The Creare team is comprised of a small group with big talents. Our hand-picked employees were chosen specifically for their vast experience in various garment design, technical fabric construction, textile design, production, marketing, sales, product development, and sustainability (not to mention their wit!).
Let's introduce our Creare family:
The Diplomat
KEVIN LYNK
Kevin is a serial entrepreneur, so starting Creare in 2008 was a dream come true. This gave Kevin the opportunity to continue traveling around the world, build product and look for opportunities where ever they may be. He used his successful history in the fabric world to gain entry into some of the best manufacturing firms in the world, most especially CIEL Textiles based in Mauritius but manufacturing also in Madagascar (both duty free to USA). Kevin still likes to travel, but now his favorite trips are the ones with his family to many countries like Costa Rica, Maldives, Dubai, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Mexico, and of course his home country of Canada. Kevin grew up in Canada, went to Saint Mary’s and Concordia Universities where he was a varsity soccer player for both schools and is still a soccer fanatic to this day. When he’s not in the office, Kevin’s with his wife Cory chasing their two teens Liam and Elle around Mountain Lakes between swim meets, tournaments, and cheer competitions.
Fun Fact: King of useless fun facts.
Email: Kevin.lynk@crearegroup.com
The Creator
Michele Richardson
Michele comes to Creare with 19 years of garment design experience, having worked for brands such as Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue, Kenneth Cole, and Macys amongst others with sweaters, knits, and woven shirting’s, outerwear and bottoms. She has also owned and successfully operated her own clothing business. She loves to travel and usually tries to make to at least 4-5 countries a year. When she is not at work, Michele and her husband, Christian, are planning parties, playdates, and running around after their two daughters, Ava, and Colette and adopted dog Oscar, in Westchester county.
Fun Fact: Michele started her first business when she was 9 and was top sales person of the northeast!
Email: Michele.richardson@crearegroup.com
The stylist at work & The enabler at home
Cory LYNK
Cory Graduated from Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, where she majored in textile design. For the past 30 years she’s worked as a menswear stylist for a variety of tailored clothing lines, developed fabrications, color lines, trend presentation and fabric collections geared towards a host of brands and price points. After she had her children she continued to work, but on a freelance basis until they became independent teenagers. Today at Creare Cory is responsible for developing and designing for Creare’s menswear tailored fabric collections in addition to collaborating on shirting fabric colorations and design presentations. When not at work Cory loves spending time with her family. She plays on a tennis team, enjoys golf and is often spotted walking her Newfie mix pup.
Fun Fact: Things I love most are spending time with my family, taking long walks with my beloved newfiepoo and playing tennis.
Email: Corylynk@mac.com
The Enforcer
Alissa Lopes
Alissa comes to Creare with 9 years of Women’s bridal gown and evening gown experience, having worked as an Assistant buyer for Group USA in Secaucus NJ right out of College.
Alissa likes shopping, boxing and the gun range. Her bull terrier (the target dog) named Cash, is her baby! She splits living time between the east and west, NYC & AZ. Nicknamed “Weezie” as a kid, and still today, She loves Hip Hop, R&B, some country & Frank Sinatra of course!
Her brother, FDNY firefighter Vinny Lopes, is her hero!
Fun Fact: She had a cameo in “Carlito’s Way”
Email: Alissa.lopes@crearegroup.com
Veronica Pagani
Veronica comes to Creare with almost 20 years of industry experience. She has spent the past 15 years as Head of Raw Material Sourcing and Operations for both menswear and womenswear at Ralph Lauren. She has successfully led the end to end process for wovens and is extremely passionate about sustainability. Veronica was born and raised in Rome, Italy, where her family still lives. When she is not working she loves to travel back home with her husband Christian and her 3 children, Olivia, Daniel and Vittoria. She thrives in a dynamic global environment and embraces the challenges that life brings every day.
Fun Fact: Veronica's family owned an apparel manufacturing business and she grew up spending her summer vacation checking productions at the various factories.
Email: veronica.pagani@crearegroup.com
Cole Gannon
Cole Gannon joined Creare after starting his career in technology. After a year in the field, he returned to school to pursue his longtime dream of working in the fashion industry. He thrives on the balance of complexity and creativity that fashion offers and enjoys collaborating with a diverse range of people.
Outside of work Cole enjoys skiing with his younger brothers, playing video games or traveling around the world with his family.
Fun Fact: Cole has gone diving with sharks multiple times and has a deep love for the ocean.
Email: cole.gannon@crearegroup.com
Michelle Barila
Graduated from Parsons School of Design with a BBA in Arts and Design Management focused on apparel product development. After holding an internship in fashion editorial at Elle magazine she found herself following one of her greatest passions: Textiles.
Intrigued by the intersection of business and design, she carved a career in global fabric sourcing and R&D for well-known apparel brands/companies such as Theory, Opening Ceremony, Alexander Wang and Macy’s.
Michelle deeply values her community in the Catskills, as well as her upbringing in the multicultural New Jersey suburbs just outside of Manhattan. Outside of work she can be found hosting friends with home cooked food, checking out the latest art exhibits and connecting with nature.
Email: Barila.Michelle@crearegroup.com