketplace.
Designed the collection and advised the brand identity with the founder.
Provide leadership and direction of the process to develop collection with all team members.
Named by GQ and Men’s Health and Men’s Fitness as the best new men’s athletic brand of 2017. Sold in Paragon, Peloton and online.
Perry Ellis International-C&C California- New York, New York December 2013 to May 2014
Director of Design for C&C California’s activewear collection
Served as Chief Product Partner to CEO and the Chief Merchandising Officer.
Created all designs for apparel, brand DNA and marketing. Held all teams to a cohesive vision.
Set the concepts, print, trend, fit, fabrics, and performance attributes.
Communicated with factories on all product development to maintain standards in quality and fit.
Traveled to expand education on trends in performance attributes and technologies.
Managed entire team of associates and technical designers.
The Gap, Inc- New York, New York January 2012-December 2012
Senior Designer for Gap Fit
Partnered with VP of Design to elevate the Gap Fit brand from start up to a respected activewear collection with very high sell throughs.
Traveled globally to factories and mills to see the latest in performance technology and to develop proprietary trims and fabrications.
Created design packages, managed and updated PLM, attended fittings and approved lab dips.
Ensure and maintain cross-discipline expertise, fostering collaboration and sense of community within creative teams.
Heather Verran- New York, New York 2005-December 2011 www.heatherverran.com
A creative services agency for athletic apparel companies for design, branding and start-ups. Listed below are clients and projects.
New Balance Athletic Shoe Company- Huntington, New York 2007-2009
Senior Designer for BCG and Aspire for TSA Activewear. Partnered with sales and merchandising to analyze business and offering strategic product offerings to increase sales volume.
Mentored technical design teams for fit and construction.
Designed the product, authored tech packages and directed the fittings.
Selling maintained 30% sell through per week during a sharp economic decline
EleVen by Venus Williams for Spring 2012
Collaborated with the Athlete to create a brand book for presentation to new licensing partners.
Nordstrom Product Group, Seattle Washington
Director of Design Active Wear for Zella and M+M for Holiday 2011
Mentored and managed the design and product development teams for active and swim.
Created new presentation tools, line plans and calendar for merchandising meetings.
Developed brand books, set color and trend themes for the season.
Updated the collection to be more contemporary with trend, silhouette, and color.
Partnered with buyers and production team to refine assortment and improve margins.
Iconix Brand Group, New York, New York 2009 -2011
Director of Design for licensing pitches in active apparel for Madonna and London Fog
Partnered with brand manager to create a new license opportunity for the brand in apparel.
Created updated and trend right designs while maintaining the brand’s integrity.
Managed the sample process in NYC for presentation to executives of Iconix, Madonna, and London Fog.
Designed accessories, garments, and trim.
Graj+Gustavsen Branding Agency, New York, New York 2005-2009
Director of Apparel Design for Athletic Branding Initiatives for clients such as American Eagle Outfitters and The Athlete’s Foot
Designed all men’s and women’s tees, fleece, outerwear and active wear.
Created the Eco brand platform along with G&G branding team.
Managed and lead the design, in creating a private label active brand for The Athlete’s Foot.
Partnered with cross –functional teams Li and Fung, Otto Group and Nexcen Brands.
Initiated and directed seasonal calendar, line matrices, target wholesale pricing and fabrication
Hanes Brands, Inc-C9-New York, New York 2006
In House Freelance Designer
Designed a new brand of premium active wear for C9.
Created tech packages for hand off to product development team
Omala Yoga- Brooklyn, New York 2005-2011
Director of Design for a Sustainable Yoga Lifestyle brand
Introduced sustainable fabrications at the early stages of the eco-friendly macro trend.
Increased the volume and distribution channels from a start-up enterprise.
Defined the design ethos of the new brand and designed into it.
Sourced fabric and factories in both domestic and international markets.
Foot Locker, Inc. New York, New York 2003-2005
Senior Designer, Women’s Active wear
Responsible for the creative and technical design of all in-house brands including Lady Foot Locker, Umbro and Converse. Managed staff.
Increased the volume each season 50% per annum. Gross Margins increased from 28% to 68%.
Implement the fit standards from XS-6XCreated streamlined systems to save on product development costs.
with the buyers and DMM to develop the overall direction maintain a cohesive vision of footwear, branded apparel and private label.
Loyaltex, llc- New York, New York 2001-2003
Design Director for Private Label
Reached growth parameters by increasing sales unilaterally for all major accounts.
Presented trend collaborations to clients from European and American markets.
Developed margin builder opportunities in product offering to accounts.
Managed design, sourcing and staff for a diverse account base of high end and volume retailers such as Saks Inc, Aeropostale and Jones NY
Jones New York, NY, NY 1999-2001
Senior Designer, Sportswear
Design all assigned product classifications
Purchasing of prints and preparing all CAD work including repeats and re-colorations
Hind sight analysis of classifications, style count, efficiency and assortment planning
Heather Scott Designs, Ltd., New York, Paris 1992-1999
A designer sportswear and dress collection.
Manage design, production, accounting, shipping, press and clients.
The company’s eponymous label, Heather Scott sold to 150 accounts including Nordstrom and Bloomingdales
Education/Training
BFA
Otis Art Institute of Parson’s School of Design
Los Angeles, CA
Parsons School of Design
Paris, France
Technical Skills
Proficient in Illustrator, Photoshop, PLM, PDM, WEB PDM, Mac and PC platforms.
Skilled in fashion illustration, as well as patternmaking and technical design of garments.