Shafiq Haddad
Design Trend Concept Creative Director Strategist · The S Creatives
San Francisco, CA
In My Own Words
16 + years as a design leader building strategic brand identity and messages through cohesive, creative, and innovative design capsules from concept to floorset. Skilled at consumer and product market knowledge and trend predictions through research, analysis, international and domestic travel, identifying macro and micro trends, and pinpointing the current and future zeitgeist, moving brands forward to be innovators in their fields.
Expertise in color, print, and textile direction (CMF). Curated key business drivers, core style updates, and brand-relevant trends to maximize profits. Extensive experience in all licensee products, including accessories, sunglasses, and watches.
I am known to get the job done, encouraging and motivating my team and cross-function departments/partners; my integrity, work ethic, aesthetics, and consistent performance is unparalleled and delivers.
In my spare time, my hobbies include mentoring, tennis, skiing, hiking, cycling, gym, biohacking, health and fitness studies, technological advancements, and self-development and improvement.
Work Experience
Creative Director + Business Advising for Fashion and Consumer Products and Services
The S Creatives2017 – Present
• Executed creative direction strategy sessions with clients to increase idea generation that aided their companies' internal growth and reach. • Innovated and developed garment design, color palettes, textiles, print, and graphics; curated and designed key business item drivers and art direction lead for marketing and advertising departments, which minimized internal labor and time costs.
Senior Manager of Concept + Trend for Lifestyle, Active, and Golf: Both Hard and Soft Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods2021 – 2023
• Headed and built a concept and trend team for five men's performance apparel brands and fifteen sport and fitness equipment brands simultaneously, expanding responsibilities to include golf, fitness, tennis, and pickle-ball apparel and equipment. • Executed transformational change that streamlined the design team process by creating clear concept themes, color, print and pattern, fabrics, graphics, design priorities, and accessories direction to the teams that executed with minimal changes post-buy. • Increased buyer confidence with my proven trend success demonstrated from business sale validation in the first quarter of 2023 with men's fitness apparel and sports predictions, specifically the return of training, resort flexibility, and flex work polo. • I gained trust and elevated the mindset of the design and business teams through collaboration with new innovative products and brands, offering insights and elevating the product offerings themselves so that we competed on a national level with our internal vertical brands.
Owner
INMOTU2017 – 2019
100% Sustainable and Ethical Professional Activewear Startup • Innovated and developed a men's athleisure brand using recycled and sustainable new fibers developed to be used in the activewear performance space five years ahead of its time. • Built and sourced a manufacturing and supplier base in LA and stateside to fully produce in America, including materials and construction. • Implemented a marketing campaign initiative that included focus groups, a creative strategy, a brand guidebook, and a social media presence by rapidly growing an Instagram following pre-launch that grew 300% in 3 months.
Concept Design Product Creative Direction
Giorgio Armani Corporation2006 – 2016
• Managed design team and key cross-functional counterparts, including managing and mentoring NY, Milan, and Hong Kong international advanced concepts capsules and team members. • Commercial and editorial success (concept to the campaign) for the Urban Explorer fashion collection and winter black edition capsule with a 90% sell-through, making around $6 million, and twice re-ordered. • Direct CMF, color, new materials, print, graphics, key fashion, and core item drivers with over 125 successfully designed capsules, including licensees – translating practically to the consumer. • Presented and led the global vision, 2D and 3D, to company executives at corporate, creative headquarters in NYC, and Giorgio Armani SpA in Italy, creating a global streamlined clarity. • Color & CMF Expert - created and headed the color department, producing thousands of colors with trend-relevant success in color, foresight, quality, and product sell-through. • Track/manage timelines with Merchandising, Design, and Development teams to review upcoming colors for product concepts and new material technology and ensure high-quality standards and execution. • Standardize, analyze, and approve all colors, materials, finishes, and textiles for usage and quality control using utmost attention to detail. • Travel domestically and abroad for market analysis, research, and tradeshows – pinpointing micro, macro, and vertical trends.
