Senior Knitwear Designer

TRP RECRUITMENT; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fashion design firm in Manchester is searching for a Senior Knitwear Designer to take full creative ownership of the womenswear knitwear category. The successful applicant will join a collaborative design team, responsible for the end-to-end design process, from concept to sampling. Candidates should possess a strong portfolio of womenswear knitwear, excellent knowledge of yarns and fabrics, and proficiency in Adobe software. This position offers a hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio showcasing womenswear knitwear.
• Proven experience designing womenswear knitwear at Senior level.
• Excellent knit construction knowledge and understanding of cost drivers.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end knitwear design for seasonal drops.
• Define cohesive colour, yarn, and stitch stories.
• Create detailed tech packs for sampling.

Skills

Portfolio showcasing womenswear knitwear

Knowledge of yarn and fabric

Proficient in Adobe Illustrator

Proficient in Adobe Photoshop

Commercial awareness

Tools

PLM systems

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.