Apparel Designer - All Categories

AFRM; Culver City (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

AFRM is seeking a highly creative Designer to design and develop seasonal collections for our Direct-to-Consumer, eCommerce, and Wholesale channels. The candidate will drive trend-right product assortments balancing creativity with commercial performance.

Collaborate with Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, Sales, Production, and Marketing to deliver collections across DTC and wholesale, with strong CAD, PLM, and fabric development skills.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of apparel design experience in women's contemporary fashion.
• Experience designing for both DTC and wholesale channels.
• Strong understanding of current contemporary market trends and consumer behavior.
• Experience working with domestic and overseas factories and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Design seasonal collections across women's contemporary categories including dresses, tops, bottoms, outerwear, knitwear.
• Research global fashion trends and market shifts to identify opportunities.
• Develop seasonal concepts, color palettes, prints, fabrics, and key silhouettes.
• Create detailed technical sketches, CADs, line sheets, and presentation boards.
• Ensure designs align with brand DNA, target customer, pricing, and business objectives.
• Participate in fittings and refine fit with Technical Design.
• Lead fabric, trim, wash, and finish development.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Product Development, and Marketing on launches and storytelling.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

InDesign

Technical sketching

Trend forecasting

Product development

Project management

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, or related field

Tools

PLM systems

CAD software

Job description

AFRM is seeking a highly creative, trend-driven, and commercially minded Designer to design and develop seasonal collections for our growing Direct-to-Consumer (DTC), eCommerce, and Wholesale businesses. This role is responsible for creating innovative, brand-right product assortments that align with market trends, consumer insights, and company growth objectives while balancing creativity with strong commercial performance.

The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of the contemporary women's market, retail landscape, silhouette innovation, fabric development, and end-to-end product creation. They will collaborate cross-functionally with Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, Sales, Production, and Marketing teams to deliver successful collections that resonate across multiple distribution channels.

Key Responsibilities

Design & Product Development

• Design seasonal collections across women's contemporary apparel categories, including dresses, tops, bottoms, outerwear, knitwear, and special capsule collections.
• Research global fashion trends, runway collections, market shifts, consumer behaviors, and competitive brands to identify new opportunities.
• Develop seasonal concepts, color palettes, prints, graphics, fabrications, and key silhouettes.
• Create detailed technical sketches, CADs, line sheets, and presentation boards.
• Ensure all designs align with brand DNA, target customer, pricing architecture, and business objectives.
• Participate in fittings and collaborate with Technical Design to refine fit, construction, and garment functionality.
• Lead fabric, trim, wash, and finish development.

DTC & Omni-Channel Strategy

• Design products specifically optimized for DTC and eCommerce performance.
• Utilize sales data, customer feedback, and website analytics to inform design decisions.
• Collaborate with Marketing and eCommerce teams on key seasonal launches and storytelling initiatives.
• Develop exclusive styles, capsules, and limited-edition products for direct channels.

Wholesale & Retail Partner Support

• Design assortments that address the needs of major wholesale customers and specialty retailers.
• Participate in seasonal line reviews and product presentations with sales and merchant teams.
• Support key account opportunities through exclusive programs, market-specific assortments, and customer-driven product development.
• Understand wholesale retail calendars, margin requirements, and pricing structures.

Trend & Market Analysis

• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, customer insights, and emerging fashion influences.
• Attend trade shows, shopping trips, market appointments, and trend forecasting presentations.
• Conduct regular product and competitive analyses to identify whitespace opportunities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Merchandising to build balanced assortments and seasonal product strategies.
• Collaborate with Product Development and Production teams to ensure designs meet costing and manufacturing requirements.
• Work closely with sourcing teams to identify innovative fabrics and suppliers.
• Support the merchandising team in assortment planning, style rationalization, and SKU optimization.

Product Lifecycle Management

• Manage product development calendars and seasonal milestones.
• Review prototypes, fit samples, lab dips, strike-offs, and production samples.
• Ensure all technical packages and design documentation are complete and accurate.
• Maintain organization within PLM systems and design databases.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, or related field.

Experience

• 5+ years of apparel design experience within women's contemporary fashion.
• Experience designing for both DTC and wholesale distribution channels.
• Strong understanding of current contemporary market trends and consumer behavior.
• Experience working with domestic and overseas factories and vendors.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Experience with PLM systems.
• Strong CAD and technical sketching abilities.
• Knowledge of garment construction, fit, patternmaking, and fabric development.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and product management tools.

Core Competencies

• Creative vision and trend forecasting
• Strong commercial and analytical mindset
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Excellent organization and project management skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Strong presentation and communication skills
• Collaborative team player
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously

Join us in shaping the future of contemporary women's fashion through innovative design, compelling product storytelling, and exceptional customer experiences across both DTC and wholesale channels.