Charlotte Lau

Leading product development and sourcing strategy across multiple apparel categories, driving the delivery of commercially successful, scalable ranges from concept through to bulk production. Owning the end-to-end product lifecycle, establishing clear frameworks across development, critical paths, and supplier management to ensure speed, quality, and consistency. Building and managing strategic global supplier partnerships, with a strong focus on Asia, overseeing cost negotiation, capacity planning, and performance to support margin and growth. Acting as a key cross-functional leader, aligning design, commercial, and operations teams while driving continuous improvements across processes to enhance efficiency and speed to market.

Specialising in end-to-end product lifecycle management, from initial concept through to bulk production. Extensive experience partnering with global factories across Asia and Europe to deliver high-quality, commercially successful ranges. Strong focus on supplier relationship management, cost optimisation, and process improvement. Passionate about building efficient development frameworks that enhance speed, reduce sampling iterations, and support sustainable sourcing strategies.

Take ownership of the critical path for group brands and external brands. Create and amend Tech-pack, BOM and size spec (workbooks). Work closely with the technical construction and design team to develop seasonal collections from design concepts to prototypes. Organize and lead cross functional fitting sessions. Work with manufactures by monitoring supplier performance and delivery schedules, negotiating prices, and analyzing product costs. Manage the approval process with the designer and garment tech. Give technical advice and raise up potential quality issue to the designers and factories. Monitor current sales and keep a close eye on bestsellers as part of my research in order to make informed decisions when developing a product.

Global capacity planning for Corsetry, Underwear, Lady Swimwear and Hosiery (Socks & Tights) departments. Project lead of Garment Booking module in company's core system - Centric (from forming workgroup, validation, UAT, Go-live, Users Training to Post-live). Co-build production forecasts and capacity allocations with France HQ planning team, business control, procurement and merchandising team to define the Global Procurement Strategy. Define global capacity needs and monitor garment production capacity (in minute with SMV and pieces). Provide visibility and guidance on the choice of placement and buying methods.

Production Merchandiser in Woven Baby & Kids department. Key contact with collection team (France HQ) for all sampling approval and maintain the Time & Action calendar through system. Lead of production merchandising activities and monitor capacity booking with vendors and technical services. Set and meet target for supplier performance and implement corrective action plan to improve delivery performance. Distribute and implement new norms and procedures to vendors and ensure the training. Develop and populate fair business behavior keeping in mind of social compliance and enviromental as a priority.

2 years working holiday in Australia. Travelling abroad makes me resourceful and helps me think quickly on my feet. There will be times when my travels didn’t go to plan, but I found a way to make it work. Working abroad was a true testament to my adaptability and I am able to both adapt to different work environments and be flexible in the long run.

Lead of Product development for The North Face (Action Sports, Snowboard, Bike and Baselayers). Organize cost negotiation activity and make final decision with the US team on supplier/production country allocation. Organize and lead cross functional fitting sessions. Fabric and trims pre-build and work closely with material team on costing exercises. Working closely with technical team to provide product re-engineering solution to designers to create best product value for end customers. Regular factory visit in production countries to conduct supplier relationship management.

Assist managers to oversee the Woven divison for brands: Nike, Umbro, Lacoste. Monitor end to end supply chain process and provide solutions. Cost analysis and negotiation with the factories. Organize and lead cross functional fitting session. Collaborate with factories to manage capacity for sampling and production for on time delivery and good margin. Regular factory visit to monitor the quality of salesman samples and overall production status.