Samantha Dunkley-Kennedy

Samantha Dunkley-Kennedy has a wealth of experience in the fashion industry, particularly in the design of sweaters. Currently, they are the Design Director of Men's & Women's Sweaters at NYC Alliance, where they oversee the knitwear division for the brand 525 and designs sweaters for two newly acquired brands, including TRETORN.

Before their current position, Samantha worked as the Design Director of Sweaters at Global Brands, where they led a team in designing and developing women's sweater lines for three brands. Samantha also served as the Head of Sweaters/Senior Designer, where they managed daily activities, department budget, and quality assurance to ensure design captured market trends and brand vision.

Prior to that, Samantha had important roles at The Donna Karan Company, LLC. and DKNY Jeans as a Senior Sweater Designer. In these positions, they played a crucial part in transforming and enhancing the brands' women's sweater lines. Samantha developed diverse and innovative collections, elevated apparel within company stores, and contributed to revenue growth.

Additionally, Samantha worked as a Senior Design Consultant at Brilliant Global, where they spearheaded the launch of Hong Kong-based operations in New York City. Samantha also held the position of Women's Sweater Designer at American Eagle Outfitters and Girl's Sweater Designer at Abercrombie & Fitch, where they designed trend-right fashion and ensured smooth production processes.

Samantha's early career included roles as a Junior Girls Sweater and Knits Designer & Yarn Manager at R898, Ralsey Group, where they oversaw a private label line and managed the yarn department. Samantha also gained experience as an intern at AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS INC.

Throughout their career, Samantha has demonstrated a strong ability to deliver trend-right designs, collaborate with stakeholders, and drive revenue growth.

Samantha Dunkley-Kennedy attended Nottingham Trent University from 1997 to 2001 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Knitwear Design.