A progressive career within fashion design and development within the womenswear luxury sector, culminating as Head of Design, RTW for Victoria Beckham. In 2017 began design consulting for a selection of London based Womenswear bands, in December 2021 also launched her growing illustration business, shortlisted for the FIDA awards twice and most recently tutoring 3rd year BA students at Istituto Marangoni London. Was headhunted by Victoria Beckham, as her first employee and was instrumental in developing turnover from zero to £42.5 million in 2017. Demonstrates an entrepreneurial mind set as has worked for start-ups and small, growing organisations. Core skill set lies in translating a Founders vision into brand and product – Victoria Beckham, Jonathan Saunders and Roland Mouret. Has managed the full design cycle, including concept and research, design including 2D sketching and 3D draping and collection planning including product range architecture and price structure. Has extensive experience of liaising with an Atelier, Pattern Cutters and Machinists to realise the vision. Is well connected with fabric mills and factories, and has managed costings and margins. Secured a fabric mill and factory base at Victoria Beckham that was responsible for all core signature product, resulting in 60% of revenue. Has experience of designing an in - house range that sits well alongside other premium brands – designed Freda at matches.com. Has liaised with Licensing teams to ensure that a consistent product and brand message exists between inhouse and licensed product. Has managed up to 15 team members across, design, development, and Atelier along with team activities including recruitment, appraisals, and developing succession planning and managers. A passionate Creative, whose education incorporates Fashion and Textiles (Bristol University – UWE Bristol) and Life Drawing at the Charles Cecil School of Art in Florence.
Paolita is a vibrant Contemporary Womenswear Brand with travel inspiration at its core. Melanie had been consulting on the new SS25 Collection designing all new RTW shapes - 2D sketch and 3D drape, attending all fit meetings and advising on supplier and manufacture set up. Melanie has helped to review the collection plan and price architecture to assure the spectrum of products and price points are reached.
Tutoring 3rd Year BA Students through their final collections – from inspiration, concept, manipulations, fit, make, collection plan and illustration. Challenging the students creativity in all areas of they collection journey to culminate in a physical six look collection and 12 look 2D final collection.
Freelance designer - Melanie was asked to create a capsule collection of 10 dresses within the Fabrique brief. Research, mood boards, colour, and fabric suggestion along with spec sheets and on- line fittings.
Jordan Luca is a progressive menswear brand that has recently moved into womenswear – they bring together Italian heritage with the raw intensity of London. Melanie was brought on to focus on the RTW womenswear line and has supported on many aspects of the design and development process working on design, fittings, fabric allocation, range planning, price architecture and supply chain.
As a visiting lecturer Melanie was invited in to Marangoni London to talk to the third-year fashion students about her experience and journey within the industry. Design cycle, collection planning, supply chain and advice on how to navigate internships and exciting job opportunities. Day tutorials with third year students – critiquing portfolio, research, and collections. 2 Day fittings reviewing toiles, collection range, fabrics, fit, finish and make.
Hester Bly is a luxury travel-inspired brand focusing on high end womenswear born from a passion to see the world and experience adventure. Primarily employed to re-develop and re-place styles from Hong Kong and India to factories in the UK, to achieve sample deadline needed and to elevate all styles in design and make. Introducing Hester Bly to new factory and supplier contacts in the UK and Europe - reviewing the design, development to production supply chain. Supporting on costings and reviewing comparisons between Hong Kong, India, and UK. Consulting on full collection plan and liaising on technical detail with factories. Some sketching needed with regards to new designs and amendments for the Bora Bora collection and Tigers of India. In September 2023 designing a capsule collection of 10 looks for the new Stanhope Seven Collection.
A contemporary womenswear brand representing modern femininity in RTW and sustainable swim. Providing a full-service incorporating designing all RTW styles, some swimwear and guidance on range planning. Implementing a companywide critical path, reviewing full supply chain, and instilling detailed costings and price architecture. Introducing Paper London to new mill and factory contacts. Reviewing styling and direction of look book shoot.
A luxury provider of men's accessories and women's jewellery. All product is designed and made in the UK. Providing a full-service incorporating guidance on range planning, price architecture, factory sourcing and styling. Working on shoot with Alice and advising over all form a product perspective.
• Reporting to the Design Director, working on design realisation of Main line and Pre collections. • Managing and motivating a Design Team of 4 and Studio Team of 8 staff and up to 15 Freelancers across the RTW team. • Directing all RTW development meetings with Victoria every month with the Design Director • Regular contact and discussion with Victoria, to progress design concept and development. • Leading fit sessions with Design Director and directing collection plan. • Weekly design sketch review with Design Team. Undertaking some sketch work when required. • Overseeing the design and development critical path, liaising closely with the Atelier and Development Manager. • Supported the Development Manager in financial planning and reviewing budgets. • Responsible for financial justification at monthly meetings with FD. • Managing the RTW team in New York, to deliver the Fashion Week set up. • Victoria Beckham won Brand of the Year and UK Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014.
• Was the first employee for this new organisation. • Responsible for full set up of design and development systems and processes. • Collection growth from 200 units in season 1 to 8000 units in season 9. • Design of 10 styles (20skus) season 1 to 68 styles (140 skus) in season 9. • Set up and monitoring of UK factory development base. • Recruiting, managing and motivating a team of 15 staff and up to 12 Freelancers across the RTW team. • Directing all RTW development meetings with Victoria every month. • Regular contact and discussion with Victoria, regarding design concept and development. • Design realisation through 2D drawings for each new season and part 3D design. • Directing all fit sessions with the RTW team. • Overseeing the design and development critical path, with The Atelier Manager. • Directing the Atelier team on all design direction, to realise design ideal. • Presenting initial colour and fabric selection for each new season. • Regular revision and development of range plan. • Management of development budgets each season. • Managing the RTW team in New York to deliver the Fashion Week set up. • Set up of Pre collection systems – critical path, development and design. • Victoria Beckham won British Designer Brand of the Year in 2011.
Head of Design - Freda - Matches in house label. Employed as a Freelancer between 2006 – 2007, then on a permanent basis between 2007 – 2008. • Responsible for design of the Freda collection and management of a team of 4. • Design realisation through sketching and 3D design. • Manage the design and development critical path. • Recruiting the London team, including a Production & Development Manager, Assistant and Pattern Cutters. • Securing appropriate European factories and establishing working practice. • Undertaking all spec drawings and technical sheets. • Sourcing of all development cloth and components.
• Management of development critical path internally and within factory base. • Management of production critical path coordinating all factories. • Manage development and production budgets. • Sourcing and ordering of sampling and production cloth and components. • Managing and undertaking all costings. • Managing up to 7 Freelancers (Machinists, and Pattern Cutters).
• Initially was employed on a 3-month intern basis then offered full time position. • Management of the development critical path. • Responsible for all specs and technical sheets. • Ordering all development cloth and components, running all communications with mills. • Manage progression of costings at sample stage. • Input of data into RMPro systems for sales. • Support of studio upkeep. • Organisation of PV schedule and in house fabric and trim appointments. • Working across mainline and pre and cruise collections. • Communication and running of all factory developments. • Organisation of show prep and backstage.
I met Mel when we started the Victoria Beckham brand in 2008 and worked with her until I left the company in 2016. We couldn't have achieved the success we had without Mel. She was the lynchpin of the design studio and knew how to navigate between creative, production and commercial issues with natural ease. She took brand direction easily and then translated it creatively and managerially to the teams. She has huge talent, but is also a fast learner and as such could be an asset for any international minded designer brand as she is able to navigate growth, from working with initially restricted means to becoming a super brand. Mel understands all stages of the design and brand process, from vision to design and merchandising, production, calendar management and commercial requirements. I loved working with Mel, she had both mine and Victoria's entire trust.
She delivered beautiful work on our SS2025 collection. Really elevating our offering of silhouettes.