Design Manager

Gokaldas Exports Limited; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Gokaldas Exports Limited in Bengaluru, India, seeks a Manager - Design to own end-to-end design for a U.S. brand account, working with the New York office and India team to deliver brand-right assortments.

You will lead trend analysis, build seasonal range plans, and ensure design output meets brand DNA while coordinating with PD, sourcing, and sampling to drive growth. Strong leadership and communication across time zones are essential.

Qualifications

• 10–12 years in apparel design within an export-house.
• Direct design experience on U.S. brand accounts.
• Experience leading a design team of 4–5 members.
• Strong trend analysis and ability to interpret brand DNA into commercial ranges.
• Sound knowledge of patterns, fabrics and garment construction.
• Proven ability to translate trends into cost-aligned assortments.
• Proficient in design tools - Illustrator and Photoshop; AI/3D workflows an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end design for the assigned U.S. brand accounts, from brief to final range presentation.
• Lead trend analysis across colour, fabric, silhouette, print and trim to build seasonal range plans.
• Translate trends into commercially viable styles balancing newness, scalability and margin.
• Coordinate with Product Development, sourcing, and sampling to move styles from concept to approved sample.
• Lead and develop a design team (4–5 members) and ensure quality standards across output.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Tech-pack creation

AI/3D design workflows

Presentation skills

Communication

Team leadership

Trend analysis

Fabrics knowledge

Tools

Illustrator

Photoshop

Job description

Works with: New York Design Office, India Business Leads & Product Development

Role Summary

The Manager - Design owns end-to-end design for an assigned U.S. brand account, working independently to translate seasonal trends into commercially viable, brand-right assortments. The role sits within the India-based team supporting U.S. accounts, operates in a cross-border setup with the New York office, and carries full accountability for the assigned brand’s design output, quality and growth.

Key Responsibilities

Account & Brand Ownership

• Independently manage the assigned U.S. accounts, end to end - from brief through to final range presentation.
• Hold a deep understanding of each brand’s DNA, customer and price architecture, keeping every range aligned to brand guardrails and seasonal strategy. Experience of working with US accounts like, Walmart, Target, TJ Maxx, JC Penney, Kohls , Urban Outfitters, Aritzia, Abercrombie and Fetch.
• Take ownership of the assigned brand’s design calendar, execution quality and season-on-season growth.

Trend, Design & Range Development

• Lead trend analysis across colour, fabric, silhouette, print, graphic and trim, drawing on forecast sources and brand concepts.
• Build seasonal range plans and line sheets aligned to assortment and buying requirements, developed in line with target costs.
• Translate trends into commercially viable styles - balancing newness, scalability and margin.

Fabric, Pattern & Technical Execution

• Apply strong working knowledge of fabrics, patterns and construction across categories - tops, dresses, bottoms, outerwear (lifestyle).
• Manage fabric, print and surface development and approvals with speed and accuracy.

Presentation & Communication

• Create and deliver compelling seasonal presentations - mood, story, colour and range - directly to the brand.
• Communicate design intent clearly across time zones, ensuring every output to the New York office is seamless and presentation-ready.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate closely with Product Development, sourcing and sampling to move styles from concept to approved sample efficiently.
• Partner with PD and the New York design office to align on brand requirements, production feasibility and timelines.
• Lead and develop a design team (minimum 4-5 members) - allocating work, setting quality standards and building capability.
• Drive strong execution and process discipline across the team.

Candidate Requirements

Experience

• 10-12 years in apparel design within an export-house.
• Mandatory: direct design experience on U.S. brand accounts.
• Demonstrated experience leading a design team of at least 4-5 members.
• Strong trend analysis, with the ability to interpret brand DNA and the latest trends into commercial ranges.
• Sound knowledge of patterns, fabrics and garment construction.
• Proven ability to translate trends into commercially viable, cost-aligned assortments.
• Command of design tools - Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, tech-pack creation, AI/3D assisted design workflows an advantage.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including presenting directly to the brand.

Reporting & Working Model

• Reports to: DGM - Design Lead, U.S. Accounts (India office)
• Works in close collaboration with the New York design office, India business Product Development lead.
• Accountable for the assigned brand’s design output, quality and growth.