Senior Designer - Topshop - Softs & Multi-Product

ASOS; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fashion retailer seeks a Senior Designer for Topshop, focusing on multi-department product development and trend analysis. You'll drive creativity and strategy while collaborating with various teams to ensure the brand stays ahead in the market. The role involves overseeing product direction and managing junior design staff, ensuring the collections meet customer expectations.

Benefits

Employee discount on ASOS products

Personal development opportunities

Employee sample sales

Access to LinkedIn Learning

25 days annual leave plus additional day

Discretionary bonus scheme

Private medical care

Flexible benefits allowance

Qualifications

• Experience with Far East, India, and European manufacturers.
• Ability to drive creativity and commerciality.
• Proven track record within a fast-paced retail environment.

Responsibilities

• Research and develop trends for collections.
• Collaborate across departments to deliver cohesive product ranges.
• Lead and mentor junior team members.

Skills

Strong trend research

Collaboration

Design direction

Tools

Fabric sourcing

Product development

Job description

Company Description

We’re ASOS, the online retailer for fashion lovers all around the world.

We exist to give our customers the confidence to be whoever they want to be, and that goes for our people too. At ASOS, you’re free to be your true self without judgement, and channel your creativity into a platform used by millions.

But how are we showing up? We’re proud members of Inclusive Companies, are Disability Confident Committed and have signed the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and we placed 8th in the Inclusive Top 50 Companies Employer list.

Everyone needs some help showing up as their best self. Let our Talent team know if you need any adjustments throughout the process in whatever way works best for you.

Job Description

THE BRAND

TOPSHOP and TOPMAN are iconic British fashion brands with 60 years of heritage. Headquartered in London, the Brands have over 2 million customers across the globe through the ASOS platform and generate brand sales of c£200m. Our mission is to unlock the best of fashion for everyone, with creativity and innovation at our core.

Following the formation of a Joint Venture between ASOS and HEARTLAND in October 2024, ASOS is creating a standalone cross-functional team within ASOS which is dedicated to unlocking the huge growth potential of the TOPSHOP and TOPMAN brands. The brands will now benefit from ASOS infrastructure and resources while enjoying the creative freedom and agility of standalone brands.

The next 12 months for TOPSHOP and TOPMAN will see the expansion of the brands’ offline and online retail presence with the launch of Topshop.com and new wholesale partnerships.

THE ROLE

Senior Designer on Topshop plays a critical role in the brand and this role is key across multi departments including soft seperates, casual and formal departments driving the success of the brand through delivering best in class product. Working collaboratively with the team across Design, Merchandising, Buying, Sourcing and Technical, they are responsible for delivering product across multi departments which delivers to our wholesale business and the global Topshop customer.

You will identlfy and contribute to the product strategy for the categories with the wider design team, working collaboratively with the wider Retail team to deliver a commercial and trend-led range.

You will be collaborative, organised, and strategic, delivering trend direction and product that ensures Topshop stays ahead of the market in newness and trend always looking to push the range for our global marketsforward.

The role will contribute todesigndirectionand ensure that product design is alignedtothe strategic vision &focused ondelivering a compelling and commercial offer appropriate for our target customer.

What you'll be doing...

• Researching & developing trends to deliver collections for Topshop including our wholesale range and brand collection by identifying & developing big deals, key seasonal shapes, with focus on newness in fabric, trend and key pieces for the TOPSHOP customer.
• Developing new and unique product to deliver a range in line with the Topshop Brand strategy which delivers a balanced range across customer profiles and end-uses including volume pieces, key items of the Season and stand out press pieces.
• Identifying and executing new product opportunities as they emerge in the market to ensure Topshop is leading the market with new trend pieces.
• Working with our wholesale team to plan and support across the design function by contributing to planning and delivery of a cohesive range for our wholesale partners.
• Identifying and executing new product opportunities as they emerge in the market to ensure Topshop is leading the market with new trend pieces.
• Presenting key looks and styling for categories/ranges to support in studio shoot execution in line with the brand strategy.
• Using relevant sales data and insights to design commercially relevant, fashion forward ranges.
• Anticipating the needs of the Topshop customer, using sales data, customer profile analytics and trend research to deliver commercial product ranges.
• Sourcing new fabrications, techniques and trimmings
• Working closely with in-house Buying teams – collaborating to create new product, each season and shape the product direction for the department, ensuring that it is aligned to the brand and divisional strategy
• Working with the Technical team on fits on a weekly basis, identifying and helping create new silhouette blocks for the department and produce a commercial range
• Building relationships with suppliers and advising factories on direction, silhouette, construction, key details, fabrics, trimmings and artworks.
• Managing, developing and motivating more junior team members, providing them with clear direction and regular feedback
• Supporting and deputising for Lead designer as required, for example, attending product reviews or guiding the team on range building.
• Work collaboratively with other functions to deliver the Topshop strategy including our wholesale team and partners to ensure ranges are cohesiviely presented.
• Supporting to shape and drive, lean, agile processes and ways of working for your departments.
• Leading and driving brand wide initiatives and projects, positively influencing and championing change.
• Motivating and engaging the wider design team through role model behaviour.

Qualifications

We’d love to meet, someone who has…

• High level of multi product experience is a requirement across softs, formal and casual departments.
• Experience of working with Far East, India and European manufacturers and sourcing.
• Can deliver world class product driving creativity as well as commercial interpreted pieces for must have items of the Season.
• Strong trend research and inspirational direction with the ability to interpret this inline with the Topshop brand strategy.
• Has a strong eye for Print, graphics, embroidery & embellishment direction.
• Has experience of fabric sourcing across multiple sourcing territories to bring new direction to the collection.
• Has experience in working with pattern cutters in toile and concept to sample garment to ensure new silhouettes and direction is constantly developed.
• Has a proven track record in Design within a fast-paced and rapidly changing global Retailer
• Demonstrates the ability to drive the success of multiple categories across multiple end uses through strategic and commercial thinking.
• Can successfully influence and gain buy in from the team and leaders to potentialize opportunities.
• Presents trend and product to the team and management with an engaging and confident style.
• Shows a deep understanding of the Topshop customer and customer segmentation and reflects this in decision making
• Has a strong awareness of current trends, Retail market conditions and opportunities within a Global context
• Builds great relationships with internal stakeholders Head of and Exec level and other functions.
• Has an effective and inclusive management style, role modelling positive behaviours and providing the team with clear direction and development

Additional Information

BeneFITS’

• Employee discount (hello ASOS discount!)
• ASOS Develops (personal development opportunities across the business)
• Employee sample sales
• Access to a huge range of LinkedIn learning materials
• 25 days paid annual leave + an extra celebration day for a special moment
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Private medical care scheme
• Flexible benefits allowance - which you can choose to take as extra cash, or use towards other benefits