Fashion Design Manager

4th & Reckless; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic fashion brand is seeking a Design Manager to lead the creative direction of their womenswear collections. This role involves collaboration with cross-functional teams, managing junior designers, and driving commercial success. Applicants should have extensive fashion design experience and proficiency in design tools. This position includes a hybrid working model with exciting benefits such as flexible hours and team socials.

Benefits

Birthday day off

25-day holiday

Flexible hours

Team socials

40% off staff discount

Free Parking

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in fashion design, particularly womenswear collections.
• Strong technical skills across Knitwear, Tailoring, and Jersey.
• Experience in vendor relationship management and negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative direction and manage the design team.
• Develop cohesive design concepts and oversee design processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align strategies.

Skills

Fashion design experience

Leadership and mentoring

Technical skills in garment construction

Market and trend research

Proficiency in Illustrator

Proficiency in Photoshop

Proficiency in InDesign

Project management skills

Job description

Reporting into the Head of Design, the Design Manager plays a pivotal role in leading the creative direction of collections, ensuring brand consistency across all ranges. This role works cross‑functionally with key departments, including buying, marketing, and garment technology, to drive commercial success while mentoring and developing junior members of the design team.

Responsibilities :

• Provide creative direction and leadership for the Design team, guiding and inspiring them to achieve the brand's vision.
• Conceptualise and develop cohesive design concepts, themes, and narratives for each collection.
• Collaborate closely with the Head of Design to align each collections with the brand's overall creative direction and vision.
• Oversee the end‑to‑end design process, from initial sketches to final production, ensuring the timely delivery of high‑quality collections.
• Partner with the Buying & Merchandising teams to understand market research and trend analysis to identify emerging themes, styles, and consumer preferences.
• Translate trends and market insights into innovative and commercially viable design concepts that resonate with our target audience.
• Partner with the Creative and Marketing teams to support seasonal concept development, including shoot concepts and storytelling.
• Approve final line‑ups, ensuring product range aligns with customer needs and commercial objectives.
• Evaluate market trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor activity to drive future design strategies and direction.
• Lead high‑level supplier relationships and negotiate key developments independently.
• Oversee collection planning, ensuring design workstreams align with critical path and business priorities.
• Mentor and develop junior designers, providing guidance on both creative and technical aspects.
• Collaborate with senior members (Buying, Marketing, Merchandising) to align creative direction.
• Lead design reviews and present collections to leadership with a clear rationale and vision.
• React strategically to trade and performance feedback, driving quick‑turn updates or edits to enhance sell‑through.

Profile :

• Extensive experience in fashion design, with a strong track record of designing commercially successful womenswear collections.
• Strong technical experience across Knitwear, Tailoring and Jersey.
• Demonstrated ability to set and lead creative direction across multiple product categories, with a deep understanding of brand identity and customer profile.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience managing, coaching, and developing junior designers.
• Proven experience conducting market and trend research, with the ability to translate insights into commercially relevant, brand‑aligned collections.
• Advanced proficiency with Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign).
• Confident in producing high‑quality CADs, moodboards, and presentation materials.
• Strong technical skills in garment construction and product development, including creating and reviewing detailed tech packs and prototypes.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers and managing high‑level vendor relationships with confidence and professionalism.
• Confident in presenting collections and design rationale to leadership and cross‑functional teams.
• Excellent organisational and project‑management skills — able to manage multiple deadlines, oversee the critical path, and balance creative output with business priorities.
• Collaborative approach with cross‑functional teams (Buying, Merchandising, Garment Tech, Marketing), ensuring alignment at all stages of the design and development process.
• Resilient, adaptable, and solution‑oriented, with a forward‑thinking, trend‑led design approach.

Benefits :

• Birthday day off
• 25‑day holiday
• Flexible hours
• Vibrant team
• 40% off staff discount
• Team socials
• Free Parking
• Competitions
• Hybrid working - 4 days in the Altrincham office