Design Manager

Crew Clothing Company; Kingston upon Thames; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Crew Clothing Company is seeking a Womenswear Design Manager to lead the design team in Kingston-upon-Thames. The role oversees multiple categories, shaping seasonal direction and collaborating with technical, sourcing and overseas teams.

We value collaboration, creativity and a strong eye for colour and fabric. The role is full-time with four days in the office and one day from home, based in Kingston-upon-Thames.

Qualifications

• Experience within a designer management role within the fashion industry.
• Excellent illustrator skills; proficiency in PC operation, Excel and Adobe Photoshop.
• Ability to influence design team to align with brand strategy and customer needs.
• Knowledge of how product is sourced, developed and marketed.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; ability to tailor messages for different audiences.
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment and manage multiple teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage the womenswear design team, including performance management and workflow.
• Lead trend and market research; create trend boards and presentation materials.
• Develop colour and fabric strategies; source fabrics and trims with suppliers.
• Prepare range boards and presentation materials for reviews and sign-off meetings.
• Create proto samples, swatches and technical packs for development.
• Coordinate with technical, sourcing and overseas teams to ensure timely delivery.

Skills

Design Management

Excellent Illustrator

PC Operation

Excel

Adobe Photoshop

Tools

Excel

Adobe Photoshop

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.

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.

Skills

Design Management