Sportswear Apparel Designer

Fashion Career Consultancy; Manchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension contribution

Training and career development

Job summary

Fashion Career Consultancy presents an opportunity for a Sportswear/Performance Apparel Designer in Manchester. You’ll join a growing design team, working primarily on performance menswear with scope for women’s pieces, blending technical function with contemporary design.

Requirements include a Fashion Design degree and 3–5 years in sportswear/apparel design, strong Illustrator skills, and experience with overseas suppliers.

Qualifications

• Degree in Fashion Design, Sportswear Design or similar.
• Approximately 3–5 years' experience in apparel design within sportswear/performance/activewear.
• Knowledge of technical fabrications.
• Strong interest in performance, sportswear or outdoor apparel.
• Excellent Adobe Illustrator skills; Photoshop beneficial.
• Good understanding of garment construction.
• Ability to produce high-quality CAD drawings and technical packs.
• Experience working directly with overseas suppliers.
• Experience in print design is beneficial but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Research seasonal trends, performance innovations, consumer behaviour and competitor activity.
• Design seasonal performance apparel collections from concept through to final product.
• Create clear CADs, technical sketches and presentation boards.
• Develop colour palettes, fabric direction and trim concepts.
• Produce detailed tech packs for supplier development.
• Work with overseas factories throughout the sampling process.
• Attend fit sessions and update products through each sample stage.
• Develop new silhouettes, construction techniques and functional design details.
• Assist with fabric, trim and component research.
• Ensure products meet commercial objectives whilst maintaining a premium aesthetic.
• Support the Design Manager in preparing seasonal range reviews and presentations.

Skills

Illustrator

Garment construction

CAD drawings

Technical packs

Overseas suppliers

Print design

Product detailing

Education

Degree in Fashion Design or Sportswear Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Job description

This role is 5 days a week in the office with no hybrid working, details of the role are below:

A streetwear brand based in Manchester City Centre is looking for a Sportswear/Performance Apparel Designer to join their growing design team.

The Brand

They are a small but growing business based in the heart of the city centre of Manchester. The business champions creativity, individuality, and collaboration, producing collections that resonate with a global youth audience and reflect today’s evolving fashion landscape.

Working primarily across Performance Menswear, with opportunities to work on their Women’s performance product, you'll help create innovative performance apparel that blends technical function with contemporary design.

The Role

• Research seasonal trends, performance innovations, consumer behaviour and competitor activity.
• Design seasonal performance apparel collections from concept through to final product.
• Create clear CADs, technical sketches and presentation boards.
• Develop colour palettes, fabric direction and trim concepts.
• Produce detailed tech packs for supplier development.
• Work with overseas factories throughout the sampling process.
• Attend fit sessions and update products through each sample stage.
• Develop new silhouettes, construction techniques and functional design details.
• Assist with fabric, trim and component research.
• Ensure products meet commercial objectives whilst maintaining a premium aesthetic.
• Support the Design Manager in preparing seasonal range reviews and presentations.

About You

• Degree in Fashion Design, Sportswear Design or similar.
• Approximately 3–5 years' experience in apparel design within sportswear/performance/activewear.
• Knowledge of technical fabrications.
• Strong interest in performance, sportswear or outdoor apparel.
• Excellent Adobe Illustrator skills. Photoshop beneficial but not essential
• Good understanding of garment construction.
• Ability to produce high-quality CAD drawings and technical packs.
• Strong eye for proportion, fit and product detailing.
• Experience working directly with overseas suppliers
• Experience in print design, including placement graphics and all-over print development, would be beneficial but is not essential.

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Pension contribution
• Training and career development opportunities