Senior Knitwear Designer

The Retail Partnership Ltd; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design-led fashion business is recruiting a Senior Knitwear Designer in Manchester. This high-impact role entails full creative ownership of the womenswear knitwear category, from concept to delivery. You will collaborate with a close-knit design team, ensuring quality and commercial viability. Qualifications include strong knitwear experience, technical knowledge, and proficiency in Adobe tools. The position offers hybrid working and a competitive salary.

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio showcasing womenswear knitwear across various techniques.
• Proven experience designing womenswear knitwear at a senior level.
• Excellent understanding of knit construction and commercial factors.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end knitwear design process from concept to production.
• Define cohesive colour, yarn, and stitch stories based on trends.
• Create accurate tech packs for sampling and market speed.
• Lead fit sessions and refine measurements for consistency.
• Collaborate with mills and factories for quality product delivery.
• Present concepts to Buying with compelling storytelling.
• Monitor competitor activities and trading performance.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Yarn and fabric knowledge

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.

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.

Up to £0.00 per annum + Competitive Salary