marc leonardo: Independent Designer / Performance + Outdoor Apparel Design in stowe, Vermont

Manage client relationships and project timelines, delivering brand relevant creative direction and apparel design that align with brand vision and consumer mindset. Collaborate with fabric suppliers and manufacturers to source materials, oversee sample creation, and ensure quality standards are met.

Directed apparel design team by providing strategic vision and leadership to cross-functional teams in shaping design direction across Men's and Women's apparel collections. Implemented creative strategies aligned with NOBULL overarching objectives and brand positioning. Executed seasonal design and direction for NOBULL partnerships, overseeing the development of all CrossFit and NFL Combine apparel collections. Contributed to the creation and delivery of consumer-specific product stories and enhanced brand engagement by collaborating seamlessly with NOBULL senior leadership teams. Key Accomplishments • Drove the establishment and growth of strategic collaborations to enhance NOBULL market presence by leading and collaborating with key brand partnerships. • Concept creation of performance and athleisure apparel collections, ensuring distinctive and competitive edge in the sportswear and athletic markets. • Streamlined process and timelines to deliver products to market efficiently by forming strategic partnerships with product development, product planning and marketing teams, while consistently improving overall operational efficiencies.

Steered seasonal creative direction in collaboration with cross-functional design teams for all Men's and Women's categories, by directing apparel and graphic design teams. Facilitated collaboration with Reebok brand partners with the development of all Reebok partnership collections by leading a Special Projects Teams. Optimized process and timelines to bring products to market efficiently and enhance overall operational efforts with multiple Product Marketing, CTC and Merchandising teams, both domestically and internationally. Key Accomplishments • Led discussions for all new partnerships, driving conversations related to collaborative brand design initiatives. • Contributed to trend analysis, color selection, material development and future innovation vision. • Conceptualized and delivered compelling brand-enhancing product stories and ensured powerful connection with consumers by partnering with creative strategy teams.

Established and propelled concept direction, vision and narrative throughout all stages of product design, product excellence and business strategy. Guided the Special Projects team, steering the development of all Men's and Women's Reebok CrossFit, UFC and Reebok Combat apparel collections. Collaborated actively with Footwear/Apparel Innovation teams, contributing significantly to concept product development. Key Accomplishments • Led and managed both footwear and apparel design teams with all inline/seasonal product direction and all Reebok partners. • Executed all Executive Leader product presentations for the training BU, ensuring compelling and impactful communication of all design led product strategies and initiatives.

Executed and initiated concept direction, vision and narrative across all stages of performance design, product excellence and business strategies, specifically for Reebok Training, Reebok CrossFit, UFC and Fashion Colab projects.