About the Role
Our client in the apparel industry is seeking a talented Freelance Designer to support the development of off-price women’s apparel, with a focus on jackets, bottoms, woven tops, and skirts. This is a freelance maternity leave coverage role, supporting the design team during a planned leave of absence. The designer will lead design execution from seasonal concept through sample review, partnering closely with technical design, sourcing, production, graphics, and overseas vendors.
Responsibilities
- Research seasonal trends, silhouettes, fabrics, trims, colors, prints, and pattern direction.
- Create seasonal inspiration and mood boards to support product direction.
- Develop original sketches, CADs, and technical artwork using Adobe Illustrator and AI tools.
- Prepare detailed seasonal presentations and style boards for assigned product categories.
- Build top-of-season style boards featuring silhouette, color, fabric, print, pattern, and embroidery options.
- Collaborate with the graphic design team on print patterns and embroidery layouts.
- Create and maintain Illustrator development pages throughout the product development process.
- Develop accurate, organized tech packs in Full Circle to support efficient sample development.
- Communicate daily with overseas vendors and internal cross-functional partners.
- Participate in key product meetings, including color and mood reviews, sketch reviews, proto reviews, final merchandising, and handoff to technical design and sourcing.
- Partner with technical design, sourcing, and production teams; communicate style updates clearly and promptly.
- Attend fittings and provide aesthetic, visual, and fit-direction input alongside the technical team.
- Maintain organized fabric and trim libraries.
- Review lab dips and strike-offs; provide clear comments in partnership with sourcing.
- Meet all design calendar deadlines and development milestones.
- Organize proto and sample racks and maintain sample visibility throughout development.
- Review samples and ensure sales samples are appropriately tagged and include required disclaimers.
- Support special projects and additional design needs as assigned.
Qualifications
- Experience designing women’s apparel, preferably across jackets, bottoms, woven tops, and skirts.
- Strong knowledge of off-price product development and value-driven apparel design.
- Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator; experience using AI-enabled design tools is preferred.
- Experience creating CADs, technical packages, seasonal presentations, and style boards.
- Working knowledge of Full Circle or similar product lifecycle management (PLM) systems.
- Strong understanding of fabrics, trims, color, print, embroidery, garment construction, and fit.
- Excellent organization, communication, collaboration, and time-management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Collaborative, proactive, and team-oriented approach.
