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Silhouette Group Inc.

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Footwear Designer

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Summary

A footwear designer creates men's and women's shoes across a portfolio of fashion/lifestyle brands (Von Dutch, Ed Hardy, Allbirds, Badgley Mischka, etc.), taking each style from concept through production-ready tech packs, prototypes, and sample approvals while coordinating daily with overseas factories, product development, and merchandising. Core tools: Adobe Illustrator plus 3D design tools.

DNAM Brands is a family-owned and operated company that owns and licenses a portfolio of globally recognized fashion and lifestyle brands, including Von Dutch, Ed Hardy, Valentino Orlandi, Allbirds, Badgley Mischka, and more.

We're looking for a Footwear Designer to join our growing design team. You'll take styles from concept through to production-ready specs, working closely with product development, merchandising and overseas factories. This role suits someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, thinks in materials and construction, and has a strong instinct for what's next on the shelf and on the street.

Responsibilities

  • Design both men and women’s footwear across multiple brands.
  • Involvement throughout the production process, from the initial concept through final sample approval, aligning with brand DNA and merchandising direction.
  • Create detailed tech packs including material callouts, colorways, construction notes, and measurements
  • Own the process from first proto through TOP approval, ensuring consistency and alignment with brand standards
  • Document feedback clearly, and issue detailed, production-ready corrections to factories
  • Ensure timely sample turnaround by anticipating production risks and communicating daily with factories
  • Partner cross-functionally with Design and Production to balance aesthetic intent with manufacturability and cost efficiency
  • Manage multiple projects against the seasonal calendar and keep deliverables on track
  • Maintain organized, up-to-date technical files to support seamless development-to-bulk transitions

Qualifications

  • 2+ years of footwear design experience in fashion, lifestyle, or athletic categories
  • Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and familiarity with 3D tools
  • Strong portfolio showing range across casual, fashion, and/or performance footwear
  • Deep knowledge of footwear construction, lasts, materials, and manufacturing processes
  • Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage several brands or projects at once
  • Experience working with overseas factories and a clear understanding of costing and production timelines
  • Excellent hand-sketching and communication skills; comfortable presenting ideas and taking direction
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See also

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