Chief Fashion Design & Innovation Lead

Fwrd; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on items

Free weekly lunches

Company parties and events

Job summary

Fwrd in Los Angeles, CA seeks a visionary VP of Fashion Design to lead the creative direction across the design team. You will drive seasonal collections, mentor senior designers, and ensure alignment with brand identity and market trends.

Responsibilities include overseeing concept to production, collaborating with cross‑functional teams, and presenting trend decks to executives. Requires 10+ years in women’s apparel design and leadership, with a strong portfolio and CAD/Adobe skills.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in senior leadership roles within women’s apparel design.
• Proven ability to lead multiple brands and align design strategy with business goals.
• Expert knowledge of textiles, materials, construction and fit.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating leadership and design prowess.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and CAD tools.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the development and execution of monthly design plans.
• Lead and inspire a design team to create trendsetting collections.
• Collaborate with marketing, merchandising and production to align strategy with brand identity.
• Oversee design process from concept to final production, ensuring quality and deadlines.
• Develop trend research and translate forecasts into sellable garments.
• Mentor junior designers and design staff and lead workshops.

Skills

Leadership

Brand direction

Trend analysis

Team mentoring

Communication

Adobe Creative Suite

CAD tools

Education

Degree in Apparel Design or related field

Tools

Illustrator

Photoshop

CAD

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

VP of Design

Executive & Admin Regular Full-Time Senior Management Los Angeles, CA, US

30+ days ago Requisition ID: 3357

Salary Range: $200,000.00 To $230,000.00 Annually

VP of Design

Meet the Owned Brand division of REVOLVE:

REVOLVE is the next-generation fashion retailer for Millennial and Generation Z consumers. As a trusted, premium lifestyle brand and a go-to source for discovery and inspiration, REVOLVE delivers an engaging customer experience from a vast yet curated offering of over 45,000 products. Founded in Los Angeles in 2003 by co-CEOs, Michael Mente and Mike Karanikolas, REVOLVE’s family of brands includes their luxury offering, FWRD and a portfolio of 24 owned brands such as Lovers + Friends, Tularosa, NBD and RAYE.

The Owned Brand division within REVOLVE is an industry-leading fashion design and production house based in Los Angeles. Leveraging the power of REVOLVE’s data driven merchandising, combined with raw creative talent, results in an unparalleled ability to identify specific market niches and develop brands that each have their own identity, designed with a distinct consumer interest and personality in mind.

At REVOLVE the most successful team members have the thirst and creativity to redefine fashion retail for the 21st century, making REVOLVE the leading online retail destination targeted towards Millennial and Generation Z consumers seeking premium fashion. With a team of 1,000 strong, we are a dynamic bunch that are motivated by getting the company to the next level. It’s our goal to hire high-energy, diverse, bright, creative, and flexible individuals who thrive in a fast-paced work environment [RVLV1] .

Some of the sweetest perks we offer aren’t in a typical benefit package like hefty discounts on items we carry – as in 50% or more off retail prices, free weekly lunches, and pretty rad company parties.

To take a behind the scenes look at the REVOLVE “corporate” lifestyle check out our Instagram @REVOLVEcareers or #lifeatrevolve.

Are you ready to set the standard for Premium apparel?

We’re looking for an experienced, dynamic Vice President of Design to lead multiple design segments across the organization, while driving exciting new brands and special projects. The ideal candidate has exceptional taste, a versatile design aesthetic, and experience leading teams across multiple categories and initiatives in a fast-paced environment. This is an exciting opportunity for a multifaceted design leader who can bring fresh perspective, inspire creative teams, and translate our brand vision into compelling, market-relevant collections.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the creation of collections, ensuring consistency in brand identity, trend alignment, and market relevance.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and cultural movements to maintain the brand’s competitive edge.

Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and manage design teams across multiple segments, fostering a fun, collaborative, inspiring and innovative environment.
• Provide clear direction, feedback, and professional development opportunities for team members.
• Ensure effective collaboration between design, marketing, production, and other departments to achieve company goals.
• Ensure team is well versed with the development calendar and is meeting deadlines.

Segment and Project Management

• Oversee multiple design segments across the organization, each with its own categories, alongside special projects.
• Manage multiple design projects concurrently, ensuring the distinct requirements of each are effectively met.
• Establish and monitor project timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
• Balance creative innovation with commercial viability, ensuring designs meet business objectives.

Collaboration and Communication

• Work closely with Executives to define and execute strategic goals for each segment, project and brand.
• Ensure the company achieves its key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial targets.
• Partner with marketing to ensure the seamless transition from concept to product launch.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful execution of products.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external creative partners.

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Expertise in all stages of the design development process
• Strong portfolio showcasing innovative design work and leadership in fashion.
• Exceptional creativity and vision, with a versatile design aesthetic and the ability to work across multiple segments, categories, and concepts, paired with a strong understanding of fabric, color, texture, and garment construction.
• In-depth knowledge of the fashion industry, trends, and market dynamics.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and lead a creative team.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and other fashion design tools.
• Expert analytical and decision-making skills
• Proactive, self-motivated, advanced knowledge of how to delegate and still meet deadlines with a “get it done” attitude
• Flexible personality willing to take direction and change as business needs change/grow
• Must be able to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Must be able and willing to lift and carry up to 10 lbs., perform frequent repetitive finger, hand and wrist motions, as well as bending, stooping, reaching, squatting, kneeling, pushing, and pulling
• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10+ years of senior leadership with leading Design teams
• 15+ years of professional work experience in women’s apparel design
• Degree in Apparel Manufacturing, Product Development or Apparel Design related field
• Computer sketching using CAD skills including Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, hand sketching, flat sketching
• Expert developing tech packs
• Strong hand illustration skills
• Expert computer skills including experience using Microsoft suite, Adobe suite and Google suite applications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with leading multiple brands and categories
• Experience at luxury or contemporary brand
• Design experience with large LA based apparel company

A successful candidate works well in a dynamic environment with minimal supervision. At REVOLVE we all roll up our sleeves to pitch-in and do whatever it takes to get the job done. Each day is a little different, it’s what keeps us on our toes and excited to come to work every day.

An estimated salary range for this position is $200,000 - $230,000 annually.