Associate Designer, Women's Hard Wovens

Vince•Los Angeles, CA

11d•$80,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Designer, Women’s Hard Wovens, researches inspiration and trends, creates seasonal product concepts, and supports design development from initial sketches through production readiness. The role contributes to sketching, swatch and quality development, fittings, color and trim development, CAD layouts, technical packages, and line sheets. It works closely with the Design Director, head designer, Product Development, Technical Design, Patternmakers, the Sample Room, vendors, factories, and other cross-functional partners to ensure product meets design specifications and Vince’s brand, financial, and merchandising strategies. The position maintains BOMs, design-change records, seasonal swatch and inspiration libraries, and project schedules. It communicates development changes, supports fit consistency and design handoffs, and executes assigned design concepts through sewing, draping, and mock-ups. The role also conducts competitive market research, identifies seasonal trends, and coordinates with overseas vendors and internal partners to keep development on track.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience in Design.
College degree in Design.
Entrepreneurial attitude toward design.
Contemporary design experience and experience working in a fast-paced environment.
Well-rounded knowledge of fabrication, construction, and mills.
Strong hand-sketching and computer-sketching skills, with a superior understanding of proportion.
Understanding of the contemporary market and competitive set.
Excellent understanding of business strategy and ability to apply it to the brand’s vision to elevate and innovate the brand aesthetic.
Ability to present the category’s point of view based on findings from Merchandising, Sales, and market research partners.
Experience creating technical packages that include front and back sketch views, detail sketches, and BOMs.
Ability to work within Airtable.
Proficiency in Adobe, Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.
Presentation skills for presenting to cross-functional partners.
Ability to work under pressure amid constantly shifting priorities and change.

Responsibilities

Research inspirational imagery aligned with design direction, hand-sketch styles, and create presentation boards.
Conceptualize and create compelling, brand-right product for all seasonal deliveries.
Participate in design activities including sketching, swatch and quality development, and fitting from development through production.
Attend fittings, support the Design Director with preparation, and maintain records of fit changes.
Attend weekly Work In Progress meetings and maintain records of design changes.
Set up and maintain updated Bills of Materials (BOMs) throughout design development to support production readiness.
Present CAD layout options, including colorways, to the team.
Collaborate with the head designer to own styles within each collection through design, development, and fitting.
Maintain the seasonal swatch library and inspiration closet.
Support and manage trim development as directed by the Director, in partnership with Product Development.
Communicate design development changes to cross-functional partners.
Review development lab dips with R&D and the Design Director before sampling.
Partner with Product Development on design pass-off, ensuring design details, trims, and colors are approved before handoff to Production.
Execute original design ideas and assigned development projects through sewing, draping, and mock-ups.
Work with Technical Design, Patternmakers, and the Sample Room on in-house design development.
Partner daily with Product Development on style-development status to ensure product meets design specifications and remains on track.
Communicate with vendors and factories on design development.
Collaborate with the manager and cross-functional teams to build brand-right product supporting Vince’s financial and merchandising strategies.
Identify key seasonal trends and drive corresponding development with overseas vendors.
Schedule and coordinate meetings with cross-functional partners as needed.
Engage with Technical Design and Production on fit intent and execute fit consistency.
Shop the market, conduct competitive analysis, and translate market trends.
Develop line sheets.
Follow up and coordinate ongoing projects to meet stated deadlines.
Perform additional duties and assignments as requested.

Benefits

Healthcare options for medical, dental, and vision, plus flexible spending and health savings accounts with employer funding.
401(k) with employer match.
Paid time off for vacation, sick and personal time, volunteer time, and company holidays.
Hybrid and flexible work options for roles that can be done remotely.
Clothing allowance and merchandise discounts.
$400 annual gym reimbursement.
Monthly data/phone stipend for eligible roles.
Mental health support tools and telehealth psychology and psychiatry.
Family and caregiving benefits, including paid parental leave and supplemental infertility coverage.
Life, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance.
Supplemental hospital indemnity, specified disease, and accident coverage.
Pre-tax commuter benefits for transit and parking.
Discounted pet, home and auto, and legal insurance.