Freelance Menswear & Boyswear Designer

TRP RECRUITMENT; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a talented Freelance Menswear & Boyswear Designer to create innovative designs for the UK high-street market. This role requires expertise in denim and knitwear, with a focus on collaboration with retailers like Matalan and Next. The position offers flexibility, requiring a commitment of at least 2 days per week while managing design projects effectively.

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing menswear and boyswear for retailers.
• Strong design skills with a solid understanding of fits and fabrication.
• Ability to communicate effectively with buyers and customers.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop innovative menswear and boyswear collections.
• Research trends and ensure designs align with market direction.
• Create detailed design packs and technical specifications.
• Collaborate closely with customers to tailor collections.

Skills

Design skills in denim

Design skills in knitwear

Commercial awareness

Excellent communication skills

Self-motivated

Job description

We are seeking a talented and experienced Freelance Menswear & Boyswear Designer with strong expertise in denim and knitwear (fleece and sweats). This is a fantastic opportunity for a creative, commercially minded designer who understands the UK high‑street market and can deliver fresh, trend‑led designs across casual and denim categories. The role offers flexibility while requiring a hands‑on approach and regular collaboration with customers.

This would suit someone based in the North of England, able to travel to customers including Matalan & Next and can commit to a minimum of 2 days per week. Previous experience working with these retailers is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop innovative, commercial menswear and boyswear collections focusing on denim, fleece, and sweats.
• Research trends, fabrics, and washes to ensure designs are relevant and aligned with customer expectations and market direction.
• Create detailed design packs, CADs, and technical specifications for sampling and production.
• Collaborate closely with customers (including UK retailers such as Matalan & Next) to tailor collections to brand identity.
• Work with factories and suppliers to develop fabrics, trims, and finishes that meet design and quality standards.
• Present design concepts and seasonal ranges internally and externally, confidently communicating ideas and rationale.
• Travel to customer meetings and, where needed, to sourcing destinations to oversee product development.
• Manage deadlines and workflow effectively to deliver design projects on time and to brief.

Person Specification

• Proven experience designing menswear and boyswear for retailers such as Matalan or Next.
• Strong design skills in denim and knitwear, with a solid understanding of fits, washes, and fabrication.
• Commercial awareness and ability to balance creativity with brand and market needs.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, comfortable liaising with buyers and customers.
• Self‑motivated and flexible, able to work independently while maintaining strong collaboration and responsiveness.