FASHION DESIGNER MANUFACTURER

WHOLESALER MARKETING WIZ MERCHANDISER

RETAILER FASHION STYLIST 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

BRAND CONSULTANT

From the time she was born all Marlene Shiff heard was “why are you so different?” She decided if this was to be her demarcation she would blaze it.

Having been raised in a large clothing manufacturing background, she found comfort in the world of fabrication and production. She learned each step by asking each person about their job. This proved invaluable when she later went on to become a designer herself as she could easily discern where fabric and money were being wasted.

As a designer she was a pathfinder, starting trends. This enabled her to be an excellent trend- spotter throughout her career and understood that timing was paramount to financial success. Being ahead of the crowd doesn't necessarily sell vast amounts of product but her creative advice proved valuable to the trail-blazers who could discern the timing.

She designed first in Canada, selling her collections to major department stores, regional chains and independent boutiques across the USA and Canada. She parlayed these relationships into private label design for Holt Renfrew and The Bay in Canada, and her branded designs were sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom in the USA and through her NY agents, across Europe as well.

She designed for Bob Mackie in NY, the designer whose fame came from the design of Cher's costume wardrobe throughout her career. These designs were featured in WWD; the industry bible Womens Wear Daily, ELLE magazine in the USA and Canada as well as newspapers and fashion magazines across Canada.

Having now been the designer, manufacturer, wholesaler, marketing whiz and finally retailer, she understood what was broken in the educational system of fashion. In a effort to teach designers or students of design, the steps they'll need to take to get their product to market.

She created and ran seminars, wrote and taught classes in styling and it wasn't long until a college asked her to be an industry architect for a new Business course around fashion; everything but the actual design.

She also began writing and contributing to a prediction-tracking website/blog, offering explanation of the changing face of retail where vertically integrated companies would soon be the only norm, and ranged from acute business lessons to commenting on other stories such as a tongue-in-cheek explanation of “tattoo Barbie”. She still writes, and has a lot to say.

Today Marlene is an independent consultant, finding the variety of clients very satisfying. She works predominantly with start-ups in development, as well as creative direction of larger companies. She travels the world teaching fashion students and graduates how to style and merchandise, how to package themselves, how to get their products to market, how to perfect their “pitch-package” and how to break into the North American and European marketplace.