Design Manager

Crew Clothing Head Office; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Crew Clothing Head Office in Kingston upon Thames is seeking a Womenswear Design Manager to lead the womenswear design team and support cross-category design initiatives.

You will manage people, drive trend research, and oversee fabric and colour development, product packaging, and collaboration with suppliers and technical teams. This role is full-time, hybrid (4 days in office, 1 day remote).

Qualifications

• Experience leading a womenswear design team and delivering collections.
• Strong Illustrator and design software skills (Photoshop, CAD).
• Ability to translate trends into seasonal product ranges.

Responsibilities

• Lead the womenswear design team and manage performance/workflow.
• Research trends, create presentation material for colour and must-have products.
• Develop seasonal colour boards and source fabrics with suppliers.
• Prepare range boards, proto samples, fabric swatches and tech packs.
• Collaborate with technical, sourcing, buying and external partners.
• Ensure design development packages and range sheets are up to date.
• Communicate daily with overseas offices and internal teams.

Skills

Illustrator

Excel

Adobe Photoshop

Trend forecasting

Team leadership

Communication skills

Job description

Womenswear Design Manager
Full Time (4 days in office, 1 day from home)
Kingston-on-Thames

At Crew Clothing, we believe clothes are about so much more than "just clothes". Designed with the spirit of the south coast in every stitch, our crossed oars are a mark of timeless British style. These are clothes for life's best moments.

We believe in collaboration, kindness and creativity, in celebrating our successes and championing our customer at every step of the way. From '93 to now, people have been at the heart of everything we do. It's in our name - Crew.

Purpose of the role:

We are looking for a Womenswear Design manager to come and join the team and be responsible for managing the womenswear design team, as well as supporting design across multiple categories.

Key Responsibilities:

• People Management: Management of the womenswear design team, including performance management and workflow.
• Trend & Market Research:
  • Maintain awareness of seasonal trends through market shopping, trend research and stay current with competition. Gain knowledge of multi-market product ranges.
  • Create presentation material for trend, colour and must-have product in your categories.
  • Shop trend in retail markets seeking new merchandise ideas, as needed.
  • Create presentation boards
• Colour and Fabric Research & Development:
  • Develop and update seasonal coloured range boards, maintaining awareness of market colour direction and internal brand colour stories.
  • Research market -identifying specific fabrics, yarns, jersey for the season, work with sourcing team and suppliers to source each fabric to meet the specific pricing needs of knitwear and jersey.
  • Select each style’s fabric, trims, materials and colours that fit into the mood board direction and create style plans.
  • Work with team to develop standards to maintain and grow the internal material library.
• Product Development & Development Packages:
  • Design for womenswear specified categories within the design department.
  • Prepare range and presentation boards for range reviews and buyer/product meetings. Create presentation materials for product range sign -off meetings. Work with the design team to keep up to date.
  • Be prepared with proto samples, store bought samples, fabric swatches, sketches and tears during Development Meetings
  • Create flat technical sketches and packs for design development packages
  • Create design development Package with components
  • Manage and maintain all information through to final approval.
  • Manage seasonal range sheets
  • Maintain records of range sheets ensure they are updated and correct for product range selection.
  • Suggest colour direction for garments to properly balance the product and seasonal collections.
  • Review and approve proto samples with technical team.
• Team Collaboration:
  • Work with technical team to ensure tech packages are accurate and complete; review with HOD and provide specific feedback and collaborative direction when necessary.
  • Adhere to the seasonal critical path and action calendars. Work collaboratively with internal and external supplier, teams, buyers and technical dept.
  • Updating all VRP's and cads for the design team and own departments. Elevate calendar issues and provide resolution in order to maintain calendar dates.
  • Approve fabric samples, lab dips and other development materials sent from factories. Work collaboratively with internal material management teams to provide feedback and clear and concise direction in order to execute approvals properly.
  • Communicate on a daily basis with overseas offices.
• Key Responsibilities:
  • Experience within a designer management role within the fashion industry.
  • Excellent illustrator skills, proficiency in PC operation, Excel, Adobe Photoshop software
  • Ability to impact and influence design team to gain buy-in for product that will influence the Crew customer. Ideally, experience of working in a global matrix environment.
  • Knowledge of how product is sourced, developed and marketed
  • Exceptional communication and presentation skills and ability to understand how to adapt presentation for relevant audiences.
  • Ability to understand brand strategies and to work in a collaborative environment.
  • Strong design and conceptual skills
  • Strong colour sense / print sense
  • Ability to quickly understand the target customer
  • Ability to quickly analyse data/situations and draw relevant conclusions to have positive effects on business in a complex environment
  • Detail-oriented with excellent time management and organizational skills
  • Ability to multi-task, problem solve, and think outside the box in a fast-paced environment

Compensation: Competitive salary