Associate Designer

EMERGING BLUE; Charleston (SC); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid role Charleston

Medical, dental, and vision

401(k)

Paid time off

Employee discount

Collaborative team

Exposure to design & production

Job summary

EMERGING BLUE in Charleston is seeking an Apparel and Swimwear Designer to shape seasonal direction for babies through adults, creating original prints, color palettes and fabric concepts that align with the brand aesthetic.

The role requires 4+ years in apparel design, swimwear experience preferred, and a strong portfolio. Hybrid office role with collaboration across production and product teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field preferred.
• 4+ years of relevant apparel design experience.
• Swimwear experience strongly preferred; premium apparel, resort or lifestyle experience valued.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating a distinct creative point of view and strong fashion sensibility.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator is required and strong Photoshop skills preferred.
• Experience in PLM systems a plus.
• Experience creating production-ready technical artwork and tech packs.
• Demonstrated ability to create original print designs and repeat patterns.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication and strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Help shape and guide seasonal design direction, bringing forward new ideas, silhouettes, details, color, print and fabrication opportunities.
• Create original prints, graphics, and seasonal artworks; modify existing prints through recoloring, resizing, scaling and texture.
• Develop seasonal color palettes and artwork presentations.
• Create and maintain seasonal line plans and assortment boards.
• Research adult, children and baby apparel, swimwear, fabrics, trims and prints for inspiration.
• Prepare presentations for seasonal design reviews and roadmaps.
• Create seasonal developmental tech packs with technical drawings and BOM pages.
• Partner with product development on strike-offs, lab dyes, trims and samples for overseas vendors.
• Evaluate print and trim placement to ensure proportions across sizes.
• Maintain organized design files, artwork libraries and seasonal documentation.
• Ensure artwork and tech packs are production-ready and on schedule.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product development, tech design and production teams.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Print design

Technical artwork

Tech packs

PLM systems

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field

Tools

PLM systems

Job description

About

Our client is a premium family swimwear and lifestyle brand built for sun-filled days and the little moments in between. They design thoughtful, high-quality pieces for the whole family, from baby to adult, with an aesthetic that's classic, clean and detail-obsessed. The team is small, fast-moving and deeply invested in the product they put into the world. If you love clever prints, well-made things and a job where your work shows up on real families at the beach, you'll feel at home here.

Job Description

Apparel and Swimwear Designer

Location: Charleston, SC (Hybrid)

Department: Production

Specific Duties / Responsibilities

• Help shape and guide seasonal design direction, bringing forward new ideas, silhouettes, details, color, print and fabrication opportunities. Proactively identify opportunities and challenge ideas to evolve and elevate the product assortment while remaining true to the brand's core aesthetic.
• Create original prints, graphics, and seasonal artworks that are fresh, distinctive and commercially relevant. Modify existing prints through recoloring, resizing, scaling, layout adjustments and adding texture and depth.
• Develop seasonal color palettes and artwork presentations.
• Create and maintain seasonal line plans and assortment boards.
• Research adult, children and baby apparel and swimwear, as well as fabrications, trims and prints to inspire new collections.
• Prepare presentations for seasonal design reviews and roadmaps.
• Responsible for creating seasonal developmental tech packs, including technical drawings with construction details, construction pages, and bill of materials pages.
• Partner closely with the product development team in reviewing strike offs, lab dyes, trims and development samples and provide clear comments for overseas vendors.
• Evaluate print and trim placement and sizing to ensure accurate proportions throughout the size range.
• Help maintain organized design files, artwork libraries and seasonal documentation.
• Ensure all artwork and tech packs are accurate, complete and production-ready while meeting development calendars.
• Partner cross-functionally with product development, tech design and production teams.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field preferred.
• 4+ years of relevant apparel design experience.
• Swimwear experience is strongly preferred; premium apparel, resort or lifestyle experience also valued.
• Strong understanding of the brand's customer and ability to design with a strong awareness of the brand's aesthetic.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating a distinct creative point of view and strong fashion sensibility required.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator is required and strong Photoshop skills preferred.
• Experience in PLM systems a plus.
• Experience creating production-ready technical artwork and tech packs.
• Demonstrated ability to create original print designs and repeat patterns.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication and strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Perks

• Hybrid role (in-office in Charleston and remote work environment)
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k)
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Generous employee discount on all of our client's products
• A close-knit, collaborative team that moves fast and cares about the work
• Direct exposure to every part of the design and production process, not siloed