Lead Fashion Designer (Freelance / Project based)

University of the Arts London; London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading social enterprise in fashion seeks a visionary Lead Fashion Designer to create a capsule collection that reflects cultural richness and artisanal craftsmanship. The role emphasizes a poetic design approach, ideal for someone passionate about storytelling through design and heritage techniques. Collaboration with artisans and ensuring artistic integrity are key responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio in womenswear or luxury fashion.
• Experience with natural fabrics and artisanal techniques.
• Familiarity with technical packs and production.

Responsibilities

• Design a small capsule of womenswear pieces for market testing.
• Translate moodboards into thoughtful silhouettes.
• Collaborate with sample makers and oversee fit.

Skills

Design

Creative Direction

Cultural Dialogue

Storytelling

Job description

Lead Fashion Designer (Freelance / Project based)

Salary freelance, negotiable: Rates based on experience. As an early-stage social enterprise, we aim to align values and vision with fair and transparent compensation.

Hours Freelance/project based with option for long term

Location Hybrid – London or Cairo preferred, but open to international collaboration

Manna is a purpose-driven fashion label rooted in cultural richness, emotive storytelling, and artisanal craftsmanship. We are seeking a visionary Lead Fashion Designer to help create a small capsule of pieces to test the market — pieces that can become part of our debut collection. We’re looking for someone who thinks deeply, designs poetically, and values the richness of heritage and slow beauty.

Role Overview:

You’ll lead the design of a thoughtful, high-end womenswear collection that draws inspiration from art, history, and the natural world. Working closely with our founder and textile designer, you’ll translate a layered and research-driven creative direction into wearable poetry.

What We’re Looking For:

• Deep appreciation for intellectual design with emotive storytelling
• Strong portfolio in womenswear, ideally within luxury or slow fashion
• Experience designing full looks and collections, from silhouettes to trims
• Understanding of natural fabrics, artisanal techniques, and production considerations
• Ability to produce or oversee tech packs, fit specifications, and collection cohesion
• Familiarity with editorial storytelling and thoughtful brand building
• Interest in (or openness to) traveling to Egypt to connect with artisans
• Are curious about historical fashion, interiors, or botany
• Have experience collaborating with textile/print designers
• Value craft, meaning, and design as a form of cultural dialogue

**We are also looking for a freelance textile designer / print illustrator to collaborate on this project. If you might be a good fit, please feel free to see our other advert.**

Skills and Experience Required

Main Duties:

• Design a small capsule of womenswear pieces, guided by a poetic, research-led vision, to test the market and shape Manna’s debut collection
• Translate moodboards and conceptual themes into thoughtful silhouettes
• Create tech packs, oversee fit, and collaborate with sample makers
• Work closely with our founder and textile designer to ensure artistic and cultural integrity
• Optional: travel to Egypt to meet artisans and support the vision’s implementation

Skills & Experience Required:

• Strong portfolio in womenswear or luxury design
• Familiarity with heritage techniques, natural materials, and slow fashion
• Passion for art, botany, history, interiors, or storytelling through design
• Skilled in creative direction, silhouette development, and production planning
• Editorial or brand-building sensitivity is a plus