For over 25 years, Neil Gilks has committed his career to design and its education.
As a fashion designer, Gilks worked through the ranks to Design Director for brands in London and New York. He thrives on building – whether working on launching new labels or recognizing the needs and areas for evolution in established companies.
Beyond creating menswear and womenswear collections for the global markets, a dedication to fashion design education has allowed Gilks to attain leadership roles with top-tiered fashion design programs globally. As Director of Educational Initiatives with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), Gilks was charged with creating opportunities and mentorship for students and faculty within 21 design institutions domestically.
Gilks cites continuing his own artistic practice as crucial – allowing him to retain a creative outlet while further exploring the space where his art, commerce, and social commentary intersect.
Since his arrival as Executive Director of the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University in the Fall of 2022, Gilks has been learning how his experience and insight can best serve our community. The learning experience is of the utmost importance to Gilks, as he strives towards making it the most robust and successful time for faculty and students alike.
The biggest obstacle I encountered was marketing and promoting my work shortly after graduating from art school.
Director of Acquisitions & Curator at international Fashion Cafes (US, Europe, Asia)
2 TEDx talks on education innovation
Fashion commentator in media (television, print) – featured in numerous television and print media sources ranging from newspapers such as London’s Sunday Times to television programs like Entertainment Tonight (USA)
Style editor and journalist
Upcoming book series on fashion & history for youth
Author of multiple undergraduate and graduate level courses
Mother to an awesome son and two fantastic daughters
Education: B.A., Textiles and Fashion, Kingston University, UK
Accomplishments You Are Most Proud Of: The evolution of my career from designing sweaters to baby apparel to home textiles. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to expand & grow across multiple avenues w/in the design industry over the past 30 years!
FB: Marketing 1 FB: Trend Analysis
History of Fashion
Position: Instructor
Industry Credit:
Faculty sponsor Beyond the Front Row
Faculty Lead : Fashion Retail Store Launch and management and new course : The Real World of Retailing
Lead Faculty for special projects published in 180 Magazine
Authoring /teaching new courses in fashion history, marketing, and merchandising
Featured speaker for online fashion trend presentation : The New Normal
Lead /created Retail Immersion workshop for online fashion students in New York
Attended New York Fashion Week School of Fashion Runway show
Planned and executed charitable event launched through School of Fashion : Give 2 Take 1
As Lead School of Fashion instructor , managed student run front of house and backstage dressing for designer Walter Von Beirondonk runway show at Berkeley Museum of Art
At the Paris-based fashion guide ModemOnline.com, I was the Editor of Modem Europe and developed relationships with organizers of fashion weeks and industry tradeshows in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Georgia, Scandinavia, Russia, and the US.
Speaker on Fashion Wearable Tech at Silicon Valley conferences (Designers of Things, SV Code Camp) (2014-2015)
At the PR Office of the School of Fashion, I helped produce the Graduation Fashion Shows in San Francisco and New York (starting 2016)
Visual Director and Director of Special Events, The Wilkes Bashford Company, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Carmel.
Visual Merchandising Director and Assistant Art Director, bebe.
Two of my illustrations are part of the permanent collection at MoMA, Museum of Modern Art, New York, as part of the 2017/18 exhibition, Club 57: Film, Performance, and Art in the East Village, 1978–1983.
My visual display design and promotional marketing package for a new fragrance launch was featured in the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue New York, as well as in the windows of twenty other top Saks store locations nationwide.
Having taught Textile Design to alumni who have designed for or are currently designing for the following companies: Ralph Lauren, Adidas, Nike, Christian Lacroix, Diane Von Furstenberg, Tessutti Cuccirelli, Italy – designing prints for Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, Stellantis, General Motors, Old Navy, Pottery Barn
Andrea Skillings earned her MA in Fashion and Textiles from Parsons School of Design in New York. She has extensive experience in product development, design, merchandising, and manufacturing. Skillings spent the majority of her career in the childrenswear market, focusing on design and product development. She has extensive experience in wholesale and private label product development, including concept and collection development, technical packages, sourcing, costing, and production. With Kahn Lucas, Skillings developed key initiatives with fabric development and sample-making to improve product quality and reduce development and production costs.
