Senior Apparel Designer — Freelance (Melbourne)

Permanser Consulting; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 96,000 - 165,000; Part time

Job summary

Permanser Consulting is seeking a Senior Apparel Designer for a Melbourne-based freelance/consultancy role. You will translate trends into commercially viable products, working directly with buyers and collaborating with UK design and Australian production teams.

You will manage briefs, present concepts, and help grow customer relationships while balancing pricing with manufacturing feasibility. Open to independent contractors with ABN and flexible hours.

Qualifications

• Experience in apparel design at middle-to-senior level.
• Experience working with major Australian retail chains.
• Understanding of the Australian apparel market and volume retail requirements.
• Established relationships with retail buyers or design teams is highly regarded.
• Ability to balance creative ideas with pricing, customer needs and manufacturing capabilities.
• Experience collaborating with overseas design, merchandising or production teams.
• Strong organisation and attention to detail; able to work independently.
• Interest in building customer relationships and contributing to business growth.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with buyers and design teams at major Australian retail chains.
• Understand each customer’s brand identity, product requirements, price points and opportunities for growth.
• Create and present commercially focused design concepts, ranges and trend direction.
• Work with the UK design team to develop products suited to the Australian market.
• Collaborate with overseas teams on product development, sampling and delivery.
• Manage briefs, artwork and product information accurately, keeping deadlines and follow-up on track.
• Bring fresh ideas and product innovation beyond responding to customer technical packs.
• Support new customer relationships as the Australian business grows.

Skills

Apparel design

Retail partnerships

Trend analysis

Project coordination

Overseas collaboration

Job description

Senior Apparel Designer
Melbourne | Freelance / Consultancy Opportunity
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Our client is an established global apparel manufacturer with its own manufacturing and product development capabilities and a strong international presence.

About the opportunity

This role suits a commercially minded designer who enjoys translating trends into relevant product, working directly with buyers and building lasting relationships. You will collaborate closely with the UK design team and merchandising, product development and production teams in Bangladesh, taking ideas from concept through to sampling and production.

What you’ll be doing

• Build strong relationships with buyers and design teams at major Australian retail chains.
• Understand each customer’s brand identity, product requirements, price points and opportunities for growth.
• Create and present commercially focused design concepts, ranges and trend direction.
• Work with the UK design team to develop products suited to the Australian market.
• Collaborate with overseas teams on product development, sampling and delivery.
• Manage briefs, artwork and product information accurately, keeping deadlines and follow-up on track.
• Bring fresh ideas and product innovation beyond responding to customer technical packs.
• Support new customer relationships as the Australian business grows.

About you
You are an experienced apparel designer with a strong eye for trends and a practical understanding of what makes a range commercially successful. You enjoy hands-on design and feel confident presenting ideas and working through feedback with retail buyers.

You will bring:

• Strong apparel design experience, ideally at a middle-to-senior level.
• Experience working within, or supplying to, major Australian retail chains.
• An understanding of the Australian apparel market and volume retail requirements.
• Established relationships with retail buyers or design teams are highly regarded.
• The ability to balance creative ideas with pricing, customer needs and manufacturing capabilities.
• Experience collaborating with overseas design, merchandising or production teams.
• Strong organisation, attention to detail and the ability to manage your work independently.
• An interest in building customer relationships and contributing to business growth.

Working arrangements
This opportunity is suitable for a freelancer or consultant operating through their own business and ABN. Hours and rates will be discussed based on your experience and availability.

You will need to be available for customer meetings in Melbourne and have some flexibility to collaborate with international teams.

Interested?
Please apply with your resume and portfolio.

This opportunity is open exclusively to Melbourne-based applicants.