Born and raised in England, Ami graduated with a degree in Fashion Textile Design from Amersham College, Buckinghamshire. It was here she discovered her passion for pattern, color, and multi-media she would leverage throughout her career. On graduation, she was awarded membership to the Chartered Society of Designers, London UK. 

Initially based in London, Ami made New York her new creative home, where she went on to hold executive leadership roles in men’s and women’s accessories, underwear, and footwear, at luxury, fashion, and innovation-based brands. These included Polo Ralph Lauren, Cole Haan/Nike, and Nine West. Work published in magazine editorials includes POP, Nylon, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Footwear News, Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.

In 2019, Ami co-founded Collectiv3, the fashion portfolio lab, individual mentoring services for art and design students and professionals, looking to build world-class inclusive, and sustainably focused portfolios, build knowledge and advance their skill-sets.

Ami is on the Advisory Board at College of Creative Studies, Detroit, MI since 2022, for their Footwear, Accessories & Fashion Under-Grad programs.

In 2021, Ami graduated with an MFA in Fine Art, from the New York Studio School, where she was the recipient of the Jane Chace-Carroll Scholarship Award for Exceptional MFA Talent.

A hub of experimental creativity, Ami has concurrently honed her artist practice, design, and zeitgeist awareness, to bring innovation in 2D and 3D forms. Utilizing unique choices in color, shape, and materiality, combined with innovative processes, sustainable solutions, and new technology platforms, Ami continually progresses her creative vision across fashion, footwear/accessories, art, and illustration.

Ami is currently working in Footwear Op’s

Caleres / Sept 22 - present VP Product Operations: Brand Portfolio - supporting Veronica Beard, Vince, Favorite Daughter, Franco Sarto, Private Brands, Naturalizer, Dr Scholls, Lifestride/Bzees, Blowfish, Ryka, Vionic and Cal Lab Trend Dept. Ami also volunteers for Caleres United Way annual NY fundraisers, and belongs to resource groups, DEI, ESG, EmpowHer & LGBTQIA+.

Highlights:

Commissioned by Caleres, for footwear illustrations for promotional materials and marketing campaigns, for a Caleres brand celebrity collab.

Designed for Veronica Beard in 2022 & 2024, including their #1 selling VALENTINA sneaker - sold over $1m by 2025; Vince & Private Label brands + most recently 2025 launched Favorite Daughter Capsule Footwear collection for Erin & Sarah Foster..

Skills utilized: Procreate + 3D designing/proto correcting via compatible HDMZ files: Miro for global office collaboration in real time: Canva for publishing seasonal Trend Reports: PPT/Excel/Word: hand/digital thumbnailing/sketching: tech. specs: proto correcting: hand/digital illustration.

For professional inquiries including commissions for Illustration or Art pieces for home/office: please email amimountford7@gmail.com or connect through the submission form below. Thank you! Ami.