Designer - Menswear Knitwear

TRP RECRUITMENT; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fashion recruitment firm is seeking a Menswear Knitwear Designer for a growing brand in Manchester. This role involves leading the design process, balancing innovation with commercial clarity, and developing a diverse knitwear range. The ideal candidate should have a strong portfolio, technical know-how in knitwear, and proficiency in tools like Adobe Illustrator. Join a dynamic team that values collaboration and precision.

Qualifications

• Portfolio demonstrating contemporary menswear and/or boys' knitwear.
• Strong yarn/fabric knowledge and construction understanding.
• Practical awareness of cost drivers.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end design process across knitwear.
• Build a balanced knitwear range with good/better/best architecture.
• Translate trend insights into relevant design stories.
• Develop knit blocks and fits, running fittings with technical.

Skills

Strong presentation skills

Technical understanding of knitwear

Yarn and sustainability knowledge

Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator

Fit-focused with attention to detail

Collaborative communication

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

PLM

Job description

We're partnering with a fast-growing Manchester-based brand to appoint a Menswear Knitwear Designer. This role is for a trend lead, strong Designer who can balance innovation with commercial clarity, with the ability to own the knit category from concept through to signed‑off samples.

You will be part of a tight knit team, they are looking for someone confident with strong presentation skills, a strong technical understanding of knitwear, yarns and sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Leading the end‑to‑end design process across knitwear.
• Building a balanced knitwear range (core, fashion, statement) with good/better/best architecture.
• Translating trend and cultural insight into relevant colour, yarn, stitch, and silhouette stories for the brand's customer.
• Developing knit blocks and fits; running fittings with Technical to lock standards and consistency across sizes.
• Creating precise tech packs, stitch diagrams, and artwork to drive accurate, on-time sampling.
• Briefing mills on yarn choices (cotton, merino, cashmere blends, recycled fibres) and finishes; troubleshooting handle, pilling, and shrinkage.
• Presenting concepts, trends and designs with clear storytelling.
• Monitoring relevant competitor market and performance as well as aspirational Designers.

Person Specification

• A portfolio demonstrating contemporary menswear and / or boyswear knitwear across gauges, stitches, and proven bestsellers.
• Strong yarn/fabric knowledge and construction understanding, with practical awareness of cost drivers.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop and PLM.
• Fit-focused with sharp eye for proportion and detail; comfortable leading fit sessions and solving issues.
• Collaborative communicator who thrives in cross-functional teams and moves fast without losing precision.
• Commercial yet curious-able to turn references into product that sells while pushing the category forward.