Aileen Goldman: Director Of Product Development and Production | Passion for R&D and Innovation | Timeline Driven in Orange County, California
Aileen Goldman
Director Of Product Development and Production | Passion for R&D and Innovation | Timeline Driven
Orange County | United States
Skills
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Interests
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Work experience
Aileen Goldman Consulting
Product Development and Production Consultant | 01/2025 - Current
Deep expertise spanning women's and men's activewear, loungewear, denim, everyday basics, socks, and footwear, I partner with brands to deliver seamless solutions from initial inspiration through production.
Years of hands-on work with global and local brands have honed my strengths in collaboration, negotiation, and creative problem-solving. If you need strategic direction or hands-on project support in product development and manufacturing—let’s connect and build the next big thing together.
• Transforming creative ideas into innovative apparel that moves with today’s market
• Product Development: Turning creative ideas into market-ready styles through R&D/innovation, spec development, fit assessment and cost engineering/margin optimization. Sample management and vendor coordination.
• Innovation & R&D: Advising brands on material innovations, construction methods, and performance features that set collections apart.
• Sourcing: Building supply chains with trusted vendors, sustainable materials, and cost-efficient partnerships for guaranteed quality and compliance. Material, trim and emerging technology sourcing.
• Merchandising: Data-driven line planning, assortment strategy, and trend forecasting to maximize sell-in and retail success.
• Production Management: Overseeing and building Time & Action calendars, vendor communication, and quality assurance, ensuring each launch is flawless and on schedule.
Pair of Thieves
Director Of Product Development | 10/2021 - 04/2024
Passion for driving R&D, developing multiple original product lines addressing consumer-facing needs and latest trends. Incorporating the most innovative fabrics, techniques and emerging technologies while aligning with prescribed profit margins.
• Direct the product development lifecycle maintaining strict adherence to Time and Action Calendar and corporate deadlines.
• Identify key innovations, trends, fabrications, and constructions.
• Seamless integration of R&D efforts with cross-functional teams ensuring alignment with brand storytelling, target audience, and market trends.
• Manage/mentor Product Development and Technical Design teams, providing guidance for deliverables and support their professional growth.
• Partner with factories/countries that best align with quality, cost, and sustainability goals.
• Built departmental corporate SOPs for best-in-class policies and procedures; implementing process efficiencies and excellence.
• Deliver best first cost at development stage.
SPLITS59
Director of Production and Product Development | 11/2019 - 05/2021
Managed an exceptional Production, Sourcing, Product Development, Tech Design and Quality Control team producing excellent quality product both oversees and domestically. Brought elevated designs to market through sourcing highest quality fabrics and executing superior fit.
Quickly and efficiently pivoted from conservative production pull back at start of Covid-19 to dramatic production increase to accommodate high demand of Work from Home apparel.
Teddy Fresh
Head Of Production | 08/2019 - 10/2019
Apparel and Footwear Production and Development Professional
Back to School | 04/2018 - 03/2019
Completed certificate in Adobe applications (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and ready bring these skills with my already well-rounded career profile to my next career home!
Kukdong Apparel(America), Inc.
Director of Production and Development | 03/2017 - 12/2017
Manage development, sourcing and production of fleece garment programs for brands and licensees from initial design phase through testing following strict guidelines.
• Development/production of branded apparel for Fanatics (pro and collegiate fanwear) and Under Armour
• Work closely with company-owned factory in Mexico optimizing VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory) programs
• Brand design handoff through delivery to warehouse, ensuring product delivered to exact specifications
• Sourcing, costing and development of product
ONE- Distribution Company
Director of Global Procurement I Footwear & Apparel Professional | 01/2008 - 11/2015
As the Director of Global Procurement at ONE Distribution I had complete overview of the Production Department, ensuring product was made properly, of highest quality, at the best possible price and delivered on time. With a solid background in design and merchandising I was able to effectively communicate construction and fit requirements with production partners. I provided well thought out analysis of product demand to the sales and executive team along with suggested buys monthly, keeping lean practices top of mind.
With the tremendous growth of the company, I had to quickly adapt and restructure the department to allow for best practices in production and logistic efficiencies - including orchestrating 20+ drop ship locations. I set up and continuously re-evaluated policies and procedures including tracking tools, better visibility and weekly discussions and review to increase effectiveness of the department.
It takes a team to make things happen and I value building relationships for mutual success.
I developed strong working relationships with vendors as well as the ‘home team”. Liaising with peripheral departments in operations, sales and merchandising made for a seamless transition from concept to consumer.
I accomplished an unprecedented 90% on time record during the 2014/2015 LA Port strike, and well below 5% of orders were lost as a result of the strike delays.
Consistently successfully delivered cost effective quality product, on time - virtually eliminating customer charge-backs, and instrumental in bring inventory to lean and healthy levels.
Rays Apparel
Production Manager | 01/2002 - 12/2008
Brands: OP, SPLIT, Ambiguous
As Production Manager I scheduled and managed production flow of domestic ‘printables’ program and was a liaison between sales and vendors. Often turn-times for t-shirts are very tight and required exceptional working relationships with factories to satisfy the customer and successfully produce product in the desired time. I never said it couldn’t be done until I exhausted every resource and more often than not could be relied on to deliver under the time sensitive conditions.
The added benefit of my design background allowed me to offer time-saving options by being able to modify or re-color designs without having to make a requisition with the design department when customers wanted special make-up (SMU) designs.
Aileen Berger ~ Fashion Design and Illustration
Freelance Designer I Concept I Design & Illustration I Trends | 01/1994 - 12/2002
Design projects including Morsam Fashions, Adorable Kids, B.U.M. equipment, IB Diffusion and more.
Items featured in multiple retail ads leading to solid sales translating to repeat orders for customers.
Successful campaigns for Disney licensed childrenswear - following precise and strict corporate guidelines.
Design, merchandising, illustration and consultation; apparel, trends, graphics.
Reset Clothing
Designer, Merchandiser | 01/1992 - 12/1994
An off-shoot of Regatta Blue Sportswear, Reset was an exclusively childrenswear line I owned, designed and merchandised.
Primary customers were boutiques, major retailers and catalog companies.
Regatta Blue Sportswear
Designer, Merchandiser I Creative Concept I Fashion | 04/1987 - 06/1992
I was one of the three founders of one of the most recognizable names in the garment dyed apparel industry in Canada. Featured in store-front window displays and in magazine articles my designs were highly visible.
I established and maintained brand identity with on-trend innovative designs. Retail buyers called on me regularly for opinions and trend analysis.
I designed and merchandised all clothing lines - including private label for select retailers - from concept up to point of production.
