Bike

Golf

Dive

Creative Agencies

Fashion

Fishing

Lifestyle

Moto & Powersports

Outdoor

Skate

Snow

Streetwear

Surf

Swim

Tech

Triathlon

Wake

Yoga

Health & Fitness

Principal

Education & Training

As a Business Consultant and Product/Design Director for a number of well-known brands, I have had the opportunity to work across a variety of leadership and cross-functional roles focused on managing teams, processes, and strategy for sport, lifestyle, and fashion brands. This range in experience has allowed me to become a valuable and trusted business advisor to my clients. I receive the calls when they are considering a new market opportunity, looking to finetune a process, or turnaround a struggling business. 

My organized and thoughtful approach makes it easy for people to get on board, and reach a consensus. Building unity around initiatives. Following that up with experience and excellence in decision-making, creative & forecasting, and business metrics ensures that goals and growth are met. And an equal amount of listening and mentoring in support of the people I am fortunate to work with. It is my intention to continually apply what I know to promoting ESG and sustainability.

Please visit www.caitlinfolgner.com for more info about my Consulting work: 
I work with start-ups, small businesses, and large corporations to identify, design, and deliver products and experiences to their consumers. 
I am inspired by the potential to make better products, build better brands, and create an opportunity for consumers to emotionally connect with a brand. 
It's my intention to understand how a brand works, identify market opportunities, communicate design vision and stories clearly, and hopefully create future trends. 
I’d love the opportunity to connect with you, and discuss how I can be of service to your brand. Please reach out. 

Background:
• Experience leading teams and designing apparel for well known brands across Fashion, Swim & Active apparel & products (Puma, Manduka, Sports Illustrated, Oakley, VF Outdoor, Ralph Lauren, etc) 
• Integral to the success of Product Creation Teams by utilizing big-picture, consumer-focused point of view, and leading the translation of product stories to marketing to support brand initiatives 
• Key Presenter to Senior Management Teams by identifying opportunities for product growth and strategizing paths to execution 
• Extensive experience leading & executing the full product creation process (Leadership, Team Management, Briefs, Design Direction, Color, Trend, Product Design, Materials, Presentations, Budgets, Process Improvement, Employee Development)

We focus on helping brands to identify, design, and deliver best-in-class products within their market.

Our design and management services aid in the expansion or refinement of product lines, guiding product design that continues to move brands forward. We focus on helping our clients continuously adapt and reassess the limits of where they can go, and how they can be market leaders. 

By taking a design and consumer-focused approach, we analyze market data and opportunities. We pair this with trends and brand aesthetic, to create products authentic to each brand. 

Business & Creative Services include: Branding & Story-Telling, Design Direction, Innovation & Futures, Market Analysis & Opportunity, Mens & Womens Apparel Design, Product Design, Product Management & Leadership, Strategy & Business Plans, Target Consumers & Profiles, Trend & Color Forecasting

Take a look at some of our projects at www.caitlinfolgner.com/design/.

Clients: Puma, Manduka, Burton, Sports Illustrated, Thrive Societe, Raj Swim, WGSN, Salomon, Target, Décor, JoyLab, Lifetime Fitness, Fight Camp, Transworld Business, Sanctuary Clothing, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Pelagic Gear, North Menswear, Super Good Vibes, CKTH, Hayden & Wyatt, Adessa, Salas, Aries-33; Interiors (Cerno), Finance (EP Wealth), Advocacy (Citizens Climate Lobby), Food/Bev (Duckhorn Portfolio, Huneeus Vintners, Terroir Life, Tablo Laguna, Proprietors LLC) + more

• Partnered with Managers to lead AFA seasonal design, reinvigorating Oakley brand and relevance
• Drove vision across verticals and global regions within Performance, Sportswear, & Innovation
• Pioneered alignment and momentum on key initiatives: Athlete, Action Sports, Advanced Concepts, Brand Filter, Color Filter, Fit (M&W), Innovation, Performance Apparel, Trend & Color
• Design Direction (Womens Swimwear): Realigned aesthetic and opportunity for licensed business
• Design Lead (Mens & Womens Training Apparel): Refreshed aesthetic, and reset $32m business
• Design & Merchandising Lead (Mens & Wmns Vault): Reset mismanaged $45m business

Design Manager & Senior Designer (Womens & Mens AFA)

• Design Lead for $40m business (Womens Training, Yoga/Studio & Accessories categories)
• Delivered collections per category from concept, through design and development, to approval
• Recruited to reimagine brand as a market competitor; Oversaw and mentored junior designers
• Rated 'Top Two Fastest Growing Brands in Women's Outdoor Apparel' (2013-2015)

Manager & Senior Designer (Womens Activewear, Lucy & The North Face) 

• Created seasonal concepts for Black Label, RLX, Collection Denim, Charity Brand ‘Pink Pony’
• Supported SVP Wmns Black Label in design & management, improving processes within division
• Lead Designer for Activewear, Denim, Knitwear, Outerwear, Sportswear, Sweaters, Wovens
• Achieved Mr. Lauren’s vision of RLX x Black Label collections, collaborating with SVP RLX Design
• Realized Mr. Lauren’s vision for a Denim destination within Collection Brands, thru Black Label
• Helped launch Mr. Lauren’s ‘RL Collection Denim’, built off the success of Black Label Denim
• Lead Womens Black Label Branding overhaul that reinvigorated product and brand aesthetic

Manager & Senior Designer (Womens Apparel, Collection Brands) 

Caitlin Folgner is a Principal at caitlin.folgner.design in Laguna Beach, CA. View their experience, skills and work history on Malakye — the professional…

Caitlin Folgner — Principal at caitlin.folgner.design

Caitlin Folgner — Principal at caitlin.folgner.design

Caitlin Folgner

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