Jose Vega is a creative and product leader with more than 16 years of experience shaping fashion, apparel, and lifestyle brands across ready-to-wear, lingerie, swimwear, activewear and accessories.
He is known for pairing a strong creative point of view with deep product development and operational expertise, leading every stage of the design process—from trend and cultural research to concept development, technical design, global sourcing, merchandising strategy, factory management, and go-to-market execution.
VP of Apparel Product & Design
Led end-to-end development of seasonal collections and capsule drops, shaping a modern, performance-driven lifestyle aesthetic.
Delivered 10-point YoY gross margin improvement through strategic sourcing and cost engineering.
Managed international vendor partnerships and sourcing initiatives, aligning quality, cost, and timelines.
Directed bespoke design for 10+ PGA Tour athletes, producing 300+ custom pieces per athlete annually.
Aligned Design, Merchandising, and Marketing to drive cohesive product strategy and go-to-market execution.
VP of Design & Creative Director
Led full relaunch under new ownership, including product rebuild, flagship reopening, and new brand identity.
Drove ~300% YoY revenue growth for three consecutive years through product strategy and margin discipline.
Directed design and merchandising across multi-category lines (RTW, lingerie, swim, accessories).
Built and led in-house atelier, managing patternmakers, cutters, and sewers.
Oversaw all creative output and key collaborations with Caroline Vreeland, Bergdorf Goodman, Bandier, Jenny Packham, and Five Story.
Director of Design & Production
Led design and production across RTW, lingerie, swim, and accessories from concept to final sample.
Managed costing, sourcing, and profitability across all categories.
Established QC standards with global factories to ensure consistency.
Led sourcing and trend research through domestic and European trade shows.
Directed partnerships with Julia Roitfeld, Violet Grey, and other brand partners.
Senior Designer
Led RTW and private-label design from concept through final production.
Created flats, specs, and tech packs to guide manufacturing.
Directed fittings to ensure quality, structure, and design integrity.
Partnered with domestic and overseas factories for sampling and sourcing.
Collaborated with Indian vendors on custom beading and embellishment programs.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Central Saint Martins School of Art & Design
BA (Hons) Womenswear Design (2001–2004)
London College of Fashion
Foundation Course, Womenswear (2000–2001)
TOOLS & PLATFORMS
Design
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
Production & Operations
T&A Calendars, WIP Reports, ICS, RACI, Tech Pack Systems, Cost Sheets
Productivity
Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet)
