Sugoi Performance Apparel hired Jin Seo to serve as the company’s Women’s Director of Design. Working directly from the Sugoi Design Lab in New York City, Seo will shape the vision of Sugoi’s women’s products. Combining the resources of Vancouver while establishing a New York design center will allow Seo to lead a strategic design process and create a global line that extends Sugoi’s reputation for incredible technical apparel in the athletic lifestyle market.

In conceiving and executing the women’s line, Seo will work with the company’s design team to fine-tune Sugoi’s women customer profile, craft a universal design language and implement a comprehensive design-to-delivery strategy.

Stan Mavis, president of Sugoi, said, “Jin is an incredible talent whose vision aligns perfectly with our company.  She will drive line development in a comprehensive way, from product management and operating plans to color selection and design vision.”

Seo most recently served as vice president of design (Men’s and Young Contemporary) for Hurley, LLC, where she created and defined her division’s design aesthetic, crafted merchandising plans and re-launched the junior’s business as Young Contemporary.

Prior to that, she served as design director for Old Navy’s $600 million Men’s Active/Knits/Sweaters business, conceptualizing and implementing its Outdoor Active classification.  

From 1999 to 2003, she worked with Polo Ralph Lauren as design director for RLX knits and sweaters.  She was instrumental in establishing the design direction for men’s and women’s performance products for tennis, snow sports, and active and endurance apparel.

A graduate from Cornell University in 1991, Seo kickstarted her career as design assistant to Marc Jacobs at Perry Ellis, then Tracy Reese at Magaschoni.

“I’m thrilled at the opportunity to work for Sugoi alongside such an industry icon as Stan Mavis. The combination of his vision and Sugoi’s in-house talent are unique, and I’m proud to be included in their plans for growth.”