Yemisi Olagbaiye
I am a passionate creative Designer and Product Development expert who loves to use design in answering questions. My unique combination of broad design experience across various categories and a strong understanding of business, have been valuable in bringing strategic problem solving solutions and business growth to the various clients I have had the great pleasure of working with. I look forward to seeing what magic we can create together!
EXPERIENCE:
Yemisii INC. | Freelance Design and Manufacturing December 2016 - Present
Consulting for clients in the US and Africa on Fashion business startup with international visibility.
Providing creative design support to existing businesses and new start up brands across various categories including Apparel for women and children, Fashion Accessories and Denim with line development ranging from capsule collections of 5 items to 50 – 100 SKU developments per season. Successfully delivering finished garment samples to clients for production.
Offering business development services and on-going design/development of niche specific products for Black Chick Tech, resulting in the successful launch of a new brand targeting women in the tech industry.
Leveraging manufacturing contacts to secure partnerships with top retailers and wholesale boutiques across the U.S.
Magenta INC. | Senior Designer _ Soft & Hard lines March 2022 – April 2023
Responsible for leading multiple design developments for the home lifestyle brands. Managed the team through transformational changes and communicated trend research and business strategy findings across cross-functional teams with a goal to ensure growth and increase profitability with retail partners- TJX, COSTCO, World Market.
Developed innovative designs for the Core brand (Rae Dunn) and Licensees (Disney, Marvel, Sanrio, Johanna Parker, Becki Owen etc.) resulting in a 30% increase in sales of baby apparel and accessories and an overall sales growth of 15% in the Christmas ornaments category.
Conducted market research to identify trends and consumer preferences in the tabletop and garden categories, leading to design, ideation, and the creation of a highly successful line of products for Rae Dunn which was adopted by Costco with potential to generate $2 million in revenue within the first year.
Boot Barn INC. | Irvine, CA: Designer, Exclusive Brands June 2017 – February 2022
Head designer for Rank 45, led product design, creation, production, and merchandising for new brand addition to company portfolio, leading to the development of innovative products that accounted for 15% of total department revenue within the first quarter of launch.
Record breaking 10% of designs adopted for Spring 2023 remained on best seller list for first 10 weeks of launch both in-store and online retail.
Conducted market analysis and trend research to identify key consumer needs and preferences across women’s and girls' western Fashion, leading to the development of innovative product assortments of 85 SKUS per season, which exceeded sales targets by 15%.
Boot Barn INC. | Irvine, CA: Assistant Designer August 2016 – June 2017
Collaborated with Senior Designer to create digital mood boards, storyboards, and line plans for various seasons, ensuring cohesive and on-trend designs throughout the entire women’s and Kids assortments.
Managed the creation and maintenance of comprehensive tech packs for the entire collection, including accurate measurements and specifications, leading to a 20% decrease in production errors.
Researched current fashion trends and assisted in developing design concepts for new season collections, resulting in a 10% increase in sales compared to previous seasons.
EDUCATION:
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles, California
Associate of Arts Degree: Product Development
The London College of Fashion - London, United Kingdom
Certificate of Completion: Handbag Design Course
The University of Lagos - Lagos, Nigeria
Bachelor of Science: Real Estate Management