To permeate the footwear and apparel markets with a new attire concept that will act as a link between the traditional footwear and apparel industries, changing the consumer view of footwear from a functional requirement to a fashionable accessory.
Skins has designed and continue to develop a two-part, footwear structure consisting of an outer collapsible "Skin" and an inner orthopedic support section called the "Bone." The design is intended to allow consumers to purchase one inner section, the Bone, and numerous outer Skins, resulting in multiple style variations from the same pair of shoes, with the same feel and fit despite which Skin is being worn. Skins intends to initially design, manufacture and market high quality men's and women's footwear and is finalizing the first Skins collection with an anticipated Spring/Summer 2007 commercial launch.
Mr. Klein began working on the business concept behind the predecessor of Skins Footwear Inc. in 2002 and was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Skins Footwear Inc. on May 18, 2004. From 2001 to 2002, Mr. Klein served as the Sales Director on ICQ Mobile, the mobile instant messaging division of AOL Time Warner, where he set sales and marketing strategies for ICQ’s Value Added Service (VAS) wireless operations and handled technical and marketing deployments and workshops with operators. From 1999 to 2000, he acted as a senior marketing and sales executive for both Comverse Network Systems and Oraios.com, where he directed, created and implemented sales and marketing initiatives. Mr. Klein launched his executive career from 1997 through 1999 as the Sales Director of Convertbond.com, where he managed the business development and sales strategy for the online financial portal.
Ms. Gargiulo was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Skins Footwear, Inc. on July 19th 2007. Before her appointment as an executive of the Company, Ms. Gargiulo was with Jones Apparel Group, where she was the Chief Financial Officer of the company's Better Apparel segment. Prior to her five years with Jones, Ms. Gargiulo was with Donna Karan International for six years, rising to the position of Assistant Corporate Controller. Ms. Gargiulo started her career at the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche in their retail practice, and subsequently worked in accounting and finance at major retailers, including Loehmann's and Episode.
Mr. Gary Sefferman was appointed as our VP of Production and Logistics of Skins Footwear, Inc. on April 28, 2008. Previously Mr. Sefferman had his own consulting practice advising clients including Kasper/Anne Klein, Jones Apparel Group, and Tahari ASL on operational issues and process improvements in their production areas as well spearheading technology-related implementations. Prior to his establishing his consulting practice, Mr. Sefferman was Vice President Merchandising and Production for Pierre Cardin Chemise, a Division of Beldoch Industries; and Director of Production - Manufacturing and Private label divisions of Fashionmakers Ltd., working with such companies as: Ralph Lauren Women’s, Brooks Brothers, Talbot’s, Jones NY, Carlisle Collection, GFT, Bergdorf Goodman, Federated Dept. Stores.
Mr. Rosenthal was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Skins Footwear Inc. in October 2005. Since 1986, Mr. Rosenthal has served as Chairman and President of M.J. Rosenthal and Associates, Inc., an investment and consulting company. From 1984 to 1986, Mr. Rosenthal was a partner and managing director of Wesray Capital Corporation, an equity investment firm. From 1976 to 1984 , Mr. Rosenthal served as a partner and a Managing Director of the Mergers and Acquisitions Department of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Inc. an investment banking firm. During 2002 and 2003, Mr. Rosenthal served as Chief Restructuring Officer for Foster Wheeler Ltd. Mr. Rosenthal also serves as a director of MAXXAM, Inc., The Pacific Lumber Company, Nobel Learning Communities, Inc. and as a director and Treasurer of the Horticultural Society of New York. Over the last several years, Mr. Rosenthal has also served as Chairman, a director and/or Chief Executive Officer of a number of companies including American Vision Centers, Inc.; Northwestern Steel & Wire Company; Star Corrugated Box Co., Inc. Vector Distributors, Inc; Western Auto Supply Company; and Wilson Sporting Goods Company. Mr. Rosenthal was an honors graduate from the New York University Law School and Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
Mr. Zambrelli was appointed to the Board of Directors of Skins Inc. in January 2007. Mr. Zambrelli is a founder of Banfi Zambrelli, a leading fashion footwear design firm. As a Skins strategic business partner, Banfi Zambrelli has helped lead the direction of the Skins brand and will coordinate production design and oversee production and manufacturing of Skins footwear in Italy. Before founding Banfi Zambrelli in 2003 along with Silvano Banfi, Mr. Zambrelli has worked with a renowned group of clients including, Chanel, Cole- Haan and Coach. Currently, Mr. Zambrelli leads the creative direction for Calvin Klein footwear and serves as President of Judith Leiber as well as sitting on the Board of the prominent, New York based Fashion Institute of Technology
Mr. Reimer joined Skins Footwear Inc. as a Director in October 2005. From 1986 to 2001, he served as Senior Vice President of Kohl’s Department Store. From 2001 to the present, he has served as a consultant to B.T.M. Consulting. Mr. Reimer also currently a board member of the Two Ten Footwear Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides educational and social services to individuals working in the footwear industry.
Skins has an advisory board that renders advisory services to us with respect to technical, financial and marketing matters, in addition to matters related to recruitment of personnel. The advisory board meets with the our Board of Directors approximately six to eight times per year.
Members of our advisory board are:
Mr. Priakos has served on our advisory board since October 2005. He has served as Vice President of Merchandising for the Dallas Cowboys Football Team for the past nine years.
Mr. Itzkowitz has been President of Atsco Footwear LLC sinceJuly 2001 to the present day. Mark's expertise in sourcing, development and design of footwear product has been extensive in the footwear community over the last 35 years.
Dennis Walker from June 2005 was President of Innovative Solutions, and consulted to the investment community and the footwear and fashion industries. Previously, he served as Vice President of Department Stores for Tommy Hilfiger 2004 - 2005; President of National Geographic Footwear 2001- 2004, a K-Swiss company; and Vice President and Director of Sales at the Rockport Company 1986- 2001, a Reebok International company. Mr. Walker has also served as both Vice President of Sales and Vice President of Marketing for Stride Rite Footwear 1981-1986, the nations largest quality children's brand.
Mr. Levi has been an invaluable and integral part of the Skins team since the company's inception. Kobi led the development and design efforts during the company's product development stage and continues to design, develop and act as liaison coordinator between our extended design team and manufacturing partners. Kobi graduated from the Bezalel Academy of Art & Design in Jerusalem in 2001, specializing in footwear design and development. He went on to study fashion in DesignSkolen in Kolding, Denmark.
Kobi was awarded with the Bezalel Excellence Award in 2001, the AICF Scholarship( America-Israel Cultural Foundation ) from 2001-2003, and the Silver Prize Opus award in 2002, an international eyewear design competition in Tokyo, Japan.
Mr. Levi's work has been shown in many international exhibits and design & fashion events including:
Internationai Design Bienalle 2000 - Saint-Etienne, France
Abitare il Tempo 2002 - Fiera di Verona, Italy
Israeli Habitat 2002 - Jerusalem
Design+Fashion 2002 - Flensburg Germany
"Barefoot in Tokyo" shoe exhibition, TDB (Tokyo Designers Block) 2004 - Japan
“Skins is in a non-exclusive sourcing and buying agent agreement with Atsco Footwear.”
Banfi Zambrelli has been retained to lead the direction of the Skins brand and will coordinate product design, website design, packaging and press kits. Banfi Zambrelli is lead by Salvano Banfi and Frank Zambrelli, two designers who have worked with Gucci, Chanel, Bally, Coach, Calvin Klein, Judith Leiber, Cole-Haan and Rockport.
www.banfizambrelli.com
Tronic Studio will create all multimedia material for Skins, including a three-dimensional product video designed to be used in retail environments and on our website. Tronic Studio has worked with Adidas and Nike.
www.tronicstudio.com
Gwarsh Studio is responsible for developing the Skins brand online. Gwarsh has been responsible for the commercial/investors website whilst consulting on developing online viral campaigns as well as being involved with setting up online community awareness. Gwarsh is a Sydney based boutique design studio developing brands online an offline for global lifestyle markets.
www.gwarsh.com