Associate Designer (Apparel)

Primary.com; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4-day work weeks

PTO and parental leave

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Employee discount

Learning stipend (monthly)

Home-office reimbursement

Team-building fund

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Primary is seeking an Associate Designer for Baby to support apparel development from concept to production. The role focuses on infant and toddler categories, collaborating with design, merchandising, and product teams. Hybrid work from our NYC office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

You’ll build tech packs, manage BOMs, participate in live fittings, and help scale evergreen styles while delivering thoughtful seasonal pieces.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional apparel design experience; baby/infant experience is a plus.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator & Photoshop).
• Mastery in creating complete tech packs, POM sheets, and BOMs.
• Solid garment construction knowledge and live fit experience.

Responsibilities

• Translate seasonal concepts into detailed flat sketches in Illustrator.
• Develop prints/patterns from concept to color approval.
• Manage seasonal development boards, fabric libraries, and master assortment files.
• Collaborate with Design, Product Development, Sourcing, and Merchandising to balance design, cost, and lead times.

Skills

Apparel design

Live garment fitting

Product development

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Tech packs & BOMs tools

Job description

Primary is a mom-founded kids’ clothing brand on a mission to help every kid be their truest self. Since launching in 2015, we’ve created simple, beautiful, gender-neutral styles made to last — with super-soft, sustainable fabrics and slogan-free designs that let kids shine in what they wear.

Our customers care deeply about what we do, helping us build one of the highest NPS scores in the industry (85+!) and an incredibly loyal community. We’re growing a strong, sustainable, and profitable (!!) business — and we’re always looking for great people to grow it with us.

We value kind, curious, and thoughtful self-starters who think strategically, collaborate generously, and care about doing great work. We’re also a change-friendly bunch — always open to new ideas and perspectives that make Primary better for our customers, our teammates, and our world.

About the Role

TheAssociate Designer, Babywill support the design team in the development of apparel and accessories collections from concept through production, with a special focus on our infant and walking toddler categories. You will collaborate closely with the design, merchandising, and product development teams, focusing on scaling our core evergreen assortment and introducing thoughtful, high-quality seasonal styles. This position will work on a hybrid basis (T/Th) from our NYC office.

What You’ll Do

Design & Creative Execution

• Partner with the Design Lead to translate seasonal concepts into detailed flat technical sketches using Adobe Illustrator.
• Assist in developing print & pattern from concept to color approval.
• Maintain and organize seasonal development boards, fabric libraries, and master assortment files.
• Collaborate closely with Product Development, Sourcing, and Merchandising teams to align design intent with cost and lead times.

Product Development & Technical Fit

• Build, update, and manage complete, detailed tech packs and BOMs.
• Actively participate in live fit sessions, record precise fit notes, and issue clear revision packages to vendors.
• Track product revisions, sample submissions, and timeline milestones to keep seasonal development on schedule.

What You’ll Bring

Education, Experience, and Technical Skills

• 2+ years of professional apparel design experience; direct experience in baby, infant, or kids' apparel is a plus.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator & Photoshop).
• Proven mastery in building complete tech packs, point-of-measure (POM) sheets, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Solid understanding of garment construction, fabric performance, and live garment measuring/fitting.
• Experience with lab dip approvals, strike-off evaluations, and print repeat setups.

Nice-to-Haves / Bonus Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or a related field.
• Proactivity: You identify gaps, propose practical solutions, and bring proactive energy to category execution.
• Ego-free collaboration: You prioritize the product's success, welcome feedback gracefully, and work seamlessly with cross-functional partners.
• Ambiguity navigation: You create order out of shifting project needs, manage priorities, and know when to manage up effectively

What We Offer

We want our team to feel supported, valued, and able to thrive — at work and beyond. Our benefits include:

• 4-day work weeks (for most roles, Fridays are flexible)
• Generous time off (3-4 weeks of PTO, unlimited sick time, 10 holidays + winter break) and leave options (including 12 weeks fully paid for all new parents)
• Multiple medical, dental, vision, and pre-tax accounts
• 401(k) with company matchPerks like an employee discount, monthly learning (or gym) stipend, home-office reimbursement, and manager team-building fund
• A kind, colorful, and collaborative culture

We’re excited to grow our team with people who share our curiosity, care, and creativity. At Primary, we believe great work happens when everyone feels seen, supported, and free to bring their full selves — just like the kids we design for.

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives and experiences. If you need any accommodations during the hiring process, please reach out. We partner with Disclo, a secure third-party platform, to make the process simple and confidential.