Greg McMillan Macker International Apparel Inc. 44 Point Terrace, Furry Creek, BC., Canada V0N3Z1 604-551-0209 [email protected]career summary I’ve pretty much spent my whole life involved in sports. My family was incredibly active in various sports while growing up. Being Canadian, we were heavily into competitive hockey and tennis. In university, I became house mates with ski racers who were also involved in the beginning stages of windsurfing. From these friendships I became addicted to board sports! First snow skiing, followed by windsurfing, snowboarding, surfing, kite boarding, stand- up paddle, wake boarding, water skiing; anything I could do using some sort of board! I was fortunate enough to compete and be sponsored by windsurfing company’s which lead to clothing sponsors. Hanging around other sponsored athletes proved that my Australian surf wear sponsor at the time was not quite up to the latest trends in surf and casual attire, so I started critiquing what they sent me. One thing lead to another and somehow I ended up designing clothing for them. I then became involved in the distribution group in north america to import and distribute the products throughout the states and canada. With a successful business operation up and running, I sold my shares after being approached by the distributor of Quiksilver in Canada to join him in operating the license for Quiksilver canada. this was the ultimate experience! Travelling around the world meeting and working with the various Quiksilver international license design groups was a priceless education in design and production. after four years of growth, we sold the license to an asian garment industry group through the Maple Leaf Foundation, which allowed Canadian citizenship. From there I went on to work freelance designing for Billabong, Descente and numerous other action sports apparel company’s. being familiar with production, I ended up looking after the fabric and trim development and design as well as the production of most lines. I think the biggest advantage i have had working with multiple action sports oriented clothing company’s is my ability to grasp specific developments from one sport that could be tweaked to relate and apply to another. By also being an end-user, I could test different concepts to ensure they actually worked the way they were supposed to. This evolutionary evaluation worked consistently with constant refinement and the development of technological advancements. When something new came along, I figured out if and how to apply the application to apparel. The focus now is to keep the development happening but to ensure what your doing is environmentally sustainable and the product lines you are creating have zero negative impact on the already strained planet. The greatest part of this is that there are numerous untapped eco friendly resources just waiting to be discovered and applied! What impresses me the most about this industry is the next generation who are entering the field to fill the design positions and who “get” what needs to done. That raw youthful energy is so addicting i find myself becoming more of a teacher / mentor than a boss. there are many resources now that direct and forecast trends, but its really how creative a designer can be that makes a difference. You still need to understand the process and viability to make it work and that’s where my value lies. The apparel action sport industry is all about learning to look beyond what’s on the shelf and make a difference in the future!
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Greg McMillanMacker International Apparel Inc.
44 Point Terrace, Furry Creek, BC., Canada V0N3Z1604-551-0209 [email protected]
career summaryI’ve pretty much spent my whole life involved in sports. My family was incredibly active in various sports while
growing up. Being Canadian, we were heavily into competitive hockey and tennis. In university, I became house mates with ski racers who were also involved in the beginning stages of windsurfing. From these friendships I became
addicted to board sports! First snow skiing, followed by windsurfing, snowboarding, surfing, kite boarding, stand-up paddle, wake boarding, water skiing; anything I could do using some sort of board!
I was fortunate enough to compete and be sponsored by windsurfing company’s which lead to clothing sponsors. Hanging around other sponsored athletes proved that my Australian surf wear sponsor at the time was not quite
up to the latest trends in surf and casual attire, so I started critiquing what they sent me. One thing lead to another and somehow I ended up designing clothing for them. I then became involved in the distribution group in
north america to import and distribute the products throughout the states and canada. With a successful business operation up and running, I sold my shares after being approached by the distributor of Quiksilver in Canada to join him in operating the license for Quiksilver canada. this was the ultimate experience! Travelling around the world meeting and working with the various Quiksilver international license design groups was a
priceless education in design and production. after four years of growth, we sold the license to an asian garment industry group through the Maple Leaf Foundation, which allowed Canadian citizenship. From there I went on to
work freelance designing for Billabong, Descente and numerous other action sports apparel company’s. being familiar with production, I ended up looking after the fabric and trim development and design as well as the
production of most lines.
I think the biggest advantage i have had working with multiple action sports oriented clothing company’s is my ability to grasp specific developments from one sport that could be tweaked to relate and apply to another. By
also being an end-user, I could test different concepts to ensure they actually worked the way they were supposed to. This evolutionary evaluation worked consistently with constant refinement and the development of technological advancements. When something new came along, I figured out if and how to apply the application to
apparel.
The focus now is to keep the development happening but to ensure what your doing is environmentally sustainable and the product lines you are creating have zero negative impact on the already strained planet. The greatest part
of this is that there are numerous untapped eco friendly resources just waiting to be discovered and applied!
What impresses me the most about this industry is the next generation who are entering the field to fill the design positions and who “get” what needs to done. That raw youthful energy is so addicting i find myself
becoming more of a teacher / mentor than a boss. there are many resources now that direct and forecast trends, but its really how creative a designer can be that makes a difference. You still need to understand the process
and viability to make it work and that’s where my value lies.The apparel action sport industry is all about learning to look beyond what’s on the shelf and make a difference
in the future!
Profile of Gregory A.L. McMillan44 Point Terrace, Furry Creek, BC., Canada V0N 3Z1
PROFESSIONAL PROFILETwenty years of experience in the design, production and marketing of trend oriented lifestyle and technical sports apparel.Global expertise with industries top companies including: Quiksilver, Billibong, Descente and Option-NFA.Extensive experience in sourcing and working with suppliers and factories in AsiaExceptional experience in financial planning, budget preparation and trend analysis as it relates to soft goods and accessories.Proven strategic approach in the creation and execution of global brands including DNA and DINCUS.Reputation for getting the job done, while achieving revenue and business targets.
EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY
February 2008 – May 2010: Dincus Apparel Inc. - eco-friendly urban and technical apparel, freelance design, development and production management.
Create and produce leading edge technical and eco friendly surf / street wear and outerwear clothing.Develop fabrics, trims, specification packages and manage production.Trend analysis, cost analysis.
January 2003 – July 2007 Option-NFA Inc. - Vice President Soft Goods.
Integral part of the company’s senior management team.Manage and oversee the design and production to the company’s soft goods merchandise, namely clothing and accessories, under all of the company’s brands.Assist in the defining of the marketing plan for the company’s soft goods.Create and produce leading edge designs and a timely delivery of price and quality competitive clothing and accessories to distributors and retail accounts.
January 2001 – Present Macker International Apparel Inc., owner.
“PuckSkin” wicking, antimicrobial base layer garments specifically designed for ice hockey (www.puckskin.com).“Layer1” eco friendly bamboo sports socks, multi-sport base layers (www.layer1.ca). Branded, design, develop and produce moisture wicking, natural anti-microbial, eco friendly base layers and sport socks.
1991 – January 2003 GM Design : Contract design and production of technical sports apparel and street wear
DNA, Descente Limited, Osaka, Japan. – 2000-2002Created “DNA” brand for Descente to launch their new free-ride line Developed name, created logo and co-designed the first year’s collectionsDescente sales increased by 30% through this newly launched free-ride line
SMS, Whistler, BC. – 2001-2003Designed and consulted on the outerwear collections
Performance Bike, N. Carolina, U.S.A. – 2000-2001Designed key technical jackets for the production contractor
Billabong, Costa Mesa, California, U.S.A. 1991-1993Snowboard wear design, sourcing and production
1991-1994 G.A.S. Sportswear - Co-founder, partner, designer, production manager.Surf / Ski sportswear design and production
1986-1991 Quiksilver Canada - Design and Production managerLicensee Co-founder, shareholder, director, and designer.Designed and merchandised licensed international designs into biannual collections.Sourced and purchased fabrics and components. Created CMT’S (cut/make/trim).Scheduled and coordinated in-house pattern making, cutting, sample production and production
Points of InterestCompeted internationally in windsurfing, ice hockey and snowboarding. Competed provincially in tennis.Current ActivitiesSurfing, Stand-up paddle surfing, kite boarding, windsurfing, skate boarding, snowboarding, wake boarding, water-skiing, ice hockey, golf, yoga.
• 1980’s early 90’s: initiated first snowboard specific apparel for top surf companies Quiksilver and Billabong. Original Quiksliver Canada licensee and international design team member.
• 2001: Branded “DNA” for leading skiwear manufacturer Descente, Japan to facilitate youth image and entry into new demographic trend outerwear, creating 30% growth and future consumer brand loyalty. www.ridedna.com
• 2003-08: Option / NFA, Lead the design and graphic teams into multi-seasonal apparel. Created an atmosphere of leaders by creating the first trend drive into graphic inspired outerwear and textured shell fabrications. Created numerous category dominant trims. All previous team designers are now working for leading category company’s.
• 2000’s: Created “PuckSkin” and “Layer1” branded technical base layers using future forward “nano” natural antimicrobial and recycled technical fabrications. “Layer1” is the first base layer garment to incorporate balance hologram technology. www.puckskin.com , www.layer1.ca.
• 2008-10: designed and developed “Dincus” branded leading edge “eco friendly” fabrics and garments using bamboo yarns (bamboo denim, bamboo wovens and knits) and recycled technical polyesters. www.dincus.com.