Senior Designer / Product Developer (Menswear)

An exciting position has arisen for an experienced Menswear Designer/Product Developer to join a well-established supplier and manufacturer on a maternity cover basis. This role offers the chance to be part of a dynamic, multi-functional team dedicated to designing, developing, and producing garments for several leading clothing retailers.

Senior Designer / Product Developer (Menswear) - Why This Role Stands Out:

• To design and develop seasonal and trend-led in-house collections that align with customer aesthetics.
• Identify emerging trends and potential gaps in the product range, proposing innovative fabrics and styling options.
• Manage and support a team of five designers, fostering their development and contributing to the business's progress.
• Collaboration: Work closely with in-house account management teams, suppliers, and production sites to ensure seamless operations and customer satisfaction.
• Research and Innovation: Conduct ongoing fabric and trend research, presenting findings to in-house teams and customers.
• Leadership: Prepare, present, and lead customer development days, ensuring development samples meet briefs and are delivered on time.

Key Responsibilities:

• Extensive fabric and trim sourcing according to customer briefs and emerging trends.
• Raising and updating design tech packs and checking samples against them.
• Managing the development critical path, regularly updating customers on sample progress.
• Liaising daily with mills, factories, and customer buying teams, establishing close professional relationships.
• Attending weekly factory critical path meetings to ensure critical dates are maintained and issues resolved.
• Following up on comp shops and managing the design critical path to ensure showrooms are ready for key seasonal dates.

Senior Designer / Product Developer (Menswear) - Skills & Experience :

• Degree in apparel design or a similar field.
• Over 5 years of multi-category menswear design experience.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator) and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and organisational skills.
• A confident, proactive, and flexible approach with the ability to supervise others and work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to interact effectively with suppliers and colleagues at all levels.
• This opportunity is London based and applicants must have full eligibility to work in the UK.