Associate Fashion Designer

The Pulse Boutique; Newton (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pulse Boutique is seeking an Associate Fashion Designer to develop fresh, feminine apparel for our customer. You will focus on trend research, original product concepts, CAD development, color direction and refinement from concept to sample.

The ideal candidate combines strong fashion instincts with an understanding of creating distinctive, attainable and commercially successful products for our small, collaborative team.

Qualifications

• Degree in Fashion Design or related field.
• 2–4 years of apparel design experience preferred.
• Strong Adobe Illustrator skills and ability to create clear CADs and technical flats.

Responsibilities

• Research fashion, color, print, fabrication and silhouette trends.
• Develop seasonal concepts and color direction to present to the buying team.
• Create sketches, CADs, colorways, prints and graphics using Illustrator or Photoshop.
• Design primarily into tops, sweaters, light outerwear and swim.
• Translate trend inspiration into commercially viable products.
• Collaborate with Owners, Buyer and Visual Merchandiser to address assortment needs.
• Balance creativity with target retail price, margins and production feasibility.
• Create and maintain complete, factory-ready apparel tech packs.

Skills

CAD development

Adobe Illustrator

Color & print design

Trend research

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

3D apparel software

Job description

Days & Hours: Monday - Friday, start time between 7-8am | 40 hours per week

Location: In person at our headquarters in Newton, Iowa

About Us

We are a fast-moving women’s fashion e-commerce brand serving a loyal customer who loves feminine, wearable and trend-forward fashion. As we continue to expand our exclusive product assortment, we’re looking for someone with a strong eye for product who can help us create pieces that feel new, special and unmistakably us.

You’ll work closely with a small, collaborative product team, including our Buyer, Visual Merchandiser and Company Owners, who are actively involved in product and creative direction. Because of the size of our team, you’ll have meaningful involvement in the products we create and the opportunity to see your ideas move from concept to customer quickly.

Primary Purpose

Develop original apparel ideas specifically for The Pulse Boutique’s customer and translate trends into wearable, commercially viable products.

Job Summary

The Pulse Boutique is looking for a commercially minded Associate Fashion Designer to develop fresh, feminine and wearable apparel for our customer. This role will focus on trend research, original product concepts, CAD development, color and print direction, and refinement of products from initial idea through final sample. The ideal candidate combines strong fashion instincts with an understanding of how to create products that are distinctive, attainable and commercially successful.

Key Responsibilities

• Research fashion, color, print, fabrication and silhouette trends.
• Develop seasonal concepts, color direction, design/mood boards and original product ideas to present to the buying team
• Create sketches, CADs, colorways, prints and graphics using adobe illustrator or photoshop
• Design primarily into tops, sweaters, light outerwear and swim.
• Translate trend inspiration into products that feel fresh, feminine, wearable and commercially relevant to our target customer.
• Evolve already successful products through fabrication, proportion, construction, color and design details without simply repeating them.
• Work directly with Pulse’s Owners, Buyer and Visual Merchandiser to address assortment and customer needs.
• Balance creativity with target retail price, margin, production feasibility, minimums and wearability.
• Handle sample communication with factory partners to take samples from initial concept to production ready [including approving lab dips, strike off’s etc]
• Create and maintain complete, factory-ready apparel tech packs.
• Review sales results and customer feedback to understand what is resonating and why.
• Participate in fittings and hands-on sample reviews and collection meetings
• Manage multiple projects, seasonal assortments and deadlines in a fast paced environment
• Evaluate fabric handfeel, drape, stretch, recovery, weight, texture and overall suitability for the intended garment.
• Understand how changes in fabrication can impact fit, silhouette, construction and overall product quality.
• Source or recommend alternative fabrications when the original material is not achieving the intended design.
• Physically evaluate garments to identify issues with fit, proportion, construction, fabrication and design execution.
• Make recommendations for adjustments needed to improve the garment’s appearance, fit, quality, comfort and wearability.

How This Role Works With the Team

The Pulse operates with a small, highly collaborative team, which means this role will have much more exposure to the full product process than it might at a larger retailer.

Our size means your work won’t disappear into layers of departments and approvals. You’ll have a voice in creative conversations, work directly with the people making product decisions and see firsthand how customers respond to the products you help create.

The Associate Fashion Designer communicates clear concepts, CADs, tech packs and design direction directly to the factory, then remains responsible for the garment as it moves from initial sampling to final approval.

Ideal Qualifications

• Degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design or a related field preferred.
• Approximately 2-4 years of apparel design experience.
• Strong Adobe Illustrator skills and the ability to create clear CADs and technical flats.
• Strong understanding of color, print, silhouette, proportion and garment construction.
• Commercial fashion sense and a strong instinct for The Pulse Boutique’s customers.
• Ability to take inspiration from trends without copying existing products.
• Organized, collaborative and receptive to feedback throughout product development.
• Ability to evaluate fabric handfeel, drape, weight, stretch and recovery and understand how those properties affect a finished garment.
• Familiarity with 3D apparel software is a plus; advanced 3D garment building is not required for this role.