Apparel Designer

Utopia Brands; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Utopia Brands is seeking a creative, trend-driven Apparel Designer to join the Product Development team in Dallas on a 6-month, extendable contract (1099). Recent graduates or designers with up to 1 year of experience will collaborate across Product Development and Merchandising to turn emerging trends into commercially viable collections for the U.S.

market. You’ll research trends, develop mood boards and color stories, create sketches and CADs, and contribute from ideation through production

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Textile Design, or related field preferred.
• Recent graduate or up to 1 year of apparel design experience.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Strong understanding of garment construction, textiles, fabric properties, and apparel manufacturing.
• Excellent sketching, illustration, and presentation skills.
• Active user of social media and e-commerce platforms, with an understanding of digital shopping behaviors.
• Tech-savvy, curious, and eager to adopt new technologies and AI tools.
• Strong communication, collaboration, organizational, and time management skills.
• Experience with CLO 3D, Browzwear, or other 3D apparel design software is a plus.
• Portfolio showcasing apparel design projects, technical illustrations, and creative thinking is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Research global fashion trends, color palettes, silhouettes, fabrics, trims, prints, and consumer preferences.
• Monitor social media, influencers, and e-commerce to identify product opportunities.
• Develop mood boards, trend presentations, color stories, and design concepts for seasonal collections.
• Create apparel sketches, technical illustrations (CADs), and detailed tech packs.
• Collaborate with Product Development and Merchandising to move concepts from ideation to production.
• Conduct market research to identify whitespace and product innovation opportunities.
• Participate in product reviews, fittings, and sample evaluations; revise accordingly.
• Maintain organized design files, specifications, and documentation throughout development.
• Stay informed on emerging technologies and AI-powered design tools.

Skills

Trend analysis

Sketching & presentation

Communication & collaboration

Digital shopping behavior

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

CLO 3D

Browzwear

Job description

Duration: Full-time Contractual (1099), 6-month contract, extendable

Utopia Brands is seeking a creative, trend driven, and digitally savvy Apparel Designer to join our Product Development team in Dallas. This is a great opportunity for a recent graduate or early-career designer passionate about fashion, consumer products, and transforming emerging trends into commercially successful collections. You'll work closely with Product Development, Merchandising, and cross-functional teams to develop apparel collections for the U.S. market, gaining hands-on experience throughout the full product development lifecycle.

What you’ll be doing:

• Researching and analyzing global fashion trends, seasonal color palettes, silhouettes, fabrics, trims, prints, and emerging consumer preferences
• Monitoring social media, influencers, and e-commerce marketplaces to identify new product opportunities
• Developing mood boards, trend presentations, color stories, and design concepts for seasonal collections
• Creating apparel sketches, technical illustrations (CADs), and detailed tech packs
• Collaborating with Product Development and Merchandising to bring concepts from ideation through production
• Conducting competitor and market research to identify whitespace and product innovation opportunities
• Participating in product reviews, fittings, and sample evaluations, incorporating feedback into revisions
• Maintaining organized design files, specifications, and documentation throughout development
• Staying informed on emerging technologies, AI-powered design tools, and digital platforms

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Textile Design, or related field preferred
• Recent graduate or up to 1 year of apparel design experience
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
• Strong understanding of garment construction, textiles, fabric properties, and apparel manufacturing
• Excellent sketching, illustration, and presentation skills
• Active user of social media and e-commerce platforms, with an understanding of digital shopping behaviors
• Tech-savvy, curious, and eager to adopt new technologies and AI tools
• Strong communication, collaboration, organizational, and time management skills
• Experience with CLO 3D, Browzwear, or other 3D apparel design software is a plus
• Portfolio showcasing apparel design projects, technical illustrations, and creative thinking is a plus

Wishing the best of luck to everyone who applies!