Accessories Designer

Will Leather Goods; Oregon (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Will Leather Goods seeks an experienced Accessories Designer to work directly with founder Will Adler in creating the next generation of leather bags and accessories. This hands-on role requires deep knowledge of leather, construction, materials, pricing, and production.

You will lead design from inspiration through development, translating concepts into CADs, tech packs, and production-ready files while maintaining the Will Leather Goods aesthetic.

Qualifications

• Direct professional experience in designing and manufacturing leather bags and accessories.
• 5+ years of relevant professional design experience.
• Degree or certificate in Fashion Design, Industrial Design, or a related discipline is strongly preferred; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• Strong technical knowledge of leather, materials, construction, hardware, and accessory manufacturing.
• Excellent sketching, product design, and conceptualization skills.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Excellent production tech-pack skills.
• Knowledge of color, sewing techniques, graphics, embroidery, print, hardware, and trim.
• Understanding of the accessories marketplace, fashion trends, fashion history, and consumer behavior.
• Understanding of e-commerce and digital merchandising.
• Ability to create high-perceived-value products within target costs and retail price points.
• Working knowledge of Excel and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative design and development of leather bags and accessories from concept through production.
• Research the marketplace, competitive products, trends, materials, colors, silhouettes, hardware, and trims while maintaining the brand aesthetic.
• Translate ideas into seasonal concepts, CADs, boards, line plans, and production-ready products.
• Design and engineer handbags, belts, wallets, and accessories with attention to proportion, materials, hardware, stitching, and fit.
• Create detailed technical drawings, specs, and production-ready tech packs for factory partners using design tools.
• Design with target costs and retail price points in mind.
• Work with Merchandising, Product Development, Sourcing, and Sales to build cohesive collections.
• Communicate with domestic and overseas factory partners to ensure clarity of design intent and production information.
• Review prototypes, resolve construction issues, and modify products as needed.
• Partner with Product Development to ensure BOMs, specs, measurements, and factory communications are accurate.
• Manage design and development timelines to keep seasonal collections on calendar.
• Understand bestselling products and how to evolve them.
• Travel up to 20% for market visits, primarily domestic with international travel as needed.

Skills

Leather bag design

CAD

Adobe Illustrator

Tech pack creation

Trend research

Costing

Excel

Product development

Education

Fashion Design degree

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

Job description

Accessories Designer—Leather Bags and Accessories

Will Leather Goods—A Casual, Rough Luxury Leather Goods Brand for Men and Women

This is NOT a graphic design position. Direct experience designing bags and accessories, including handbags, belts, wallets, and other leather goods, is required.

Will Leather Goods is seeking an experienced Accessories Designer to work directly with founder Will Adler in creating the next generation of products for the brand.

This is a hands‑on creative role for a designer who works with great leather products: how to imagine them, how to develop them, and how to make them. You must know leather, construction, materials, manufacturing, price points, and the marketplace—and be able to take an idea from inspiration through development and into production.

We’re looking for someone with a strong point of view, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to recognize what makes a product distinctive, functional, desirable, and unmistakably Will Leather Goods.

Availability to work periodically in Eugene, Oregon.

Compensation is DOE.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the creative design and development of leather bags and accessories from initial concept through production.
• Research the marketplace, competitive products, emerging trends, materials, colors, silhouettes, hardware, and trims while maintaining a clear understanding of the Will Leather Goods aesthetic.
• Translate ideas into seasonal concepts, sketches, CADs, presentation boards, visual line plans, and fully realized products.
• Design and engineer handbags, bags, belts, wallets, and accessories with careful attention to proportion, construction, function, materials, hardware, stitching, and fit.
• Create detailed technical drawings, specifications, and production‑ready tech packs for factory partners using Adobe Illustrator and related design tools.
• Design with an understanding of target costs, retail price points, perceived value, margin goals, and manufacturing requirements.
• Work closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Sourcing, and Sales to build cohesive collections that align creative direction with business goals.
• Communicate directly with domestic and overseas factory partners, ensuring design intent and production information are clear and accurate.
• Review prototypes and samples, resolve construction and design issues, and modify products as needed.
• Partner with Product Development to ensure BOMs, specifications, measurements, and factory communications are accurate and complete.
• Manage design and development timelines to ensure seasonal collections remain on calendar and meet launch requirements.
• Understand our bestsellers—why they work, how they can evolve, and how to create the next one.
• Know the competition, travel the market, and look ahead for new product ideas, materials, and techniques.
• Participate in market and account visits, with travel up to 20%, primarily domestic with international travel as needed.

What You Bring

• Direct professional experience in the design and manufacturing of leather bags and accessories, including handbags, belts, wallets, or related leather goods, is required.
• 5+ years of relevant professional design experience preferred.
• Degree or certificate in Fashion Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Merchandising, or a related discipline is strongly preferred; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• Strong technical knowledge of leather, materials, construction, hardware, and accessory manufacturing.
• Excellent sketching, product design, and conceptualization skills.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Excellent production tech‑pack skills.
• Knowledge of color, sewing techniques, graphics, embroidery, print, hardware, and trim.
• Strong understanding of the accessories marketplace, fashion trends, fashion history, and consumer behavior.
• Understanding of e‑commerce and digital merchandising.
• Ability to create high‑perceived‑value products within target costs and retail price points.
• Working knowledge of Excel and Microsoft Office.

Who You Are

• You notice details other people miss. You understand the difference between following a trend and recognizing where the market is going.
• You can sketch an idea, engineer it, explain it, cost it, refine it, and work with a factory to make it real.
• You’re as comfortable talking about leather, hardware, construction, and price point as you are talking about inspiration and design. You understand that a beautiful bag still has to work.
• You’re collaborative, but you take ownership. You can change direction quickly without losing momentum. You’re determined to get the product right.
• You bring creative energy, good judgment, and—important around here—a sense of humor.

Most of all, you love making great product.

About the Company: Will Leather Goods

Founded by Will Adler in 1981, Will Leather Goods creates handcrafted leather bags and accessories for men and women, drawing on more than four decades of experience in the leather industry.

From the boardwalks of Venice Beach to our stores, retail partners, and customers around the world, we remain focused on what has always mattered: distinctive design, enduring materials, thoughtful craftsmanship, and products designed to be used, carried, and passed on.

Every Will Leather Goods product is backed by our lifetime guarantee.