DIANE BECKER

Creative consultant, Diane Ellen Becker has worked in all aspects of the specialty leather business from visual merchandiser and buyer to designer of high-end leather goods and shoes. She has extensive experience in international trend research, international education, and mentoring the development of personal creativity. Native New Yorker, based in Florence, Italy, former Department chair of Design: Footwear and Accessories at POLIMODA. Past work includes collection design and creative network for CAMPER, Pancaldi 1888, Luisa Via Roma, and special corporate projects for Ferragamo, Gucci, Ballentyne and Ferrari. Currently Director of International and Creative studies at Hiko Mizuno and the Tokyo College of Cycle Design in Tokyo, while in Tuscany she is Director of Didactic Projects for the Consorzio Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata al Vegetale and responsible for creating and leading the prestigious Craft the Leather programs. With wide-ranging international lecture and workshop experience in Paris, Milano, Tokyo, London, New York, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Seoul, she is specialized in experiential workshops focused on the cultural and environmental sustainability of heritage crafts and materials.