Designer Principal Mode - Fashion Senior Designer

CENTRIC BRANDS; Montreal; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading lifestyle brand in Montreal is seeking a Senior Designer to lead apparel product design from concept to production. This role requires 7-10+ years of experience, proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, and the ability to integrate AI design tools. The Senior Designer will work cross-functionally with teams to ensure timely delivery and high-quality standards while driving design innovation and trend forecasting. Bilingual (French/English) is essential for collaboration with teams and clients.

Benefits

Industry-competitive salary

Advantageous benefits plan

Generous vacation

Flexible hours

Hybrid schedule

Training, development & career advancement opportunities

Qualifications

• Ability to research, forecast, and interpret trend direction.
• Skilled in sweaters, knits, wovens, outerwear, bottoms.
• Knowledge of apparel construction, textiles, washes, and costing.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product design for assigned apparel categories.
• Research the apparel marketplace for product ideation.
• Create detailed technical sketches and manage tech packs.
• Communicate design intent and collaborate with internal teams.
• Ensure design timelines and milestones are met.

Skills

Apparel design experience

Ability to integrate AI design tools

Strong strategic collaboration skills

Proficient in Adobe Illustrator

Attention to detail

Bilingual (French/English)

Education

7-10+ years of apparel design experience

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

PLM systems

Job description

About Us

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets, and sells high‑quality products in the Kids, Men’s and Women’s apparel, Accessories, Beauty, and Entertainment categories. The Company’s portfolio includes licenses for more than 100 iconic brands. Centric Brands is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Montreal, Toronto, Los Angeles, Greensboro, London, and Hong Kong. For more information about Centric Brands, please visit https://www.centricbrands.com.

Benefits

• Industry‑competitive salary
• Advantageous benefits plan (medical, dental, vision and more)
• RRSP / DPSP (match up of up to 4%)
• Generous vacation
• Sick days
• Flexible hours
• Hybrid schedule
• Summer Fridays (half day)
• Commute discount (e.g. STM)
• Casual wear
• Company Events
• Birthday gift
• Sample Sales
• Brand discounts
• Gym discount
• Training, development & career advancement opportunities
• D&I committee that is shaping the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Centric Brands through workshops, resources, and inspiring conversation.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Senior Designer to join our growing team in Montreal. The Senior Designer leads end‑to‑end product design for assigned apparel categories, from research and concept through to final hand‑over to production. This role merges creative vision, technical knowledge, and commercial thinking to deliver cohesive assortments that reflect the brand and perform at retail. The Senior Designer partners with Sourcing, Technical Design, and Graphics, owning timelines, applying AI‑assisted design tools, and maintaining excellence in file accuracy and execution.

Primary Responsibilities

• Market & Trend Research
  • Research the apparel marketplace to inform product ideation, material development, and long‑range trend direction.
  • Identify fabric, yarn, trim, color, print, pattern, and silhouette trends monthly and seasonally.
  • Conduct retail and online comp shops to track competitors and identify whitespace opportunities.
  • Use trend insights to build seasonal direction aligned with our brand and customer.
• Concept & Line Development
  • Work with Director to create seasonal concept, mood, and style boards showing silhouettes, colors, fabrics, prints, and pattern stories.
  • Select prints and partner with graphic designers to create original artwork and graphics.
  • Build cohesive assortments that reflect brand aesthetic, quality, and function, and support business initiatives.
  • Leverage hindsight, sales analytics, and marketplace learnings to identify opportunities and drive new product ideas.
  • Communicate a clear design point of view and educate partners on trends, category direction, and execution strategy.
• AI‑Assisted Design & Digital Tools
  • Integrate AI tools (concept generation, CAD development, print exploration, etc.) to enhance ideation, speed, and visualization.
  • Use AI to test alternate silhouettes, colorways, pattern layouts, and construction options early in design.
  • Partner with internal teams to adopt AI responsibly and help improve workflow efficiency.
• Technical Development & Execution
  • Creating detailed technical sketches and color CADs.
  • Create, update, and manage tech packs in PLM, ensuring accuracy, proper call‑outs, BOMs, and timely release.
  • Proof and review all tech packs to confirm consistency, accuracy, and alignment with cost, materials, and merchant expectations.
  • Own the design hand‑off to Technical Design, clearly articulating design intent, proportion, finishing, construction details, and garment needs.
  • Partner with Sourcing to build core and seasonal fabric with emphasis on quality and commercial viability.
  • Review protos with Director/VP, communicate comments to factories, approve fabrics, trims, dips, and strike‑offs.
  • Participate in fit approvals, providing aesthetic direction and solving issues with tech, fit, and production teams.
• Business Ownership
  • Maintain ownership and awareness of product margin targets, working with Sourcing and overseas teams to engineer cost‑right solutions.
  • Understand costing, construction, and material variables that impact profitability, and adopt design strategies to meet plans.
  • Ensure design timelines are met and all milestones (concept, proto, SMS, buy readiness, hand‑off) are delivered on schedule.
• Leadership
  • Lead and work cross‑functionally with technical, design, sourcing, and production teams to deliver solutions with disciplined processes.
  • Set expectations for file organization, naming structure, documentation, and sample management to ensure clarity and traceability.
  • Model strong communication, follow‑through, and accountability.

Required Qualifications

• 7‑10+ years of apparel design experience, with men’s design experience considered an asset.
• Skilled in sweaters, knits, wovens, outerwear, bottoms.
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator; working knowledge of Photoshop and InDesign.
• Ability to integrate AI design tools and tech platforms to elevate speed, visualization, and iteration.
• Knowledge and hands‑on use of PLM systems (asset).
• Solid understanding of apparel construction, textiles, washes, and costing.
• Ability to research, forecast, and interpret trend direction and filter it through a commercial brand lens.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, fit standards, and technical accuracy.
• Able to work in fast‑paced environments with shifting priorities and tight deadlines.
• Strong strategic collaboration skills with ability to influence and drive shared outcomes.
• Hands‑on leadership experience guiding team members and developing design talent.
• Highly motivated, curious, creative, and enthusiastic with a strong design point of view.
• Bilingual (French/English); English is necessary for this position since the person will work daily with overseas factories and will need to present sketches and send communications and information to clients outside of Quebec.

Legal Statements

Centric Brands Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion.

Centric Brands Inc. est un employeur garantissant l’égalité des chances et s’engage en faveur de la diversité et de l’inclusion.