Knitwear Designer Buckinghamshire
Job description
We are looking for a fantastic Knitwear Designer with a soft handwriting to join the dynamic and passionate Design team, of a leading High Street Brand.
With the guidance of the Head of Design you will produce designs that deliver the key trends of the season, making sense of fashion for the customer in line with the Brand’s handwriting.
As a Knitwear Designer you will:
Have proven Knitwear Design experience at a similar level in a fashion business and strong technical design expertise (including skill in graphics and knit stitch designs)
Have an authentic creative passion and eye, and an affinity with the Brand’s handwriting - able to effortlessly translate inspiration into designs
Have a fantastic knowledge of yarns, stitches and trims (with a keen eye for detail and metal wear) and innovative ways to mix knits with other fabrics
Be able to demonstrate your ability in hand drawn designs, as well as CAD, Photoshop and/or Illustrator.
Be organised, a self-starter, and able to prioritise your workload in order to get the job done to the highest standards.
Be able to articulate yourself clearly and confidently in communicating your ideas and designs, and respond gracefully to challenge.
Be a great colleague to those you work with and readily share your knowledge and expertise with others
Be resilient in working at pace, adapting to change and open to constructive feedback.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Researching, interpreting & designing our knitwear range in line with the Brand’s ethos
- Being the true Knit expert - keeping abreast of relevant current and future trends for your area, sharing ideas and inspirational references, and interpreting versions of key trends and shapes whilst always thinking of end use
- Visiting inspirational shops/markets/fabric and yarn fairs and more to research and progress relevant ideas for product development, working with our in house print and textile experts to collate relevant information for supplier sourcing packs, and visiting key suppliers to action new samples
- Continually shopping ideas for new shapes/trims etc and always having a strong commercial awareness of key competitors
- Providing technical designs to a high standard, and working with your Buyer to ensure the correct interpretation of your design specs to deliver sample accuracy
- Reviewing fit samples with your Buyer and Technologist as they come back from suppliers, proactively resolving any issues and ensuring we keep to our critical path
- Continually reviewing the range with your Buyer to ensure choice and newness is offered, as well as ensuring we potentialize best sellers, and identify and address any missed opportunities
- Presenting to the wider Design and Buying teams each season, ensuring you present a compelling picture of the design and product vision for your area, backing styles you feel strongly for
- Helping mentor junior members of the product team, providing ongoing guidance, feedback and support
You will be rewarded with:
- Competitive starting salary and great career prospects in a fast-paced and growing business
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Company-funded private health insurance and access to our Smart Health support programme (offering private GP appointments, instant-access mental health support, health and wellness support and more)
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- 50% staff discount
- Interest-free Season ticket loan and free parking at our HQ
- Life assurance & Company pension scheme
- Summer hours- 3pm finishes every Friday throughout June, July & August
- Bespoke induction support and ongoing development to help you thrive in your new role, including access to 1:1 coaching
- A welcoming and inspiring culture that makes work life a little lovelier - enjoy regular social activities, an early finish on pay day, summer hours, birthday leave, charity volunteer days and more
