Senior Knitwear Designer - Womenswear

The Retail Partnership Ltd; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A modern womenswear brand in Manchester is looking for a Knitwear Designer. You will own knit design from concept to finished samples, ensuring the products are trend-right and commercially viable. Responsibilities include managing the end-to-end design process, conducting fit sessions, and collaborating with factories. Strong yarn knowledge, proficiency in Adobe tools, and a creative eye for detail are essential. This role embraces hybrid working, making it an exciting opportunity to shape the knitwear category.

Qualifications

• Portfolio showcasing contemporary ladieswear knit design.
• Strong understanding of yarn, fabric, and construction.
• Experience leading fittings and resolving issues in real time.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end knit design including research and concept boards.
• Translate trends into cohesive color and yarn narratives.
• Create detailed tech packs for first-time-right sampling.
• Conduct fit sessions and refine patterns for consistent fits.
• Brief and problem-solve with mills and factories.
• Present concepts to Buyers with clear storytelling.
• Monitor competitor trends and sell-throughs for improvements.
• Champion responsible material choices.

Skills

Creative ownership of knitwear

Strong technical understanding

Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator

Proficiency in Photoshop

Knowledge of yarn and fabrics

Tools

PLM

Job description

We're partnering with a modern, design-led womenswear brand who are looking for a Knitwear Designer. They are looking for someone to help shape the ladieswear knit direction from concept and yarn stories to signed‑off samples crafting product that's trend‑right and commercial.

Based in Manchester you will be part of a friendly tight knit team, be confident in presenting with a strong technical understanding. You will have creative ownership of the entire knitwear category setting seasonal direction, building distinctive ranges, and delivering a balanced range.

This role offers hybrid working.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Owning end‑to‑end knit design across seasonal and in‑season capsules: research, concept boards, sketching, specs, SMS, and pre‑production.
• Translating trend, street, and social signals into cohesive colour/yarn narratives, stitch development, and silhouette mixes (from elevated basics to statement pieces).
• Building balanced ranges with clear good/better/best architecture.
• Creating detailed tech packs and artwork that drive first‑time‑right sampling and speed to market.
• Running fit sessions with Technical; refining blocks, measurements, and constructions to achieve consistent, flattering fits.
• Briefing and problem‑solving with mills/factories.
• Presenting concepts and ranges to Buyers with clear storytelling, reference rationale, and data‑aware decisions.
• Monitoring competitor and sell‑through to inform next drops and continuous improvement.
• Championing responsible material choices.

Person specification:

• Portfolio that showcases contemporary ladieswear knit across gauges, stitches, textures, and proven bestsellers.
• Strong yarn/fabric and construction knowledge with practical understanding of cost drivers and commercial levers.
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop and PLM.
• Fit‑obsessed eye for proportion and detail; comfortable leading fittings and resolving issues in real time.