Designer

Randa Apparel & Accessories; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Three weeks of paid time off

Life, disability, and parental leave

Health, vision, and dental insurance

Commuter benefit plan

401(k)

Wellness program access

Job summary

Randa Apparel & Accessories is a global fashion company seeking an Accessory Designer to craft belts and small leather goods. You will collaborate with sales, merchandising, and licensed brand partners to develop trend-right collections. You will lead research, design aesthetically pleasing products, and drive major initiatives under the design director.

Your role includes trend boards, tech packs, and coordinating with overseas factories to ensure on-time delivery and brand alignment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Industrial Design, Fashion Design or equivalent.
• 3–5 years of fashion or industrial design experience.
• Proficiency in Illustrator and Photoshop required.
• Strong MS Office, Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (25–30%).
• Comfort with PLM systems and 3-D tooling is a plus.
• Understanding of raw materials, sourcing and target costs.

Responsibilities

• Research trends and competitive landscape for belts and small leather goods.
• Lead material, construction, and hardware development and innovation.
• Manage licensor partnerships and brand relationships.
• Collaborate with licensors, merchandising, and design teams to present ideas.
• Guide development from research to technical development and market presentation.
• Create tech packs and specs for factory partners; coordinate PLM processes.
• Mentor junior designers and ensure design calendar deadlines are met.

Skills

Design experience

Team collaboration

Verbal/written communication

Time management

Travel readiness

Sourcing and costing knowledge

Knowledge of raw materials

Ability to lift boxes

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design or Fashion Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

PLM systems

3-D software/printing

Job description

Randa Apparel & Accessories is one of the world’s leading fashion clothing and accessories companies, operating across 11 countries with a portfolio of 30+ iconic brands, including Haggar, Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Totes, Isotoner, and Columbia Sportswear. With over 100 years of industry leadership, RAA continues to produce exceptional products and services, delighting customers and empowering partners worldwide. From the #1 dress pant brand in North America to the #1 belt and wallet, RAA sets the standard for excellence and innovation. Want to work at a diverse, equitable, & inclusive workspace where associates are encouraged to bring their true, authentic selves? We empower our associates, create growth opportunities at every level, and strive to make RAA the best place to build a career.

Location : Rosemont, IL

Schedule : Hybrid (3 days in-office / 2 days remote)

Salary : $68,000 - $78,000

Position Summary

Join a creative team of designers with a passion for the details, designing belts and small leather goods. Our Accessory Designer collaborates with sales and merchandising, as well as licensed brand partners, to create innovative and trend-right collections of belts and wallets. Their main duties include trend and market research, designing aesthetically pleasing and functional products, and leading major initiatives for their brand AOR, under the purview of the design director.

Essential Job Functions

• Maintains an awareness of current design trends, influences, and stays up to date on competitor research.
• Ensure on-time delivery of fully realized collections that meet the brand's seasonal direction as well as company initiatives/market needs
• Lead in material, construction, and hardware development and innovation.
• Manage brand relationships with licensor partners
• Collaborates with licensors, merchandising, and the design team by communicating, presenting, and explaining ideas internally.
• Guides the development process from research to technical development to market presentation.
• Designs and creates trend boards and collateral materials for both internal, licensors, and customer presentations.
• Creates detailed technical drawings and specs for factory partners.
• Conducts follow-up of product design process to include preparation of tech packs, sample requests, Product Life Cycle Management (PLM) processes, communications with overseas factories, etc.
• Mentor and train designer(s) in technical skills and knowledge of the category
• Achieves set goals with attention to detail, tracking progress & anticipating potential issues, and manages design calendar deadlines Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the activities enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in Industrial Design, Fashion Design, or equivalent degree/experience
• 3-5 years of design experience in a fashion design or industrial design field.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Well-versed in the use of various other software, such as Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Works well in a team setting, co-working on projects.
• Clear and strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent time management.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (25% - 30%), previous experience traveling overseas is a plus.
• Working knowledge web-based Product Lifecycle systems (PLM systems) is a plus
• 3-D Software/printing experience a plus
• Knowledge of raw materials, sourcing, and designing within target costs
• Must be able to receive, lift, open, and unpack boxes containing product samples

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary.
• Hybrid work schedule.
• Three weeks of paid time off within the first year of employment.
• Company provided life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and paid parental leave.
• Health, vision, and dental insurance options with low employee contributions.
• Commuter benefit plan.
• Optional supplemental life insurance, pet insurance, and accident & critical illness insurance offered at a group discount rate.
• 401(k).
• Unlimited access to our award-winning online fitness, and wellness program.
• A great place to work, fast-paced, with terrific career growth

“The statements in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Randa management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.”