Apparel Designer

Bits & Bows; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Bits & Bows is seeking a creative Apparel & Accessories Designer to develop seasonal collections across baby, toddler, and children's apparel and accessories. This hands-on role takes a product from concept through production-ready design, balancing creativity with cost, quality, and functionality.

The ideal candidate has strong garment construction knowledge, experience with CADs and tech packs, and the ability to collaborate with overseas manufacturers in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Fashion/Apparel/Technical Design or related field.
• 3–5+ years of professional apparel design, technical design, or product development experience.
• Experience designing children's apparel, babywear, or swim preferred.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Ability to create detailed CADs, technical flats, and production-ready tech packs.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop seasonal collections across baby, toddler, and children's apparel and accessories.
• Translate direction and brand identity into cohesive, commercially compelling products.
• Develop prints, graphics, embroidery artwork, and other design details.
• Create CADs, technical flats, colorways, and product presentations.
• Prepare production-ready tech packs with measurements, fabrics, trims, and labeling.
• Maintain design files, specifications, and development documentation.
• Collaborate with overseas manufacturers and manage sample development.
• Support wholesale partners, retailers, and licensing opportunities.
• Ensure costs, quality, and production capabilities are aligned.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Job description

Bits & Bows is a rapidly growing children's lifestyle brand specializing in elevated apparel and accessories for everyday adventures and special moments. Known for our signature Polished Playwear™, we combine timeless, preppy style with playful details to create thoughtfully designed pieces for the extraordinary childhood.

As we continue to expand our product assortment and retail presence, we're looking for a talented, detail-oriented Apparel & Accessories Designer to join our growing team.

About the Role

About Bits & Bows

Bits & Bows is a rapidly growing children's lifestyle brand specializing in elevated apparel and accessories for everyday adventures and special moments. Known for our signature Polished Playwear™, we combine timeless, preppy style with playful details to create thoughtfully designed pieces for the extraordinary childhood.

As we continue to expand our product assortment and retail presence, we're looking for a talented, detail-oriented Apparel & Accessories Designer to join our growing team.

About the Role

We are seeking a creative, highly organized, and technically skilled Apparel & Accessories Designer to support the development of our seasonal collections across baby, toddler, and children's apparel and accessories.

This is a hands-on role for someone who can take a product from initial concept through production-ready design, balancing creativity, commercial appeal, quality, and functionality.

The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of children's apparel design, garment construction, technical specifications, and the product development process. They are comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously, collaborating with overseas manufacturers, and working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Design & Collection Development

• Design and develop seasonal collections across children's apparel, babywear, sleepwear, knitwear, outerwear, and accessories.
• Translate creative direction, seasonal inspiration, and brand identity into cohesive, commercially compelling products.
• Develop original prints, patterns, graphics, embroidery artwork, and other design details.
• Create detailed CADs, technical flats, colorways, and product presentations using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Research emerging trends, silhouettes, fabrications, colors, and trims relevant to the children's apparel market.
• Collaborate with leadership to refine assortments and ensure consistency across categories and collections.
• Support the development of exclusive products and custom collections for wholesale partners, retailers, and licensing opportunities.

Technical Design & Product Development

• Create and maintain comprehensive, production-ready tech packs, including garment measurements, construction details, fabric specifications, trims, artwork placement, and labeling requirements.
• Develop and update detailed product specifications, size charts, and grading recommendations.
• Review prototypes, fit samples, and pre-production samples for accuracy, fit, construction, and quality.
• Communicate design revisions and technical corrections clearly to overseas manufacturing partners.
• Identify and resolve design, construction, and fit issues throughout the development process.
• Ensure designs are commercially viable and aligned with target costs, quality standards, and production capabilities.
• Maintain accurate design files, specifications, and product development documentation.

Production Coordination & Execution

• Manage multiple product development projects simultaneously while meeting critical seasonal deadlines.
• Track sample development, revisions, approvals, and production readiness.Coordinate directly with overseas manufacturers regarding artwork, specifications, sampling, materials, and technical questions.
• Review and approve lab dips, strike-offs, embroidery samples, trims, and other development submissions in collaboration with leadership.
• Partner with merchandising and operations to support timely product launches and deliveries.
• Proactively identify potential development challenges and communicate solutions before they impact production timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Technical Design, or a related field preferred.
• 3–5+ years of professional experience in apparel design, technical design, or product development.
• Experience designing children's apparel, babywear, or swim strongly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Demonstrated ability to create detailed technical flats, CADs, and production-ready tech packs.
• Strong understanding of garment construction, fabrications, fit, sizing, grading, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience working directly with overseas manufacturers and managing sample development.
• Ability to develop original prints, graphics, and embroidery artwork.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong written communication skills, particularly when communicating technical specifications and revisions.
• Comfortable working independently, taking ownership of projects, and adapting to changing priorities.