CREATIVE FASHION DESIGN EXECUTIVE
Creative design leader with 20+ years of experience shaping the visual identity of top fashion brands including Ralph Lauren, Talbots, Ann Taylor, and Banana Republic. Expert in concept development, print and textile innovation, and color strategy across menswear, womenswear, children’s, and performance apparel. Proven ability to lead high-performing teams, scale design operations, and deliver brand-defining collections that drive global engagement and multimillion-dollar growth. Known for translating brand DNA into emotionally resonant, commercially successful designs featured across runways, retail, and digital platforms.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
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Grew Men’s Print Revenue by 200% at Ralph Lauren by elevating print strategy across Purple Label, RLX Golf, and Polo—driving print’s share from 10% to 30% of the men's business and contributing to a $6.5B revenue portfolio.
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Launched and led Creative Services at Talbots, building a centralized team and streamlining operations across print, pattern, color, and trend, driving a 35% increase in profitability and improving cross-functional alignment.
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Drove Ralph Lauren Children’s Line to $227M by creating timeless, whimsical prints that elevated brand identity and expanded customer reach across digital platforms.
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Led high-profile collaborations (Ryder Cup, US Open, Hoffman Fabrics, The Breakers) to create collectible print narratives that fused brand heritage with lifestyle storytelling, expanding market reach.
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Developed concepts and designs for landmark campaigns (Talbots x Julianne Moore, Ann Taylor x Annie Leibovitz), aligning design direction with brand evolution.
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Led multi-category design across men’s, women’s, children’s, and non-apparel—blending trend insight, vintage research, and technical innovation to deliver cohesive, commercially successful collections.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Creative Direction ● Concept Development ● Design Leadership ● Brand Development & Strategy ● Team Leadership & Development ● Product Development ● Visual Storytelling ● Print & Pattern Design ● Fashion Product Design ● Trend & Market Analysis ● Partnership Development ● Business Development ● Creative Consulting ● Strategic Planning ● Color Palette Creation ● Cross-Functional Collaboration ● End-To-End Design Oversight ● Trend Forecasting ● Revenue & Profit Growth-Design ● Market Penetration Strategies ● Fashion Show & Campaign Direction ● Design Process Streamlining
Work
Experience
Mar 2017 – Jul 2024
Ralph Lauren (RL), New York
Design Director Prints-Men’s Purple Label / Golf Polo / Children’s & Baby
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Delivered cohesive print concepts across Ralph Lauren’s Purple Label, RLX Golf, and Children’s lines, aligning each with distinct brand aesthetics and heritage.
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Enhanced global market positioning by driving innovation in print and pattern development, blending seasonal trends with original artwork and storytelling.
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Accomplished a 200% growth in men's print business revenue, increasing its share from 10% to 30% of the total men's category, by elevating print concepts across Polo, Purple Label, and RLX Golf. Maintained each brand’s distinct identity while leveraging market trends, contributing significantly to Ralph Lauren’s $6.5B men's business, with RLX Golf alone generating $52M in revenue.
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Steered high-impact collaborations with Hoffman International Fabrics, Riley Sheehey, PGA Tour, Ryder Cup, and US Open to introduce the Ralph Lauren brand to new demographics while reinforcing the loyalty of core heritage customers.
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Expanded Ralph Lauren’s children’s business to $227M by creating timeless, whimsical print concepts featured across e-commerce and luxury retail, reinforcing brand identity and broadening market reach.
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Directed the creative vision for Purple Label collections featured in global advertising campaigns, televised fashion shows, and international fashion magazines, which elevated Ralph Lauren’s global visibility, with mentions on the Instagram account and in the brand's internationally circulated campaigns.
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Accelerated sales growth and adoption rates by implementing streamlined design processes and creating compelling presentations that secured buy-in from senior leadership, resulting in significant increases in revenue and market penetration.
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Delivered 100% compliance with brand aesthetic and business needs by collaborating with senior leadership to address both design vision and commercial objectives, ensuring collections met customer demand and revenue targets.
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Increased global brand visibility through designs featured in international campaigns on platforms (Instagram, Trendy Golf, Browns, Mr. Porter, and Net-a-Porter), leveraging partnerships with PGA ambassadors and global influencers.
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Introduced process efficiencies that improved communication across three distinct design teams by overseeing the end-to-end development of prints, patterns, colorways, and fabric details, ensuring the timely and flawless execution of product lines.
Sept 2015 – Mar 2017
Baszko Consulting LLC, New York, NY
Creative Consultant, Owner
Feb 2008 – May 2015
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Provided creative consulting to top brands including Ralph Lauren, Nautica Women, and Adrianna Papell, translating brand aesthetics into compelling print and design concepts.
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Drove seasonal collections by aligning trend forecasting with color, print, and novelty development, ensuring on-brand execution under tight deadlines.
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Spearheaded design concepts from inception to production, as well as collaborated with multi-category design directors and cross-functional teams to enhance creative direction and streamline production pipelines.
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Enhanced design and production efficiency at Adrianna Papell by eliminating redundancies, introducing innovative systems, and fostering cohesive teamwork among CAD designers, resulting in a unified creative process and optimized design outcomes.
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Elevated brand identity by providing bespoke trend and print solutions, leveraging deep expertise in diverse brand aesthetics to deliver high-impact designs that aligned seamlessly with each brand’s unique vision.
Talbots, New York, NY
Vice President of Creative Services
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Directed the execution of high-impact, brand-defining collections at Talbots—managing an $800K budget, meeting all milestones, and aligning creative output with strategic business goals.
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Led trend forecasting and R&D while managing and mentoring a 12-person team, driving innovation, efficiency, and maintaining Talbots’ competitive edge in the women’s apparel market.
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Founded and led Talbots’ Creative Services Department, building a 12-person team across Trend, Color, Print, Pattern, and CAD—streamlining operations and driving a 35% increase in profitability.
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Unified cross-departmental design efforts by transforming independent design teams into a collaborative unit, which resulted in cohesive collections that balanced business needs with creative vision.
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Accelerated product development timelines by refining processes across color, print, and pattern development, ensuring seamless execution from initial concept to bulk production.
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Optimized CAD operations by advancing technology systems, training CAD artists, and integrating vintage and original artwork into production-ready designs that upheld Talbots’ aesthetic and met technical standards.
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Headed successful transition during private equity acquisition and realigned the Creative Services team to meet the new business model's demands by rethinking processes, fostering collaboration with merchandising and buying teams, and balancing aesthetic integrity with commercial objectives.
Ann Taylor, New York, NY | Senior Director Color, Print & Novelty Design, CAD
Banana Republic, New York, NY | Textile Design Stylist
Oct 2003 – Jan 2008
Sep 2000 – Sep 2003
Education
Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – B.S. Degree in Fashion Design
My expertise stretches across the full spectrum of design, from concept creation to the intricacies of pattern development and brand-appropriate trends ensuring each collection resonates with a distinguished clientele.
Throughout my career, I have developed expertise in specialty and luxury apparel design, focusing on concept development, trend forecasting, print development, and textile innovation. I have crafted compelling narratives and visionary concepts for men's, women's, children's, and baby apparel, as well as active sports brands.
I have an extensive background in creative storytelling with brands rich in heritage and identity and I know how to grow and evolve them through that lens and to push boundaries while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic that resonates with diverse audiences.
My Philosophy has not only been about creating innovative and beautiful designs but also about fostering a creative and collaborative work environment. As a leader, my goal is always to serve and inspire. I take pride in mentoring multidisciplinary design teams and encouraging creative growth. My ability to provide clear, visionary direction while promoting teamwork has resulted in more cohesive collections, improved productivity, and a boost in employee morale. This focus on people and relationships is what sets my leadership style apart. I believe that design is not just about the final product but about the journey of collaboration that leads to success.