Designer – Apparel & Accessories

About the role

We are seeking a highly creative, technically fluent Designer to support and drive design across apparel, luggage, bags, and accessories. This role blends deep respect for heritage with a modern, AI-enabled design process—supporting cross-functional teams with fast, expressive visual storytelling and disciplined, production-ready execution.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop apparel, bags, luggage, and accessories from concept through production
• Use AI tools fluently to generate, iterate, and refine design concepts, illustrations, and visual narratives
• Support cross-functional categories with AI-driven sketches, renderings, and concept visuals to accelerate alignment and decision-making
• Manage styles within PLM, including creation and ongoing updates of tech packs, BOMs, measurements, and construction details
• Partner closely with Product Development to ensure designs are executable—supporting PD with informed decisions around washes, finishes, materials, and construction techniques
• Demonstrate strong understanding of garment and soft goods construction, including stitch types, seam finishes, reinforcements, and durability requirements
• Confidently toggle between performance-driven materials (technical synthetics, coatings, laminations) and classic heritage materials (natural fibers, waxed fabrics, leathers, twills, wools)
• Drive research & development in bags, luggage, and accessories—materials, hardware, finishes, and functional innovation
• Speak fluent “factory talk”—able to collaborate directly with manufacturers and problem-solve within real production constraints
• Design with sensitivity to manufacturing parameters, lead times, efficiency, and quality standards
• Maintain awareness of cost and margin targets, balancing product integrity with commercial viability
• Approach design with a franchise mindset, building cohesive product families that scale across seasons and categories
• Stay deeply engaged in the market, fashion history, and cultural context—translating insights into relevant, durable product
• Modernize Filson’s heritage with thoughtful, restrained, and functional design solutions

Qualifications

• 5+ years of design experience in apparel and/or accessories (bags and luggage experience strongly preferred)
• Demonstrated proficiency with AI tools for ideation, illustration, and concept development
• Strong technical foundation in materials, washes, finishes, and construction
• Deep knowledge of fabric development, silhouettes, and form informed by fashion and design history (both apparel and bags)
• Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite, with strength in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign
• Experience managing styles and workflows within PLM systems
• Proven ability to work within manufacturing, cost, and margin constraints
• Strong visual storytelling and communication skills
• Collaborative, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented
• Passion for heritage brands, outdoor culture, and product with purpose
• Capable at hand renderings for quick concept reviews