Sweater Design Director - Contemporary Market

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop innovative sweater collections for the women’s contemporary market, incorporating the latest trends, yarns, and stitch techniques.
• Collaborate with Head of Design & cross-functional teams to align on brand direction, seasonal concepts, and customer needs.
• Conduct monthly market research and trend analysis to identify emerging styles, colors, and silhouettes relevant to the junior’s demographic.
• Create detailed design presentations, sketches, and tech packs that communicate construction details, fit, and sizing specifications.
• Source and select appropriate yarns, trims, and embellishments that meet quality, cost, and design objectives.
• Partner with Sales and Merchandising teams to translate customer feedback and retail insights into commercially successful designs.
• Manage a team of designers
• Oversee sample development, including fit sessions, revisions, and approvals, ensuring design integrity from concept through production.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with overseas vendors, factories, and suppliers to ensure timely development and execution.
• Attend trade shows and trend shows.
• Travel for in person meetings with customers each season

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in Fully Fashioned sweater design, ideally within the women’s contemporary market.
• Experience managing a team of designers.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating creative range and technical expertise in sweater design.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva, Miro and relevant ai design software.
• Deep understanding of yarns, stitches, and sweater construction, Tech pack proficiency, cost engineering, with a strong attention to detail.
• Proven ability to interpret market trends and consumer insights into on-brand, saleable product concepts.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and time-management skills.
• Experience working with overseas counterparts, factories, and vendors.
• Passion for fashion, creativity, and innovation, with the ability to balance trend awareness and commercial appeal.