Jilleen Liao

Footwear Designer + Developer

2023 – Present

Consulting services encompassing all phases of footwear design, sampling, development, and production.

Senior Footwear Designer

2021 – 2022

Founder I Designer at Onto

2015 – 2021

Onto was a men's footwear line based in New York City. Onto launched July of 2015. Visit ontonyc.com for more info.

Senior Footwear Designer at Gentle Souls

2010 – 2013

- Designer for Gentle Souls Women's footwear encompassing casual, sport, work, and dress - Designing and building collections each season that are in line with market trends and brand philosophy - Creating specs and sketches for comprehensive wholesale line - Responsible for selecting and managing the sourcing of all materials and components from China, Europe, India, and the United States - Extensive bi-seasonal trips to China to oversee prototype/sample development - Bi-annual trips to Europe for comfort driven trend forecasting and market research for key color palettes and special materials - Developing and designing unique outsoles and lasts based on the understanding of functional and wearable comfort - Evolving classic comfort constructions with updated, trend appropriate patterns for both volume and boutique wholesale business - Responsible for managing leather and component suppliers and factories on a daily basis to meet demanding seasonal deadlines - Approval and fitting of all prototypes from initial sample to confirmation sample

Creative Director for Gentle Souls Footwear

2011 – 2013

- Worked closely with Senior VP of Gentle Souls to continually conceptualize, direct, and advance brand strategy by translating ethos of our product philosophy and design into a platform for interactive commerce - Seamlessly integrated role as Senior Footwear Designer into Creative Directing brand appropriate campaigns aimed to build an engaging and personable direct to consumer e-commerce site - Responsible for creating initial visual layout for user interface and overall stylization of www.gentlesouls.com - Communicated, delegated, and completed campaigns with multiple creative vendor partners to ensure strategy, budget, quality control, and project deadlines for e-commerce, e-marketing, and seasonal trade shows

Shoemaker's Apprenticeship

2008 – 2010

- Comprehensive apprenticeship in shoemaking and repairs - Responsible for repairing custom, high grade leather footwear and specialty equestrian boots which encompassed patternmaking, gluing, skiving, stitching, and lasting - Experience with an industrial Pfaff post machine - Created and assembled new style prototypes from initial concept to final lasting

Sales Associate

2005 – 2010

- Assisted multiple customers at a time at the East Village store front location: setting up skateboard completes and providing exceptional customer service - Worked behind the register and handled/processed an array of inventory - Provided comprehensive knowledge of skateboard brands from a range of local to international soft good and hard good companies - Assistant buyer for apparel, footwear, and hard goods - Assistant apparel designer for in house Autumn line

Production Manager

2007 – 2009

- Managed both corporate and individual accounts - Maintained daily communications between internal team and clients to meet requests and ensure a quality deliverable - Supervised quality control and details from sample prototype to production - Coordinated delivery times and payments with vendors and clients with punctuality and professionality

Retail Sales Associate

2007 – 2007

- Regularly assisted multiple customers in accelerated SoHo environment - Achieved both weekly and monthly company goals - Provided thorough product history of specialized urban apparel

NY Fashion Week Intern

2007 – 2007

-Intern during New York Fashion Week -Dressing models for in house fit and NYFW presentation -Assisted in constructing and quality controlling accessories for buyers -Organizing incoming and outgoing looks for runway show -Prepared seasonal line sheets for prospective buyers -Maintained immaculate showroom presence

Sales Intern

2006 – 2006

-Sales intern during SS07 selling campaign -Sales intern during FW08 selling campaign -Prepared and catalogued seasonal look books for corporate and individual buyers -Dressed and organized incoming and outgoing looks during buyer presentations -Maintained immaculate showroom presence

3D Design Intensive

2023 – 2023

Summer Patternmaking Intensive

2007 – 2007

High School

1999 – 2002