via Niccolo' Paganini,9 20131 Milan (MI) - ITALY, olimpio3@virgilio.it / +39 333 32 55 854 / Linkedin.com/in/luca-olimpio
Fashion Luxury Expert with years of experience in styling, visual merchandising, luxury brand marketing and new trends scouting with a sound understanding of the fashion industries. Characterized by a proven ability to assess market needs, I gained my skills in the field dealing with communication internal departments and external agencies, staff training, supply chain management and material selection. An assertive leader able to manage project resources, I can coordinate customer engagement activities, trunk/fashion shows and photo shoots.
• Styling
• Visual Merchandising
• Luxury brand marketing
• New trends scouting
• Sales and customer engagement
• Budget allocation and P&L
• Material selection and product development
• HR management: recruiting, evaluation and training
• Supply chain management
2020 - Fashion as Design online course at MoMA
2018 - Retail Sales in the Middle East, Prada Group
2001 - Academic Diploma in Textile Design, Product Development and Materials, C.F.P. Milan
2000 - Master in Styling and Organization of Fashion Shows, IED Institute, Milan
2000 - Luxury customers preferences in the contemporary society, IED Milan
1997 - 1999 - Biannual Diploma in Interior Design, Academy of Fine Arts Lorenzo VT
BRAND IMAGE DIRECTOR
- WOLFORD -
Milan ▪ 03/2021 – present
• In charge of setting the art/image direction
• Dealing with seasonal trend hunting and inspiration research.
• Responsible for content/design creation, VM and store architecture departments.
MANAGER OF VISUAL MERCHANDISING
- PRADA GROUP -
Swiss ▪ 05/2019 – 02/2021
• In charge of setting the VM creative direction in the region including special mountain’s layout, product placement and styling guidelines. Managing existing store re-styling's projects based on market needs and display capacity.
• Assessing market needs and stock procurement. Dealing with seasonal trend hunting and inspiration research.
• Responsible for leading the day-to-day operations within the VM department. Recruiting and providing training to the local staff.
• Supporting promotional events and trunk/fashion shows.
• Dealing with suppliers for window’s prop productions/installations.
Middle East & South Africa ▪ 03/2015 – 04/2019
• In charge of setting the creative direction of regional stores including product placement and styling guidelines.
• Assessing market needs and stock procurement. Dealing with seasonal trend hunting and inspiration research.
• Responsible for leading the day-to-day operations within the VM department. Recruiting and providing training to the local staff.
• Supporting promotional events and trunk/fashion shows.
• Dealing with suppliers for window prop productions/installations.
• Managing co-marketing initiatives with department stores.
New regional openings: launched 5 new stores (1 of 1600 m2) in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Johannesburg. Supporting the retail operations department in defining stores layout, space allocation and merchandising strategies. Recruiting local VM, staff planning all the necessary training activities.
Italian - Mother tongue (C2)
English - Advanced (C1)
French - Advanced (C1)
Spanish - Basic (A2)
Leadership and ability to train human resources. Organizing, prioritizing and scheduling work assignments.
High reliability, flexibility and stress tolerance together with the ability to analyse issues and develop integrated creative solutions.
Problem solver able to formulate policy, developing and implementing new merchandising strategies.
Passionate, result-driven with excellent analytical skills, can successfully deal with customers and suppliers at all levels.
Master's Degree in Law University of Florence, Italy
C.F.P. Milan Academic Diploma in Fashion & Textile Design, products and materials development.
Courses held under the supervision of Mrs. Renata Pompas.
I.E.D. Milano, Master in Styling and Organization of Fashion Shows
Accademia di Belle Arti Lorenzo da Viterbo, Biannual Diploma in Interior Design.
Istituto P.SAVI Viterbo, Diploma in Basic Economy
Place and D.O.B:
Viterbo (VT) - IT, 06/05/1974
IMAGE DIRECTOR COORDINATOR WW- JIL SANDER NAVY
NYC ▪ 01/2013 - 02/2015
• Supporting Mrs. Constance Darrow, ART Director, in styling, looks/advertising campaigns, managing all communication activities, castings, fittings and anything related with overseeing the image of the newly created brand.
• Developing/implementing VM concepts for the new brand/stores.
HEAD OF VISUAL MERCHANDISING WW - JIL SANDER
Milan (IT) ▪ 01/2009 - 12/2012
• In charge of defining and implementing the VM strategy.
• Supporting creative directors (Mr. Raf Simons, later Mrs. Jil Sander and after Mr. Rodolfo Paglialunga) in developing a new windows and show room's concept based on fashion shows.
• Planning and developing showrooms, store displays, events, VM guidelines, styling and e-commerce appearance.
• Supporting seasonal procurement of stock while dealing with VM staff recruiting and development.
VISUAL MERCHANDISING MANAGER - ETRO
Milan (IT) ▪ 01/2005 - 12/2008
• Hired as responsible for the retail channel composed of 350 stores across Europe, Middle East, South Korea, China and US.
• Developing showrooms, windows, displays and events.
• Assisting Mr. Kean Etro in researching for collections, castings, fittings, styling looks for both shows and commercial look-books.
• Supporting the development of business and product/advertising strategies for each local market.
VISUAL MERCHANDISING - PRADA GROUP
Milan (IT) ▪ 01/2001 - 12/2004
• Assisting the fashion coordinator Mrs. Manuela Pavesi in setting VM strategies for brands such as Prada, Miu Miu, Helmut Lang, Church's, Car Shoes.
• Supporting new store openings worldwide (Europe, China, Russia and Japan).
• Installing windows, in-store displays and showrooms.
• Provide VM support during seasonal showrooms installations and special events.
DESIGN ASSISTANT - COCCAPANI
Milan (IT) ▪ 01/2000 - 12/2000
Assisting the Head of Design Mr. Riccardo Tisci in product development activities such as material selection and supply chain management. Supporting other offices in executing the overall show creative direction.