Our client is looking for an experienced Men’s Apparel Designer to join their collaborative design and product team supporting a major private label retail business. This individual will help create and develop men’s product across a range of categories, taking concepts from initial seasonal direction through development and final execution. The right candidate brings a strong understanding of the men’s market, a commercial design sensibility, and experience working within a fast-moving private label or retail environment. This role requires someone who can interpret customer needs and emerging trends and turn them into compelling product that is both relevant and attainable.
The anticipated base salary range is $90,000-$115,000, depending upon experience, qualifications, and the overall scope of the position. Additional benefits may be offered as part of the overall compensation package.
Responsibilities:
- Design and develop men’s apparel across multiple categories for a high-volume private label business.
- Monitor the competitive landscape and emerging trends across color, fabric, print, graphics, silhouettes, styling, and key items.
- Build seasonal creative direction, including inspiration, color stories, trend concepts, and product presentations.
- Create original CADs, sketches, prints, graphics, colorways, and product details that support seasonal assortments.
- Interpret customer feedback, market intelligence, and business priorities to develop product with strong commercial appeal.
- Work closely with Merchandising and Product Development to balance creative direction with pricing, margin, and calendar requirements.
- Develop and maintain the technical and creative materials necessary to move product successfully through the development process.
- Evaluate prototypes and samples, providing detailed feedback on fit, styling, color, artwork, and overall execution.
- Collaborate with international development teams and vendor partners to troubleshoot product and design issues throughout the development cycle.
- Participate in customer presentations, line reviews, assortment discussions, and seasonal milestone meetings.
- Manage numerous styles and projects simultaneously while staying organized and responsive in a deadline-driven business.
Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience designing men’s apparel across multiple categories, ideally within private label, wholesale, or a major retail organization.
- Strong knowledge of the men’s market with an understanding of relevant trends, fabrics, construction, color, silhouettes, and commercial product.
- Experience managing design from initial creative concept through sampling, development, and final execution.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
- Strong CAD and presentation capabilities, including experience developing prints, graphics, colorways, and seasonal product concepts.
- Experience partnering with Product Development, Merchandising, sourcing teams, overseas offices, and/or vendors.
- Previous exposure to designing product for large national retailers or private label programs is highly desirable.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills with the ability to shift priorities and manage multiple deadlines.
- A balance of creativity and commercial instinct, with the ability to understand the customer while continuing to evolve the product.