ErinLavigne
Footwear design director in New York. Original shoes, from the first pencil line to the factory floor, for nearly two decades.
- 17+
- Years designing
- 6
- Design houses
- $5–18M
- Lines built
Process
Beyond the sketch: how a collection is built
Direct
Seasonal direction set with creative leadership, rooted in brand DNA and constant market research. The story and the calendar every other decision hangs on.
Design
Dozens of fast pencil versions before one earns a second look, then digital renderings where proportion, hardware and color come into focus.
Source
Leathers, hardware, soles and seasonal color palettes developed with suppliers, then edited down to exactly what the line needs.
Develop
Tech packs, constructions and blueprints, then fittings on foot models and trips to the factory. Samples are corrected by hand, on the last, until they are right.
Merchandise
Foundational and fashion styles balanced against margin and price targets alongside merchandising and sales. Whitespace found, new categories opened.
Build
The line comes together as one story, presented to commercial teams, then sharpened by selling reports into the next season.
The sketchbook
A private look into my creative mind. Come explore original designs, unfolded for your eyes only.
About
Nearly two decades of craft that defines categories
Erin Lavigne is a dynamic design leader with a powerful point of view: the future of fashion depends on fearless originality. Now building Teemworks, the A to Z footwear agency she cofounded, after nearly two decades inside the brands she designed for, she brings deep expertise driving category growth, mentoring design teams, and building standout product lines for brands from $5M to $18M in revenue.
She is known for her ability to see whitespace in product lines, building compelling assortments that support margin, elevate brand perception, and unlock new business opportunities, from expanding categories to introducing sourcing partners and streamlining team structures.
Erin has restructured entire teams and calendars to reduce burnout and build more space for innovation, earning a reputation for leadership that is both human and strong on results. With a deep respect for craft and a commitment to design that is never a knockoff, she helps brands stand out in a sea of the same.
Education
College for Creative Studies
B.F.A., Industrial Design · 2004 to 2008
Graduated among the top of her class as one of two women in her cohort, after shifting focus from automotive to industrial design.
Seventeen years, six houses
TeemworksCo-Founder
A to Z Footwear AgencyMarch 2025 — Present- Co-founded an A to Z footwear agency that takes products from design through production for established brands and independent entrepreneurs
- Leading design, development, sourcing, and product strategy for every client engagement
- Creating footwear concepts, renderings, and technical development packages
- Advising founders on bringing products from initial concept through development readiness
- Developing educational content focused on footwear design, development, and industry insights
rag & boneNew York
Design Director — Men's & Women'sAug 2024 — Mar 2025- Managed all aspects of footwear design from concept to market sample stage, overseeing sketches, CADs, tech packs, and material specs
- Worked with the VP and creative leads to establish seasonal direction reflective of brand DNA, driving continuous market research to evolve product offerings
- Collaborated with Merchandising on a balanced assortment of foundational and fashion styles; led and mentored the design team's daily workload
- Partnered with Technical Design at every stage with emphasis on fit and comfort, and with Product Development on sourcing, calendar, and margin goals
- Aligned tightly with rag & bone's RTW, denim, and accessories teams to refine seasonal details across the footwear collection
- Presented collections to commercial teams, analyzed selling reports, and traveled overseas to factories to review prototype and SMS development
Kelsi Dagger BrooklynNew York
Design DirectorAug 2015 — Aug 2024- Led the development of a comprehensive brand guide for the Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn rebrand launch
- Orchestrated the entire seasonal development process — ideation, product development, and final sample production — presenting seasonally via web, Zoom, and in-person
- Collaborated closely with the President and Vice President to diversify the business into new categories and consumer engagement
- Managed design packages, tech packs, material development, and seasonal color palettes; partnered with Marketing, Sales, and Production on every seasonal launch
- Set and achieved target pricing with overseas factories; conducted technical fittings on self and foot models, traveling to China and Brazil for hands-on development
- Directed product photography, social media, and seasonal art direction to build the brand's online presence
BCBGenerationNew York
Senior DesignerSep 2014 — Aug 2015- Managed a three-person team through design process and product development
- Developed seasonal materials and color palettes; designed and detailed collections based on market trends and brand DNA
- Technically corrected all patterns, constructions, and hardware
- Traveled overseas for line development and to the West Coast for client presentations
Banana RepublicNew York
Footwear DesignerJan 2013 — Sep 2014- Designed, developed, and executed seasonal collections; created and enforced the seasonal calendar
- Managed the team's daily activities and developed seasonal materials and color palettes
- Traveled overseas for line development and to the West Coast for major client presentations
- Oversaw confirmation samples for production and worked on a collaboration with Marimekko
DKNY InternationalNew York
Footwear DesignerNov 2009 — Jan 2013- Provided seasonal design inspiration for DKNY and DKNY Active
- Sketched and finalized designs incorporating market research, price-sensitive guidelines, and merchandising requirements
- Developed new constructions, created tech packs, and revised blueprints; collaborated on projects including Opening Ceremony and Bensimon
- Created color-up presentations, finalized SKUs with merchandising, and designed promotional books used by the sales team