Design Director, Sweaters - 525 America

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!

Annual Salary $175,000

Job summary

NYC Alliance seeks a highly skilled Design Director for the 525 America brand in New York. You will lead the creative development of women's sweaters, driving knitwear innovation and aligning with the brand's identity and customer needs.

The ideal candidate combines advanced knit expertise with a sharp fashion perspective and market insight. The role requires 8+ years in sweaters/knitwear design, proven leadership, and proficiency in Illustrator/Photoshop.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field.
• 8+ years of design experience with sweaters/knitwear.
• Proven experience leading and developing design teams.
• Strong knit construction and yarn development knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Establish and drive the creative vision and seasonal direction for Women's Sweaters.
• Design and develop trend-driven knitwear with focus on yarns and silhouettes.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of designers.
• Collaborate with Product Development, Merchandising and Marketing to deliver cohesive assortments.
• Oversee tech packs with knit specs, gauge, stitch construction and yarn details.
• Participate in fittings and guide on fit and knit construction.

Skills

Knitwear design

Team leadership

Brand vision

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Microsoft Office

Garment construction

Trend research

Education

Bachelor's in Fashion Design

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.

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


• 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

Benefits

• Competitive compensation packages


• Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA


• Retirement Savings Plan Match


• Summer Fridays


• Discounts and More!


• Annual Salary $175,000


• The offered salary for this position will vary based on role requirements determined by NYC Alliance, skill set and years of experience.