Head of Design (Apparel)

JSW Sports Pvt Ltd; Mumbai; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 5,500,000; Full time

Job summary

JSW Sports is looking for a Head of Design (Apparel) to join our team in Mumbai. The ideal candidate is a highly creative design leader with deep expertise in sports and performance (goods and) apparel, exceptional aesthetic sensibilities, and a strong understanding of technical product design.

While commercial awareness is essential, the primary focus of this role is to create products that are innovative, functional, and aligned with the brand's long-term design vision.

Qualifications

• 10-15 years of experience with leading sports, performance, or lifestyle brands.
• Strong expertise in performance fabrics, trims, fit, technical apparel construction, and product design.
• Proven ability to manage design calendars and lead and mentor design teams.
• Strong analytical capability, with experience in SKU planning, hit-rate improvement, and range productivity.
• Exceptional creative sensibility with a strong eye for design, storytelling, and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the overall design vision and strategy for apparel across performance and lifestyle categories.
• Build a strong design culture that balances innovation, functionality, aesthetics, and consumer relevance.
• Develop a distinctive design language that strengthens the brand's identity.
• Drive athlete-led product innovation by collaborating with athletes, coaches, and performance experts.
• Lead the end-to-end product design and development process, from concept through production.
• Translate consumer insights, athlete feedback, and market trends into commercially successful product collections.
• Ensure products meet the highest standards of functionality, quality, aesthetics, and innovation.
• Champion product innovation by leveraging new-age technologies, materials, and design techniques.
• Partner with athletes, coaches, and product development teams to design products that enhance performance without compromising on style.
• Stay ahead of global sportswear and design innovation trends.
• Partner closely with the Product Development, Merchandising, Sourcing, Marketing, and Brand teams to ensure seamless execution of the design vision.
• Work with manufacturing partners to ensure the design intent is maintained throughout sampling and production.
• Support brand campaigns by providing creative inputs for product launches, athlete collaborations, and brand storytelling.

Skills

Design leadership

Sports apparel design

Brand storytelling

Analytical skills

Mentoring teams

Job description

JSW Sports is looking for a Head of Design (Apparel) to join our team in Mumbai.

The ideal candidate is a highly creative design leader with deep expertise in sports and performance (goods and) apparel, exceptional aesthetic sensibilities, and a strong understanding of technical product design. While commercial awareness is essential, the primary focus of this role is to create products that are innovative, functional, and aligned with the brand's long-term design vision.

• Define and lead the overall design vision and strategy for apparel across performance and lifestyle categories.
• Build a strong design culture that balances innovation, functionality, aesthetics, and consumer relevance.
• Develop a distinctive design language that strengthens the brand's identity.
• Drive athlete-led product innovation by collaborating with athletes, coaches, and performance experts.

Product Design & Development

• Lead the end-to-end product design and development process, from concept through production.
• Translate consumer insights, athlete feedback, and market trends into commercially successful product collections.
• Ensure products meet the highest standards of functionality, quality, aesthetics, and innovation.

Performance Innovation

• Champion product innovation by leveraging new-age technologies, materials, and design techniques.
• Partner with athletes, coaches, and product development teams to design products that enhance performance without compromising on style.
• Stay ahead of global sportswear and design innovation trends.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with the Product Development, Merchandising, Sourcing, Marketing, and Brand teams to ensure seamless execution of the design vision.
• Work with manufacturing partners to ensure the design intent is maintained throughout sampling and production.
• Support brand campaigns by providing creative inputs for product launches, athlete collaborations, and brand storytelling.

Qualifications & Experience

• 10-15 years of experience with leading sports, performance, or lifestyle brands.
• Strong expertise in performance fabrics, trims, fit, technical apparel construction, and product design.
• Proven ability to manage design calendars and lead and mentor design teams.
• Strong analytical capability, with experience in SKU planning, hit-rate improvement, and range productivity.
• Exceptional creative sensibility with a strong eye for design, storytelling, and innovation.