Design Manager

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

Job summary

Crew Clothing Kingston upon Thames is seeking a Womenswear Design Manager to lead the womenswear design team and drive cross-category creativity from concept through to final development.

You will manage performance, align on seasonal trends, develop fabrics and trims with sourcing, create presentation material, and collaborate across internal teams and overseas offices to ensure on-time delivery.

A strong portfolio in fashion design management and excellent communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in designer management within the fashion industry.
• Excellent Illustrator skills; proficiency in PC operation, Excel, and Adobe Photoshop.
• Ability to influence design team to gain buy-in for product; ideally experience in a global matrix environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage the womenswear design team, including performance management and workflow.
• Maintain awareness of seasonal trends through market shopping and trend research.
• Create presentation materials for trend, colour and must-have product in your categories.
• Shop trend in retail markets for new merchandise ideas as needed.
• Create presentation boards.

Skills

Design management

Illustrator

Excel

Photoshop

Presentation skills

Brand strategy

Time management

Tools

Illustrator

Photoshop

Excel

PC software

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:

• Management of the womenswear design team, including performance management and workflow.
• 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.
• 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