Senior Knitwear Designer

TRP Recruitment; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fashion design recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Knitwear Designer to drive the womenswear knitwear category. This high-impact role offers full creative ownership, shaping knit direction from concept to production while collaborating with a dynamic design team. The ideal candidate has a strong portfolio, proven design experience, and proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. This role allows for hybrid working, providing both flexibility and responsibility in a fast-paced business environment.

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio showcasing womenswear knitwear designs.
• Proven experience at Senior or equivalent level in knitwear.
• Excellent knowledge of yarn, fabric, and knit construction.
• Comfortable with cost drivers and commercial levers.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end knitwear design from concept to production.
• Define cohesive colour, yarn, and stitch stories.
• Create accurate tech packs for sampling and speed to market.
• Lead fit sessions and refine block measurements.
• Collaborate with factories to deliver quality products.
• Present concepts and ranges to Buying with data-led insights.
• Monitor competitor activity and inform future designs.

Skills

Womenswear knitwear design

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Commercial awareness

Tools

PLM systems

Job description

Job Description

We're partnering with a leading, design-led fashion business to recruit a Senior Knitwear Designer to drive the womenswear knitwear category. This is a high-impact role with full creative ownership, shaping knit direction from initial concept through to signed-off samples, delivering product that is both trend-right and commercially strong.

Based in Manchester, you'll join a collaborative, close-knit design team and play a key role in defining seasonal knitwear strategy. You'll bring confidence in presentation, a strong technical grounding, and the ability to balance creativity with commercial decision‑making.

This role offers hybrid working.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Owning end-to-end knitwear design across seasonal and in‑season drops, from research and concept development through to SMS, specs, and pre‑production.
• Defining cohesive colour, yarn, and stitch stories by translating trend, street, and social insights into wearable, commercial product.
• Creating detailed, accurate tech packs and artwork to drive first‑time‑right sampling and speed to market.
• Leading fit sessions in partnership with Technical, refining blocks, measurements, and constructions to achieve consistent, flattering fits.
• Briefing, collaborating, and problem‑solving with mills and factories to deliver quality, cost‑effective product.
• Confidently presenting concepts and full ranges to Buying, supported by clear storytelling, rationale, and data‑led insights.
• Monitoring competitor activity, trading performance, and sell‑through to inform future drops and continuous improvement.

Person specification:

• A strong portfolio showcasing womenswear knitwear across gauges, stitches, textures, and proven commercial bestsellers.
• Proven experience designing womenswear knitwear, ideally at Senior or equivalent level.
• Excellent yarn, fabric, and knit construction knowledge, with a practical understanding of cost drivers, margins, and commercial levers.
• Highly proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with experience using PLM systems.
• Commercially aware, proactive, and comfortable taking ownership of a key category within a fast‑paced fashion business.