Assistant Designer

Nautica

New York (NY)

On-site

USD 57,200 - 104,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Nautica is seeking an Assistant Designer – Denim to support seasonal denim development for Lucky Brand and Nautica Men’s value channels. You will work with design, merchandising, product development, and technical teams to create trend-right denim products for multiple retailers and channels.

The role emphasizes organization, attention to detail, and a passion for denim and emerging fashion trends, offering exposure to washes, fabrics, fits, and private label requirements across brands.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, or related field.
0–2 years of design experience or internships preferred.
Strong interest in denim design, fashion trends, and product development.

Responsibilities

Assist in creating and developing seasonal denim collections across assigned categories.
Research fashion and denim trends to identify opportunities.
Prepare sketches, CADs, technical flats, and presentation materials under guidance.
Help develop washes, fabrics, trims, and design details.
Organize and track sample development through the product lifecycle.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Excel

PowerPoint

CAD

Time management

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design

Tools

PLM systems

ChatGPT

Vizcom

Job description

Assistant Designer – Denim

Position Summary

The Assistant Designer – Denim COE supports the design and development of seasonal denim collections from concept through production for Lucky Brand and Nautica Men’s value channels. This role partners closely with Design, Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, Production, and Sourcing teams to help create trend-right, customer-focused denim products that meet the unique needs of multiple retail partners and channels.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about denim and emerging fashion trends. They possess a strong understanding of apparel design fundamentals and are eager to develop expertise in denim product development, washes, fabrics, fits, and private label business requirements. This role provides the opportunity to contribute creatively while supporting a fast-paced development process across multiple brands, retailers, and product categories.

Key Responsibilities

Design Support & Creative Development

Support the design team in the creation and development of seasonal denim collections across assigned categories.
Research fashion, denim, cultural, and social media trends to identify opportunities relevant to the brand customers.
Assist in the preparation of inspiration boards, seasonal concepts, trend presentations, and color direction.
Create and update sketches, CADs, technical flats, and presentation materials under the guidance of senior design leadership.
Help develop washes, fabrications, trims, and design details that support seasonal product initiatives.
Conduct competitive shopping and market research across retail channels and online platforms.

Product Development & Technical Support

Assist in the creation and maintenance of tech packs, ensuring design details, construction information, trims, and wash instructions are accurately documented.
Organize and track sample development throughout the product lifecycle.
Support wash development by reviewing strike-offs, wash submissions, and samples with manager for design consistency.
Prepare samples, reference materials, and comments for fittings and review meetings.
Partner with Technical Design and Product Development teams to communicate updates and maintain accurate records.
Help ensure design specifications are updated and entered into PLM systems in a timely manner.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Design, Merchandising, Technical Design, Product Development, Production, and Sourcing teams throughout the development process.
Participate in sample reviews, fittings, seasonal meetings, and line reviews.
Communicate sample status, design updates, and development needs to internal and external partners.
Assist in preparing seasonal presentations and leadership review materials.

Trend & Market Research

Monitor denim and fashion trends through retail research, social media, runway coverage, and competitive analysis.
Maintain trend, wash, fabric, and inspiration archives for the design team.
Track industry developments in denim fabrics, silhouettes, washes, sustainability, and consumer preferences.

Administrative & Organizational Support

Maintain organized sample libraries, wash standards, fabric swatches, trims, and seasonal design records.
Assist with seasonal calendar management and ensure key milestones are met.
Organize design files, line sheets, presentation decks, and seasonal documentation.
Support special projects and additional design initiatives as needed.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, or a related field.
0–2 years of design experience, internships, or relevant experience within the apparel industry preferred.
Strong interest in denim design, fashion trends, and product development.
Basic knowledge of apparel construction, fit, fabrics, washes, and garment development processes.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator and Photoshop.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint.
Experience with PLM systems is a plus.
Strong sketching, CAD, and technical flat skills.
Excellent organizational, communication, and time-management abilities.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Collaborative mindset with a strong willingness to learn and grow within a design team.
Familiarity with AI design and visualization tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Vizcom, or comparable platforms is a plus.