Associate Designer - Women's Soft Accessories

J.Crew; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 64,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Well-being

Associate Discount

Summer Fridays

Community Impact

Winter Break

Job summary

J.Crew is seeking an Associate Designer for Women’s Soft Accessories to shape seasonal scarves, wraps, hats, and gloves. You will translate market trends into designs that balance heritage with forward-looking innovation and work with cross-functional teams to drive concept to customer delivery.

The role requires 2–4 years in accessories design, proficiency in CAD/Illustrator, and a strong portfolio. A hybrid work model and competitive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of progressive design experience, preferably in accessories or soft goods.
• Advanced illustration and CAD skills with a refined aesthetic; proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and MS Office.
• Knowledge of knit and woven construction techniques for accessories; stitch, gauge & finishing details.
• Experience with yarn, fabric, print and trim development and evaluation.
• Strong color expertise for cohesive seasonal palettes.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, able to work within design direction while contributing ideas.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine seasonal soft accessories concepts under the Head of Accessories Design.
• Create scarves, wraps, hats, gloves, and cold-weather pieces aligned with J.Crew aesthetic.
• Collaborate with Concept, Color & Materials teams on palettes, yarn, fabrics, prints, and trims.
• Coordinate with Apparel Design to ensure accessories complement the broader collection.
• Prepare technical packages with illustrations, specs, stitch and gauge details.
• Work with Merchandising & Sourcing to maintain design intent from concept to customer.
• Participate in fittings and reviews to refine proportion, hand-feel and quality.

Skills

Illustration

CAD

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft Office

Knit & woven construction

Color theory

Organizational skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or equivalent hands-on design experience

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Our Story

J.Crew gets you dressed every day, for every occasion.

Since 1983, we've been creating classics that feel familiar and refreshingly new, crafted with unbeatable quality and distinctive point of view - it’s no wonder we've been in your closet for four decades and counting.

Today, we continue to do the classics our way, inspiring not only how you shop but how you define your personal style. Our commitment runs deeper than just making great clothes - we're proud of our role in getting you dressed with confidence, character, and celebrating a distinctly American sensibility that makes us who we are.

Our dedication to Diversity, Equity, Belonging & Sustainability has been celebrated with industry recognition, reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive and sustainable workplace.

The Role + Purpose:

Reporting to the Head of Accessories Design, the Associate Designer, Women’s Soft Accessories helps shape J.Crew's seasonal collections of soft accessories (scarves, wraps, hats, gloves, and cold-weather styles), translating market trends into designs that balance the brand’s heritage with forward-looking innovation. Working within design direction set by the Head of Accessories Design - while bringing fresh ideas and newness to the category - this role partners with the broader Accessories and Apparel Design teams, Merchandising & Sourcing, and the Concept, Print & Pattern, and Color teams to carry design intent from concept to customer. We welcome designers from a wide range of backgrounds and creative paths.

• Under the direction of the Head of Accessories Design, develop and refine seasonal soft accessories concepts that balance J.Crew's heritage with forward-looking innovation.
• Create distinctive scarves, wraps, hats, gloves, and cold-weather accessories that translate market trends into the J.Crew aesthetic, supporting category strategies and direction set by the Head of Accessories Design.
• Partner with the Concept, Color & Materials teams to support the development of seasonal color palettes, yarn and fabric selections, prints, and trim details, with an emphasis on hand-feel and quality fibers such as cashmere, wool blends, and silk.
• Collaborate with the Apparel Design teams to ensure accessories coordinate with and complement the broader apparel collection each season.
• Execute comprehensive technical packages including detailed illustrations, specifications, stitch and gauge details, and construction notes.
• Collaborate with Merchandising & Sourcing partners - including Production, Technical Design, and Fabric teams to ensure design intent is maintained from concept to customer.
• Participate in fittings and product reviews to evaluate and refine proportion, hand-feel, and overall quality; contribute to material innovation and seasonal concept boards and presentation materials.

Qualifications

Required

• 2-4 years of progressive design experience, ideally within accessories or a related soft-goods category.
• Advanced illustration and CAD skills with a refined aesthetic; proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of knit and woven construction techniques relevant to accessories, including stitch, gauge, and finishing details.
• Experience with yarn, fabric, print, and trim development and evaluation.
• Strong color expertise for creating cohesive seasonal palettes.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with solutions-focused decision-making and the ability to work within established design direction while contributing original ideas.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or equivalent hands-on design experience, supported by a strong portfolio.
• Understanding of the J.Crew brand ethos and customer, with a proven ability to translate trends into commercial concepts.

We welcome you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes. Our passion is scouting life-long learners who are driven by curiosity, and who feel connected to our brands and share our desire to make an impact. We're always seeking bright new talent who leverage their unique experiences to discover, grow and evolve with our teams.

Benefits + Perks

• Health & Well-being - Eligible associates and family members receive medical, dental, prescription and vision insurance, family planning (fertility, adoption & surrogacy support), fitness discounts, medical travel and more.
• Associate Discount - We love our products just as much as you do! That's why we offer a great associate discount across all of our brands (J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, and Madewell).
• Summer Fridays - In addition to our hybrid work model, we also close our office at 1:00 PM every Friday during the Summer months.
• Community Impact - We support the communities where we live and work through our philanthropic efforts and the J.Crew Cares Program.
• Winter Break - In addition to our PTO package, J.Crew Group offers a winter break at the end of December to eligible full-time associates at the Home Office to provide time to refresh and recharge.

Note: Availability of these benefits and perks may be subject to work location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements.

Salary Range: $64,200.00 - $79,600.00

At J.Crew Group (JCG) we aim to pay competitively for our company’s size and industry. The base salary offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region of work premises, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. The base salary is just one component of J.Crew Group’s competitive total rewards strategy that also includes the opportunity for bonus, competitive benefits and perks.

One of our core focuses here at JCG is creating a community and culture that builds belonging. We are deeply committed to our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, and we warmly welcome job applicants of all backgrounds.

JCG is proud to affirmatively provide equal opportunity to all associates and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or citizenship, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, legally protected physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other basis protected under applicable law.