Senior Designer, Ready to Wear

SIMONMILLER; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Clothing allowance

Office lunches

Health insurance (medical, dental, vis

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

SIMONMILLER is seeking an experienced Senior Designer, Ready to Wear, to join our small, highly collaborative Design team in Los Angeles. This hands-on role requires strong woven and/or knitwear experience, exceptional taste, creative instincts, technical fluency, and a commercial mindset.

You will drive the seasonal process, translate inspiration into a distinct SIMONMILLER point of view, and mentor Associate-level designers.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of RTW design experience, ideally in contemporary or designer markets.
• Proven ability to take product from concept through fittings, development and production.
• Strong knowledge of woven and knitwear design and development.
• Excellent eye for color, proportion, fabrication, and finishing.
• Strong commercial and merchandising acumen with experience against merchandise plans.

Responsibilities

• Translate seasonal direction into compelling, brand-right assortments.
• Drive and manage the seasonal calendar with cross-functional teams.
• Design compelling product with strong creative instincts and market awareness.
• Own styles from concept through production, leading fittings and providing direction.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Marketing, Retail, and other teams.
• Lead design presentations and mentor junior design talent.

Skills

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Excel

Figma

Knitwear design

Leadership

Education

BFA in Fashion Design

Tools

ChatGPT

Claude

Job description

SIMONMILLER is seeking an experienced Senior Designer, Ready to Wear to join our small, highly collaborative Design team. Reporting to the VP of Design, this is a hands‑on role for a designer with strong woven and/or knitwear experience, exceptional taste, strong creative instincts, technical fluency, and a commercial mindset.

The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of RTW design and development with the ability to take product from initial concept through fittings, development, and production. They bring a natural curiosity and intuition for emerging trends, a strong understanding of the contemporary and designer markets, and the ability to translate inspiration and business needs into a distinct SIMONMILLER point of view.

As a senior member of a lean team, this person will help drive the seasonal process, confidently navigate overlapping priorities, working closely with the VP of Design, Creative Director, and cross-functional partners to bring the collection to life. They will also manage and provide support, direction, and mentorship to Associate‑level design talent.

About Us

Welcome to our playful world of luxury. We are a lifestyle brand featuring ready‑to‑wear, footwear, bags, and jewelry. With collections that balance the bold and the timeless, SIMONMILLER epitomizes the vibrant and mod lifestyle of our CEO and Creative Director, Chelsea Hansford.

What You’ll Do:

• Partner closely with the VP of Design to translate seasonal creative direction, merchandise plans, sales insights, and business objectives into compelling, brand‑right assortments, balancing a strong creative point of view with commercial opportunity.
• Partner with the VP of Design and Production to help drive and maintain the seasonal calendar, keeping the team organized and on track for key milestone meetings while effectively managing overlapping projects and deadlines and pivoting priorities as business needs evolve.
• Design compelling product with strong creative instincts and a genuine passion for design. Bring a natural curiosity and strong intuition for emerging trends, with an active interest in the contemporary and designer markets and ongoing market research. Translate inspiration into a distinct and recognizable SIMONMILLER point of view, balancing creativity, relevance, and commerciality.
• Own assigned styles from initial concept through development and into production, partnering closely with Product Development and Technical Design to maintain design intent, quality, fit, and execution throughout the process. Lead fittings with confidence and provide clear, actionable direction on SMS fabrication and trims, proportion, drape, design details, construction, and finishing, ensuring design intent is maintained through final SMS and carried into production.
• Collaborate effectively across the broader organization, building strong partnerships with Merchandising, Marketing, Retail, and other cross‑functional teams to support shared business and brand objectives.
• Lead and conduct design presentations and meetings with Creative Director.
• Manage and provide thoughtful support, direction, and mentorship to Associate‑level design talent, helping foster their growth, confidence, and development.

Who We’re Looking For:

• 8+ years of industry experience, ideally within the contemporary, advanced contemporary, or designer market, with a BFA in Fashion Design or related field preferred.
• Highly proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Excel, and Figma, with familiarity and curiosity around AI tools such as ChatGPT or Claude as part of the design and development process.
• Exceptional taste and product instinct, with a highly developed eye for color, proportion, fabrication, silhouette, and styling, and a demonstrated ability to create distinctive, desirable product that balances creative vision with commercial opportunity.
• Strong experience in woven or knitwear design and development; experience across both categories is a plus. Deep technical knowledge of garment construction, fabrication, fit, proportion, and finishing, with confidence leading fittings and a strong understanding of the full product lifecycle from initial concept and development through production.
• Strong commercial and merchandising acumen, with experience partnering closely with Merchandising and designing strategically against merchandise plans, assortment needs, pricing, sales insights, and broader business objectives. A strong understanding of commercial fit and proportion, with the ability to consider flattering fit, ease, and size‑scale needs across the customer base, and to thoughtfully discuss and incorporate fit feedback into the product.
• Strong leadership, management, and communication skills, with experience mentoring and directing junior design talent and a collaborative, team‑oriented approach to working cross‑functional.
• Highly autonomous, motivated, and self‑directed, with a strong work ethic, sense of ownership and accountability, and the ability to make decisions, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt quickly in a fast‑paced environment.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to bend, open, lift, carry and move merchandise and fixtures during fittings.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including days, nights, and weekends when business needs.

SIMONMILLER offers comprehensive benefits including hybrid work schedule, clothing allowance, office lunches, health insurance (medical, dental, vision), 401(k), and paid time off.

Reporting to: VP of Design

Pay Transparency: This position offers a salary range starting at $120,000. Final compensation will be determined by factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, job‑related skills, and internal pay alignment.