Denim Design Assistant - Los Angeles, CA

The Reformation Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical, dental, and vision

Commuter benefits

Paid time off

Retirement planning support

Fertility care support

Clothing discount

Job summary

The Reformation Inc. in Los Angeles is seeking a Denim Design Assistant to support our in-house Design team across concept to handoff.

Based in LA with a four-day-in-office week, you’ll collaborate with Designers, Merchandising, Product Development and Technical Design to move ideas into finished styles. You'll bring 2–3 years of apparel design experience, denim is preferred, plus proficiency in Illustrator and Photoshop.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of apparel design experience, denim design preferred.
• Proficiency in Illustrator and Photoshop; InDesign a plus.
• Experience with PLM or product-tracking tools.

Responsibilities

• Assist denim concept development, trend research, and seasonal inspiration gathering.
• Build mood boards, color stories, and decks for reviews.
• Prepare design sketches, tech packs, CADs for vendor communication.
• Track sample status, fit comments, and revision notes.
• Coordinate with Production and Technical Design on timing and milestones.
• Conduct ongoing market research; shop the market and summarize findings.
• Maintain design library with fabrics, trims, references, and archive samples.
• Support wash development and denim tasks.
• Manage calendars and vendor follow-ups to keep studio running.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

InDesign

Mid Journey

NanoBanana

Presentation tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design

Tools

PLM systems

Job description

Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We're #2.

None of this work is possible without the incredible people behind it. We're a mission-based company that invests in an inclusive culture, so we can innovate together and ensure everyone has the space to grow, thrive, and belong.

And starting right now, we want to do all that with you.

Work Location/ Schedule:

Based in Los Angeles, 4 days a week in the office.

The Denim Design Assistant is a key support role on Reformation's in-house Design team, contributing across all phases of the design and product development process — from concept and research through final handoff. This exciting role will report to our Director of Denim Design, and will be supporting one of our most exciting new categories! This role keeps the creative engine running smoothly, partnering closely with designers, Merchandising, Product Development, and Technical Design to move work forward with precision and care. Our ideal candidate is passionate about denim design, highly organized and detail-oriented, and equally comfortable building a mood board and updating styles in our PLM system. You thrive in a fast-paced environment, take pride in the quality of your output, and understand that great design depends as much as process as on ideas.

What You'll Do:

• Assist designers with denim concept development, trend research, and seasonal inspiration gathering
• Build and maintain mood boards, color stories, and presentation decks for internal reviews and cross-functional meetings
• Prepare and organize design sketches, tech packs, and CADs for vendor communication and line reviews
• Track sample status, fit comments, and revision notes across styles; attend fittings and communicate updates to cross-functional partners
• Coordinate with Production and Technical Design on timing, revisions, and product development milestones
• Conduct ongoing market and competitive research; shop the market in person and online and summarize findings for the team
• Maintain and organize the design library: fabric swatches, trims, references, and archive samples
• Support with wash development and denim related tasks
• Manage design team calendars, scheduling, and vendor follow-ups to keep the studio running efficiently

What You'll Bring:

• 2–3 years of experience in apparel design, denim design experience is preferred
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; familiarity with InDesign a plus
• Experience with AI-enabled creative tools like Mid Journey and NanoBanana is a plus
• Experience with PLM systems or product tracking tools is a plus
• Strong presentation skills across PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides
• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Apparel, or a related field

Who You Are:

• Organized and detail-oriented — nothing falls through the cracks on your watch
• A proactive communicator who follows through without being prompted
• Genuinely curious about fashion, design, and the product development process
• Collaborative and low-ego — you're here to support great work and help the team move faster
• Comfortable with ambiguity and energized by a fast-moving, creative environment
• Genuinely passionate about sustainability and aligned with Reformation's values
• Based in Los Angeles (or planning to relocate) and able to work in a hybrid model out of our HQ

Compensation:

At Reformation, we believe in transparency and equity when it comes to compensation. For this role, the anticipated base hourlyrange is $25-$30 / hour,depending on a variety of factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and internal compensation equity.

This role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus based on a range of factors, including company performance, department goals, and individual contributions. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and are determined at the company’s discretion.

Please note that compensation decisions are made thoughtfully and may vary from the listed range to reflect individual circumstances and evolving business needs. Our total rewards package also includes benefits, perks, and opportunities for growth that contribute to overall compensation.

• Eligible employees get employer-sponsored private medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as commuter benefits to help support your travel to and from work.
• We offer competitive paid time off policies including vacation, sick leave, and company holidays for eligible employees.
• We offer retirement planning support for eligible employees, including the option to invest in Environmental Social Governance-aligned (fancy way to say sustainable) funds.
• We’re a mission-based company with offices in LA, NYC and London, as well as a global retail team, which means you’ll get to collaborate with people all around the world.
• You’ll get access to fertility care support through Carrot , and up to a $5,000 USD reimbursement for related fertility expenses after 1 year of employment.
• We care about the causes our employees care about so we donate to community efforts on a yearly basis.
• We offer a clothing discount, culture events (like our annual Ref Values week and Volunteer Time Off), you know, all the meaningful and fun stuff!

Reformation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the world we want to live in. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status—in accordance with applicable international, federal, state, and local laws.

If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, please let us know. We’re here to ensure you have what you need to show up as your best self.

Still don't know if you should apply? We get it—studies show that many women and individuals from historically underrepresented communities hold back from applying unless they meet every single requirement. At Reformation, we’re all about growth, not gatekeeping. If you’re passionate about the role and excited about making fashion more sustainable, we’d love to hear from you. If this role doesn’t totally excite you, consider applying to our general application.