Design Director

Fourth Floor; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Fourth Floor, a NYC-based apparel company, seeks a Design Director with extensive experience in sweaters to lead one of its divisions. The role oversees the creative development of knitwear collections, driving innovation in yarns, stitches, and silhouettes while ensuring alignment with brand identity and customer needs.

The ideal candidate blends strong technical knit expertise with a sharp fashion perspective and clear leadership, capable of mentoring a design team and translating brand vision

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or related field.
• Minimum 8+ years of design experience with sweaters/knitwear.
• Proven experience leading and developing design teams.
• Strong expertise in knit construction, yarn development, and sweater engineering.
• Ability to translate brand vision into commercially successful knitwear collections.

Responsibilities

• Establish and drive the creative vision and seasonal direction for the Women’s Sweaters category.
• Design and develop trend-driven knitwear with focus on yarn development, stitch innovation, and silhouette evolution.
• Lead and mentor a team of designers, promoting creativity and high-quality execution.
• Partner with Product Development, Merchandising, and Marketing to deliver cohesive assortments.
• Research market trends, yarn technologies, and knit techniques to inform design direction.
• Oversee detailed tech packs including knit specifications, gauge, stitch construction, and yarn details.
• Participate in fittings to guide fit and knit construction.
• Collaborate with mills and vendors to develop exclusive yarns and knit structures.
• Manage timelines and workflow to support on-time development and production.

Skills

Design leadership

Knitwear design

Mentoring

Brand translation

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Microsoft Office

Job description

Our client, a NYC based apparel company is seeking a highly skilled Design Director with extensive experience in Sweaters to lead one of their divisions.

This role will oversee the creative development of knitwear collections, driving innovation in yarns, stitches, and silhouettes while ensuring alignment with brand identity and customer needs.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical knit expertise with a sharp fashion perspective and a deep understanding of the contemporary market.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and drive the creative vision and seasonal direction for the Women’s Sweaters category
• Design and develop trend-driven knitwear, with a focus on yarn development, stitch innovation, and silhouette evolution
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of designers, promoting creativity, collaboration, and high-quality execution
• Partner with Product Development, Merchandising, and Marketing teams to deliver cohesive assortments that meet brand and business goals
• Research and interpret market trends, yarn technologies, and knit techniques to inform design direction
• Oversee the creation of detailed tech packs, including knit specifications, gauge, stitch construction, and yarn details
• Participate in fittings, providing guidance on fit, proportion, and knit construction to ensure optimal garment performance
• Collaborate closely with mills and vendors to develop exclusive yarns and innovative knit structures
• Manage timelines and workflow to support on-time development and production

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or related field
• MINIMUM of 8+ years of design experience, with a strong focus on sweaters/knitwear
• Proven experience leading and developing design teams
• Strong expertise in knit construction, yarn development, and sweater engineering
• Ability to translate brand vision into commercially successful knitwear collections
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office
• Excellent understanding of garment fit, construction, and manufacturing processes specific to knitwear
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment