Trend & Concept Associate

Sweet Apparel Inc; New York (NY); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

PTO

401k

Summer Fridays

Job summary

Sweet Apparel Inc. is seeking a Trend & Concept Associate to support the President of Merchandising with concept development for junior's fashion. This on-site role is in Midtown Manhattan, working in the office five days a week.

Target compensation starts at $50k per year, with exposure to full product lifecycle and collaboration across design, production, and operations. You will research trends, translate insights into seasonal concepts, and develop narratives for color, prints, fabrics, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Merchandising, Trend Forecasting, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience in trend forecasting, concept development, fashion design, color or merchandising.
• Strong understanding of fast fashion, junior's apparel, retail trends and marketplace.
• Exceptional eye for color, print, pattern, silhouette, styling and emerging trends.
• Ability to translate inspiration into commercially relevant product concepts.
• Strong presentation, communication, and storytelling skills.
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Research and analyze fashion, cultural, consumer, competitive trends to identify opportunities.
• Monitor runway shows, street style, social media, and trend resources.
• Translate trend insights into recommendations for seasonal categories, color direction, prints and styling concepts.
• Help define trend-driven narratives, color palettes, fabric directions, prints and styling visions.
• Partner with Design to integrate trend direction into seasonal assortments.
• Collaborate with Merchandising to align concepts with customer needs and business objectives.
• Develop and present trend insights and seasonal opportunities to stakeholders.
• Clearly articulate ideas and recommendations to diverse audiences.

Skills

Trend forecasting

Concept development

Presentation skills

Communication

Storytelling

Organization

Multi-project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design / Textile Design / Merchandising / Trend Forecasting

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Sweet Apparel Inc. is a fast-paced apparel manufacturer specializing in quick turn production for juniors, women’s, men’s, and kids’ clothing. The company is recognized for high standards in design, quality, and timely delivery to retail partners and brands. Teams collaborate closely across design, production, and operations to bring fashion-forward products to market efficiently.

We are seeking a creative and analytical Trend & Concept Associate to support the President of Merchandising with concept development for junior's fashion.

Please note: this is an on-site position in Midtown Manhattan where we work in office 5 days/week!

Key Responsibilities

• Research and analyze fashion, cultural, consumer, competitive, and retail trends to identify emerging opportunities for the brand
• Monitor runway shows, street style, social media, industry publications, and trend forecasting resources to stay informed on evolving trends
• Translate trend insights into actionable recommendations for seasonal product categories, color direction, prints, patterns, and styling concepts
• Assist in defining trend-driven narratives, color palettes, fabric directions, print concepts, and styling vision for each season
• Partner closely with Design teams to ensure trend and concept direction is effectively integrated into seasonal assortments
• Collaborate with Merchandising to align concepts with customer needs, line plans, and business objectives
• Develop and present compelling presentations that communicate trend insights, concept direction, and seasonal opportunities
• Clearly articulate ideas and recommendations to diverse audiences across the organization

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Merchandising, Trend Forecasting, or a related field
• 2+ years of experience in trend forecasting, concept development, fashion design, color, textile design, merchandising, or a related creative role
• Strong understanding of fast fashion, junior's apparel, retail trends, and the fashion marketplace
• Exceptional eye for color, print, pattern, silhouette, styling, and emerging trends
• Ability to translate creative inspiration into commercially relevant product concepts
• Strong presentation, communication, and storytelling skills
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail and follow-through
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office
• Experience creating trend reports, mood boards, concept presentations, and seasonal storytelling materials preferred

What We Offer

• Health Insurance, PTO, 401k, Summer Fridays!
• Exposure to the complete product lifecycle—from concept and product development through production and retail launch
• Opportunity to support innovative programs for leading retailers and globally recognized brands
• Collaborative and entrepreneurial work environment
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities

Target compensation range for this role starts at $50k/yr dependent on experience.