Irwin Lupovici

Senior Sales & Operations Leader – Apparel Manufacturing & Merchandising at Bongwear, SS1 Import

Led the full lifecycle of garment production (knits, wovens, jean-wear) for significant North American retail clients, delivering high-quality apparel on schedule and budget. Developed and executed go-to-market merchandising and marketing strategies for men’s and women’s collections; collaborated with branding, product development and retail teams to launch seasonal lines that aligned with consumer trends and retailer needs. Cultivated and managed relationships with overseas factories, fabric mills and accessory suppliers (primarily in Asia), negotiating pricing, lead-times and quality standards to support margin targets and inventory flow. Oversaw cost-structure, overhead and expense controls daily, implementing process improvements and efficiency initiatives that supported profitability and alignment with company projections. Supervised and coached a team of 35+ staff across design, manufacturing, merchandising and administrative functions; implemented training, performance revie