Senior Apparel Designer

SBH Fashion; New York (NY); On-site; USD 94,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

SBH Fashion is seeking a Senior Apparel Designer in New York to lead the end-to-end design process from concept through production handoff. The role collaborates with the CCO and Senior Technical Design Director to translate creative direction into cohesive seasonal collections.

Ideal candidates bring a decisive, detail-oriented mindset with strong portfolio, deep garment construction knowledge, and expert Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop skills.

Qualifications

• 4 - 7+ years of contemporary apparel design experience.
• Strong portfolio highlighting graphic-driven apparel design.
• Comprehensive understanding of garment construction and fabrics.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end design lifecycle from concept to production handoff.
• Translate trend insights into actionable product ideas and collections.
• Design and direct seasonal graphic artwork and placement across garments.
• Provide art direction and manage external freelance designers and timelines.
• Create technical sketches, CAD drawings, and production-ready files.
• Source materials, fabrics, trims, and packaging components.
• Oversee color palettes, lab dips, and print/artwork approvals.
• Prepare detailed tech packs and BOMs in collaboration with Technical Design.
• Participate in fit reviews and document revisions with factory feedback.
• Track sample progress to meet brand calendar and launches.
• Coordinate with mills, suppliers, and factories to safeguard deadlines.
• Support brand partnerships from concept to delivery.
• Organize seasonal archives and digital artwork files.
• Identify design workflow improvements to scale operations.

Skills

Apparel design

Graphic-driven design

Project management

Strong communication

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

Job Title: Senior Apparel Designer

Position Overview

The Senior Apparel Designer manages the end-to-end product design lifecycle from initial concept development to production handoff. Reporting to and collaborating closely with the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) and the Senior Technical Design Director, the Senior Apparel Designer plays a pivotal role in translating high-level creative direction into product assortments. The CCO establishes the overarching creative strategy, which this role translates into cohesive seasonal collections executed to final delivery. The ideal candidate is a decisive, detail-oriented professional with exceptional creative vision and operational discipline, accountable for ensuring on-time product drop executions while maintaining rigorous brand standards for design, quality, and construction integrity.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and execute the end-to-end design lifecycle from trend research and conceptualization through production-ready handoff.
• Translate trend insights into actionable product ideas, season direction, and presentations
• Design and direct seasonal graphic artwork, typography, artwork placement, and scale across garment silhouettes.
• Provide art direction and management for external freelance designers, overseeing design briefs, feedback loops, delivery timelines, and quality standards.
• Create technical sketches, CAD drawings, and production-ready art files.
• Source, evaluate, and select raw materials, fabrics, trims, labels, hangtags, and custom packaging components.
• Establish seasonal color palettes and oversee color management, including lab dips, strike-offs, and print/artwork approvals.
• Formulate detailed tech packs and collaborate with the Technical Design Director on garment specifications, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and construction requirements.
• Participate in fit reviews, evaluate samples and factory feedback, and document revisions throughout development
• Track and drive sample progress to completion in strict alignment with the brand calendar and product launch schedule.
• Maintain daily operational communication with textile mills, trim suppliers, manufacturing vendors, and factories.
• Monitor development milestones proactively and elevate potential timeline bottlenecks to safeguard production deadlines.
• Support strategic brand partnerships and collaborative product initiatives from initial design concept through delivery.
• Manage and organize seasonal archives, digital artwork files, and line sheets.
• Identify and implement design workflow enhancements to support functional growth and organizational scaling.

Qualifications

• 4 - 7+ yrs of contemporary apparel design experience specializing in men’s and women’s ready-to-wear categories
• Strong professional portfolio highlighting expertise in graphic-driven apparel design, demonstrating sophisticated aesthetic sensibility, and composition.
• Comprehensive understanding of garment construction, knit and woven fabrications, fitting techniques, and application methods (printing, embroidery, washing, and dyeing).
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
• Exceptional project management, accountability, and time management skills with a track record of adhering to strict product launch calendars.
• Strong professional initiative and adaptability in a dynamic, fast-paced small-team environment.
• Ability to operate autonomously, establish development schedules, and resolve operational challenges with minimal direct supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Contemporary Men’s and Womenswear, resort wear, swimwear, and lifestyle brands.
• Familiarity with sports, heritage, athletic, or collegiate aesthetic design preferred.

Salary $110,000