Designer, Sweaters + Knitwear – Missy
We are seeking a creative and technically skilled Missy Sweater Designer to join our growing design team. This individual will play a key role in developing fashion-forward sweater collections for the Missy and Women's market, partnering closely with cross-functional teams and overseas vendors to bring commercially successful products from concept through production. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of sweater construction, yarns, stitches, and market trends, with the ability to balance creativity with customer and business objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop seasonal Missy sweater collections from concept through production for private label retail customers.
- Research and interpret fashion trends, consumer insights, color direction, silhouettes, yarn innovations, and competitive market trends to create commercially successful collections.
- Develop original sweater concepts, stitch patterns, jacquards, textures, stripes, novelty techniques, and embellishment ideas appropriate for the Missy customer.
- Create detailed flat sketches, CADs, stitch artwork, jacquard layouts, and colorways using Adobe Illustrator.
- Prepare comprehensive tech packs within PLM, including construction details, stitch artwork, measurements, trim information, yarn specifications, and color combinations.
- Partner with Product Development, Technical Design, Merchandising, and Production teams throughout the product lifecycle.
- Communicate directly with overseas factories regarding design intent, sample requests, approvals, revisions, and development timelines.
- Review and comment on prototypes and salesman samples to ensure design intent, fit, quality, and construction standards are achieved.
- Participate in fittings and collaborate with Technical Design to resolve fit and construction challenges.
- Assist with yarn selection, stitch development, gauge recommendations, and trim approvals while maintaining target costing.
- Maintain organized sample libraries, development records, and seasonal design files.
- Ensure adherence to seasonal calendars and meet all design and development milestones.
- Support customer meetings, line presentations, and internal product reviews.
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners to identify opportunities for newness and product innovation.