Designer

SUMWON STUDIOS; Manchester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

SUMWON STUDIOS, Manchester-based fashion house, seeks a creative designer to lead trend-led menswear collections for fast‑fashion and e‑commerce. You will translate market insights into commercially successful products and drive brand identity across a multi-brand portfolio.

You will collaborate with design, buying, merchandising and production teams, shaping seasonal ranges while mentoring juniors and aligning with global brand strategy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related discipline.
• Experience in a fashion design role within fast-fashion, e-commerce or high-volume retail.
• Strong understanding of womenswear product development and garment construction.
• Excellent trend forecasting and market research capabilities.
• Commercially minded with strong understanding of customer behaviour and product performance.

Responsibilities

• Research, develop, and execute trend-led design concepts aligned with brand identity and customer needs.
• Create commercially viable products that balance creativity, trend relevance, and profitability.
• Develop seasonal and reactive collections across multiple categories.
• Produce detailed design packs, technical specifications, and product development documentation.
• Ensure all designs are delivered in line with critical path timelines and business requirements.

Skills

Trend forecasting

Market research

Communication skills

Collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

Designation: Streetwear Fashion Designer - Menswear

About SUMWON STUDIOS

SUMWON STUDIOS is a global brand house building, scaling and reimagining culturally relevant fashion, lifestyle and consumer brands. Our portfolio includes MISSGUIDED, SUMWON, BALR., Baby Phat, Playboy, AiiRZ, KiZN and KSTM.

In just a few years, we have grown from start-up to one of the fastest-scaling brand platforms in theindustry. Combining creativity, data, technology and an agile supply chain, we build brands designed to win in today's digital-first world.

We operate at the intersection of culture, commerce and innovation. Whether launching new brands, acquiring established ones, or unlocking growth opportunities across our portfolio, we move quickly, think globally and challenge conventional ways of working.

As a Designer, you will play a pivotal role in bringing our brands to life through product. Sitting at the heart of the creative process, you will help shape trend-led collections that connect with customers, drive commercial performance, and strengthen brand identity across our portfolio.

The Role

We are looking for a creative and commercially focused Designer to join our growing Design team. Working closely with the Design Manager and cross-functional teams, you will be responsible for developing trend-led collections that align with brand strategy, customer demand, and commercial objectives.

This role is ideal for someone with a strong eye for product, a deep understanding of womenswear trends, and the ability to translate market insights into commercially successful collections. You will play a key role in driving innovation, identifying emerging opportunities, and supporting the delivery of compelling product ranges across a fast-paced e-commerce environment.

Key Responsibilities

Design & Product Development

• Research, develop, and execute trend-led design concepts aligned with brand identity and customer needs.
• Create commercially viable products that balance creativity, trend relevance, and profitability.
• Develop seasonal and reactive collections across multiple categories.
• Produce detailed design packs, technical specifications, and product development documentation.
• Ensure all designs are delivered in line with critical path timelines and business requirements.

Trend Research & Market Insight

• Continuously monitor global fashion trends, social media, competitors, influencers, and cultural movements.
• Identify emerging trends, hero products, and new opportunities to drive category growth.
• Translate trend research into actionable product concepts and collection strategies.
• Use customer, market, and sales insights to inform design direction and product decisions.

Commercial Performance

• Make commercially informed design decisions considering margin, volume, pricing architecture, and sell-through performance.
• Analyse product performance and adapt designs based on trading results and customer feedback.
• Support a test-and-react product approach, refining collections based on early performance indicators.
• Contribute to range planning discussions to ensure product strategies align with business objectives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Buying, Merchandising, Product Development, and Production teams to ensure successful execution of collections.
• Participate in fit sessions, product reviews, and range sign-off meetings.
• Collaborate with wider creative teams to ensure consistency across product, branding, and campaign activity.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers throughout the development process.

Team Contribution

• Support the Design Manager in delivering seasonal objectives and category strategies.
• Share trend insights, best practices, and creative ideas with the wider team.
• Mentor and support junior team members where required.
• Contribute to a collaborative, innovative, and high-performance team culture.

What you’ll bring

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or a related discipline.
• Proven experience within a fashion design role, ideally within a fast-fashion, e-commerce, or high-volume retail environment.
• Strong understanding of womenswear product development and garment construction.
• Excellent trend forecasting and market research capabilities.
• Commercially minded with a strong understanding of customer behaviour and product performance.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and related design software.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Passionate about fashion, culture, and emerging consumer trends.

Why Join Us?

• This is an opportunity to join a business in growth mode. You'll have the chance to make a visible impact, take ownership, move quickly and help shape the future of a multi-brand platform operating across global markets.