Roberta Grillo

Designer & Director

Paris, Italy

Experience

May 2020 - Present
5 years 3 months

Designer & Director

Culture of Brave

  • Designed Culture of Brave collection since 2020 and managed brand distribution starting in 2022.
  • Oversaw brand concept and development for both brands, including graphic design and marketing.
  • Led footwear and garment design from concept to finished product, producing all items in-house to ensure top quality.
  • Directly involved in daily production tasks: design, pattern and last development, fitting, leather development with tanneries, object dyeing, cutting, lasting, and cementing.
  • Handled communication efforts, including photo shoots and photo books.
  • Managed sales interactions with buyers, including exhibitions and showroom meetings during Paris Fashion Week.
Mar 2013 - Present
12 years 5 months

Freelance Footwear Consultant

Clients: Henry Cotton’s, Tommy Hilfiger, CNC Costume National, Marina Yachting, Aquascutum London.

I have been working as footwear designer/consultant providing a professional service from design to product development. My activities can be resumed as follows:

  • Product merchandising and design analysis
  • Market research, design proposal, mood-boards and freehand cads
  • Adobe Illustrator / Shoemaster cads and tech packs
  • Product development management
  • Collection organization and planning
  • Design and development management with sourcing
  • Recently designed a new technical project for an important karting shoe company
Jan 2013 - Present
12 years 7 months

Co-owner & Creative Director

Nihomano

  • Co-founded Nihomano to introduce handcrafted sneakers for the hi-end/avant-garde market.
  • Oversaw brand concept and development for both brands, including graphic design and marketing.
  • Led footwear and garment design from concept to finished product, producing all items in-house to ensure top quality.
  • Directly involved in daily production tasks: design, pattern and last development, fitting, leather development with tanneries, object dyeing, cutting, lasting, and cementing.
  • Handled communication efforts, including photo shoots and photo books.
  • Managed sales interactions with buyers, including exhibitions and showroom meetings during Paris Fashion Week.
Jan 2009 - Mar 2010
1 year 3 months
London, United Kingdom

Senior Footwear Product Manager EMEA

Fila

I have worked as Senior Footwear Product Manager EMEA in Fila – London. Being responsible for the collection on the style, merchandising and development points of view, my activities can be resumed as follows:

  • Analyze market / consumer trends, including competitors
  • Analyze sales seasonal evolution
  • Providing clear brief to the design team
  • Drive design in range, materials, color definition.
  • Drive range planning / SKU management/collection segmentation
  • Define price architecture to meet brand margin expectations
  • Negotiate prices with suppliers
  • Product development management with sourcing
  • Coordination of development including lasts and patterns
  • Interact with sales teams across EMEA to develop the collection
  • Understand individual market needs
  • Manage season merchandise meetings during the collection development
  • Present the line to sales at seasonal launches
Jul 2000 - Dec 2009
8 years 6 months

Footwear Product Manager

Tomasoni Topsail Spa

I have worked as footwear product manager for North Sails, Henri Lloyd and Outrage brands. Being responsible for the footwear collections for design and product development, I managed four freelance designers and a junior product manager to meet product, timing and price positioning targets for the brands.

Summary

Starting from footwear merchandising and product management, I focused on product design in 2010. After 3 years as a freelance designer for major professional sportswear brands, I decided to boost my skills with a new venture: an original shoe concept combining the comfort and the look of a sneaker with the materials and the construction expertise techniques of an ancient handmade dress shoes. This concept is now a reality called NIHOMANO.

Languages

Italian
Native
English
Advanced
French
Advanced
German
Advanced
Spanish
Advanced

Education

Oct 2004 - Jun 2005

Ars Sutoria

Footwear Design, Pattern Making · Milan, Italy

Oct 1992 - Jun 1997

University of Political Science

Political Science · Genoa, Italy · Magna cum laude

Oct 1987 - Jun 1992

High School Firpo

Final degree · Genoa, Italy · 60/60