Catherine DiGise

Manage and mentor a driven results oriented team for all material and color design for Apparel and Home categories. Responsible for over 50% of the entire Vera Bradley collection. Work closely with internal and eternal colleagues to implement new process that ensured product would be produce to the highest quality and within in target price points. Ensure material and trim development follows our stick quality regulations while providing trend newness to the assortment. Troubleshoot with mills, factories, and vendors on Print execution and color. Maintain a holistic “one eye” strategy across all product assortments including Licensing and Collaborations.

Manage color design process for a wide variety of fabrications and components for all categories including; Handbags, Luggage, Apparel, Home and Tech. accessories in all segments including; product, web, and marketing campaigns. Create and establish color standards in L*a*b color space and oversee CMYK color conversion for licensing product. Established new processes and procedures to turn around an overwhelmed department into a stress-free deadline driven team. Manage and mentor Assistant and Associate Colorist to drive moral, increase productivity, and established career pathways for success. Re-trained vendors & coworkers on new strategies and procedures to streamline the approval process and hit our target deadlines. Worked with IT to establish PLM needs for the Color Design Department. Established new opportunities to share, view, and export information for approvals and comments to accurately translate to overseas vendors.