Design Director, Knitwear & Sweaters

NYC Alliance; New York (NY); On-site; USD 158,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation packages

Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA

Retirement Savings Plan Match

Summer Fridays

Discounts and More!

Job summary

NYC Alliance seeks a highly skilled Design Director with extensive experience in Sweaters to lead our 525 America brand. 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.

Qualifications

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

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 and silhouette evolution.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of designers.
• Partner with Product Development, Merchandising, and Marketing to deliver cohesive assortments.
• Research market trends and yarn technologies to inform design direction.
• Oversee creation of detailed tech packs including knit specifications and yarn details.
• Participate in fittings to ensure optimal garment performance.
• Collaborate with mills and vendors to develop exclusive yarns and structures.
• Manage timelines and workflow to support on-time development and production.

Skills

Knitwear design

Team leadership

Trend forecasting

Brand development

Fabric yarn development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Microsoft Office

Job description

NYC Alliance seeks a highly skilled Design Director with extensive experience in Sweaters to lead our 525 America brand. 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.