Denim Designer – Private Label & Trend

GOGO JEANS; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Gogo Jeans is seeking an experienced Denim Designer to create commercially viable denim for major national retailers. The role focuses on translating trends into high-volume products while managing private-label programs.

You will work with design, sales, and production teams in New York to develop private-label and branded denim across multiple categories, ensuring cost-conscious, scalable product for retailers.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in denim design and development.
• Experience with private-label product for national retailers.
• Knowledge of denim construction, fabrics, washes, fits, silhouettes, finishes.
• Strong CAD and technical design capabilities.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop denim collections across multiple categories and seasons.
• Research and identify emerging denim trends and washes.
• Translate trends into commercially viable, high-volume products.
• Create CADs, sketches, colorways, wash concepts, and tech packs.
• Build retailer-specific assortments for major accounts.
• Collaborate with sales/merchandising for buyer meetings and presentations.
• Manage private-label programs with large national retailers.
• Coordinate with overseas factories through development and sampling.

Skills

Denim design

Private-label development

Trend translation

Silhouette & wash knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Tech packs

Job description

Gogo Jeans is a fast-growing denim apparel company based in New York City, specializing in trend-right, value-driven denim across multiple categories, including Juniors, Girls, Missy, Plus, Petite, Boys, Men’s, and Toddlers.

We design and develop denim for major national retailers and are continuing to expand our private-label and branded businesses.

As we grow, we are looking for an experienced Denim Designer who understands not only great product and emerging trends, but also how to design commercially successful assortments for large national retail accounts.

The Role

We are seeking a highly creative, commercially minded Denim Designer with strong private-label experience to join our New York team.

The ideal candidate has hands‑on experience designing denim and developing private‑label product for large national retailers such as Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, TJX, Ross, Burlington, or similar major accounts.

This is not a purely conceptual fashion design position. We are looking for someone who understands how to translate trends into commercial, cost‑conscious, scalable denim product that works for high‑volume retail.

You should have a strong understanding of denim construction, washes, fabrics, fits, silhouettes, embellishments, finishes, and market trends, while also understanding the speed, costing, and execution required in the private‑label business.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop denim collections across multiple categories and seasons.
• Research and identify emerging denim, fashion, wash, fit, color, and silhouette trends.
• Translate runway, street style, social media, competitive retail, and market trends into commercially viable product.
• Create original CADs, sketches, technical drawings, colorways, wash concepts, prints, embroidery, embellishment concepts, and design details.
• Build retailer‑specific assortments based on each account's customer, price point, aesthetic, and business needs.
• Work directly with the sales and merchandising teams to develop product for buyer meetings and presentations.
• Develop private‑label programs for large national retailers while understanding retailer‑specific requirements and aesthetics.
• Create and maintain tech packs, design specifications, artwork, wash references, BOM/design details, and development comments.
• Partner closely with overseas factories throughout the development and sampling process.
• Review prototypes, samples, wash panels, trims, fabrics, and lab dips and provide clear design comments and revisions.
• Understand denim fabrics, weights, stretch levels, constructions, washes, finishes, and garment treatments.
• Develop trend boards, color stories, seasonal concepts, and competitive market analyses.
• Regularly shop the market and monitor competitors to identify new opportunities and emerging trends.
• Balance creativity with target costing, margin requirements, production capabilities, and retail price points.
• Manage multiple styles, accounts, and development timelines simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment.
• Stay ahead of the market and proactively bring new denim concepts and ideas to the team.

What We Are Looking For (Required)

• Proven professional experience specifically in denim design and development.
• Strong experience with private‑label apparel development for major national retailers.
• Previous experience developing product for accounts such as Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, TJX, Ross, Burlington, or comparable large‑scale retailers is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of denim construction, fabrics, washes, fits, silhouettes, finishes, and manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of current and upcoming fashion and denim trends.
• Ability to turn fashion trends into commercially viable, high‑volume retail product.
• Strong CAD and technical design capabilities.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
• Experience creating and working with tech packs and communicating with overseas factories.
• Strong understanding of garment construction and product development.
• Ability to design within specific target costs and retail price points.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work quickly, manage multiple deadlines, and adapt to changing buyer needs.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience designing across multiple denim categories, including Juniors, Girls, Missy/Women’s, Boys, and/or Men’s.
• Experience working in the mass‑market, off‑price, department store, or value retail channels.
• Existing knowledge of the aesthetics, customers, price architecture, and product expectations of major U.S. retailers.
• Experience attending buyer meetings or working directly with sales/merchandising teams on retailer presentations.
• Strong understanding of trend forecasting and competitive shopping.
• Experience developing high‑volume programs with overseas factories.

The Person We Are Looking For

You are someone who can walk into a store, study what is selling, identify what is coming next, and turn those insights into denim product that a buyer wants to put on the floor.

You understand the difference between simply designing something that looks good and designing something that is commercial, producible, appropriately priced, and right for a specific retailer and customer.

You move quickly, pay attention to details, understand the denim market, and are constantly thinking about what the next important fit, wash, detail, or silhouette will be.

Why Join Gogo Jeans?

Gogo Jeans is in an exciting period of growth and expansion. This position offers the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on our product direction while working across multiple divisions, retailers, and denim categories.

You’ll work closely with our leadership, sales, production, and development teams and have the opportunity to see your designs move from concept to development to placement with major national retailers.

Gogo Jeans is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.