Gabrielle Ehling
Gabrielle Ehling is a seasoned sales leader in the fashion industry, currently serving as Director of Sales for Donna Karan and BCBG at G-III Apparel Group in New York City. With over a decade of experience in wholesale fashion sales, Gabrielle has developed deep expertise in strategic planning, account management, and driving revenue growth across multiple retail segments, including big-box retailers, specialty stores, and boutiques. Her leadership style emphasizes a tailored approach for each client, ensuring brand objectives align with market trends while fostering long-term partnerships.
Gabrielle’s journey in fashion began as an intern while attending the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where she earned both her Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Fashion Business Management, specializing in Buying and Planning. During her college years, she balanced classes with part-time work, demonstrating early her commitment, adaptability, and work ethic. Over 11 years with G-III Apparel Group, Gabrielle advanced through progressively responsible roles, from Junior Account Executive to Senior Account Executive, and now Director of Sales, consistently delivering innovative solutions and driving brand growth.
Outside of her professional achievements, Gabrielle is passionate about mentorship and team development, taking pride in supporting her colleagues both professionally and emotionally. She is recognized for her ability to combine analytical insight with creative strategy, opening new business opportunities and launching brands across diverse retail channels. Gabrielle also pursues her personal creativity through jewelry-making and managing her own Etsy shop, blending her professional expertise with her artistic interests.
• Fashion Institute of Technology — Bachelor of Science (BS), Fashion Business Management, Specialization in Buying and Planning
• Fashion Institute of Technology — Associate of Science (AS), Fashion Business Management
• Influential Women 2026
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to asking for what I wanted and being willing to work hard. When I was an intern, I was living in New York City and really enjoyed working at the company, so I asked my boss at the time if there was any way we could take the internship year-round and keep it part-time. They were really flexible with building around me, keeping me on through the summers, and they were happy to have an extra set of hands and somebody that was willing to do all the work that was thrown their way. I felt very grateful to have this morph into something reliable, especially being a college student. I worked my way up over 11 years from that intern position to Director of Sales.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would definitely try to see what their process is, because this industry can be segmented into business focus or creative focus, and that's a very fundamental thing that a lot of younger girls don't know. I've had friends of friends and friends of family reach out saying they really want to go into the fashion industry but don't know what kind of segment to go after. I usually tell people, if they're creative, to stick with the design or the production side, but if you're focused on analytics and business, to definitely approach that route, because there are so many avenues that you can go within the fashion industry. My first advice is to hear what the person likes, what they feel like they're really strong at, and then what their goals are, and then how that would fit into all of the buckets of roles here within the industry.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
A key challenge is that the fashion industry remains male-dominated at senior levels. Opportunities include launching new brands and expanding into diverse retail segments by taking a tailored approach for each account and client.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Mentorship, strong leadership, teamwork, and supporting colleagues both professionally and emotionally.