Niccolo Duranti
Senior Director | Sustainable Materials & Product Development Leader | Global Sourcing & Supply Chain Expert | Footwear & Accessories | Luxury Fashion | PLM | Innovation | Margin Optimization
- Role
- Senior Director, Raw Materials at Designer Brands
- Location
- New York, NY, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Niccolo Duranti
I’m a passionate fashion industry leader with over 15 years of global experience in product development, materials innovation, and sustainable sourcing—spanning Europe, Italy, China, the U.S, Brazil, and Mexico.From high-end leather at heritage tanneries in Tuscany to pioneering sustainable alternatives across Asia and Latin America, I’ve built my career around elevating materials and developing exceptional products in footwear and handbags. I’ve led international teams, collaborated closely with designers, and brought hundreds of collections to life for brands like Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana, and currently, Designer Brands Inc.My core focus: crafting products and materials that deliver value—financially, aesthetically, and sustainably. I excel at bridging design and operations, translating creative visions into scalable, margin-strong solutions. I believe sustainability is not a trend but a responsibility, and I work daily to integrate it into real-world supply chains and product strategies.Specialties include: • Product development – footwear & handbags • Sustainable materials & leather alternatives • Global sourcing & supply chain strategy • Vendor relations across Europe, Asia, Brazil, Mexico & the U.S. • Cost engineering, PLM systems & innovation leadership
Experience
Senior Director, Raw Materials
Oct 2024 — Present · New York, NY, US
As the Senior Director of Raw Materials at Designer Brands, I oversaw a team of 17 across three continents, driving materials research and development for renowned brands like Vince Camuto and Lucky. My expertise in sustainable materials, luxury brand experience, and global supply chain management led to significant cost savings and improved margins, while also advancing our corporate sustainability strategy.
Education
Liceo Linguistico Europeo SS.ma Annunziata Empoli
diploma, Lingue inglese francese tedesco
1998 — 2003
Scuola scienze Aziendali
certificazione, Marketing/Gestione marketing, generale
2003 — 2004
New York University
Corporate Sustainability Management, Corporate Sustainability Management
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