Lead Designer, Fashion & Soft Goods

About the Role

The Lead Designer, Fashion & Soft Goods will provide creative leadership for one of The Lumistella Company's core product pillars, establishing the design direction for a diverse portfolio of fashion and soft goods. Responsible for trend forecasting, category innovation, and product storytelling, this role creates meaningful consumer experiences through apparel, costumes, accessories, and licensed fashion partnerships that extend the company's portfolio of brands in fresh and engaging ways.

As a key member of the Creative organization, this leader collaborates with Concept & Ideation, Brand Creative Licensing, and Product Execution teams to develop commercially successful fashion driven collections that balance innovation, manufacturability, and brand consistency. The role also partners with the Brand Creative Licensing team by providing fashion trend insights, creative inspiration, graphics, and product design assets that support the development of seasonal style guides and licensed fashion direction. The Lead Designer serves as a hands-on design leader, ensuring every product embodies exceptional design, premium quality, and the signature sense of magic that defines Lumistella's brands.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Concept & Ideation team to translate new product opportunities into compelling Fashion & Soft Goods concepts that align with brand strategy.
• Lead, guide and inspire the creative design and development of cohesive seasonal collections across apparel, costumes, fashion accessories, and licensed fashion programs.
• Establish the overall design vision for each collection, ensuring consistency in color, materials, graphics, silhouettes, trims, and storytelling.
• Create original product designs, technical sketches, and preliminary tech packs that clearly communicate design intent for product development.
• Provide creative direction, feedback, and mentorship to designers throughout the design process, fostering collaboration, professional growth, and design excellence.
• Partner closely with Product Development Managers to transition designs into production, providing creative guidance throughout the development process.
• Collaborate with Global IP licensing partners to develop fashion and soft goods collections that align with brand guidelines while maintaining Lumistella's creative vision and quality standards and licensed fashion direction.
• Partner with Global IP stakeholders throughout the design approval process, incorporating feedback and ensuring all creative assets and product designs meet licensing requirements and approval milestones.
• Review prototypes, samples, and production iterations to ensure the final product maintains the original creative vision while meeting quality, cost, and manufacturing requirements.
• Research consumer, fashion, color, material, and lifestyle trends to identify opportunities for innovation and category growth.
• Provide fashion trend research, design references, graphics, product design assets, and category expertise to the Brand Creative Licensing team to support the development of style guides.
• Present design concepts, seasonal direction, and collection strategies to creative leadership and key stakeholders.
• Mentor designers and contribute to a collaborative, innovative team culture while continuously refining design processes and elevating the Fashion & Soft Goods portfolio.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of experience in fashion, soft goods, apparel, accessories, or consumer products.
• Experience leading creative teams and mentoring designers.
• Strong understanding of apparel construction, textiles, trims, and manufacturing.
• Experience designing licensed consumer products preferred.
• Strong trend forecasting and color development skills.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and industry-standard design tools.
• Experience working with overseas manufacturing partners is a plus.
• Protects company assets through the proper management of asset files and adherence to company policy with regard to information security and management.

Education

Bachelor's degree required in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Textile Design, or related field.

Location

This position is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and does not include relocation assistance. Candidates must be able to relocate at their own expense if selected.