Design Director - Fleece

Comfrt•,

4d•Remote

About The Position

The Design Director – Fleece is responsible for defining and driving Comfrt's fleece product vision across hoodies, sweatpants, shorts, outerwear, and future fleece-based categories. As Comfrt's largest and most important product category, fleece serves as the foundation of the brand, driving the majority of sales, customer acquisition, and brand recognition. This role is responsible for setting the fleece product direction that influences the overall brand strategy, customer experience, and future growth of the business. This leadership role combines strategic thinking, creative direction, and hands-on product design to ensure Comfrt remains the market leader in comfort-driven apparel. The Fleece Design Director will establish the category product vision, aesthetic direction, and innovation roadmap for the category while leading a team of designers and partnering cross-functionally to deliver best-in-class products that support both brand and business objectives.

Requirements

12-15+ years of apparel design experience, with significant experience in fleece, sportswear, casualwear, or comfort-driven apparel
5+ years of leadership experience managing and developing design teams
Strong understanding of fleece fabrics, garment construction, fit, washes, trims, and manufacturing processes
Proven ability to build commercially successful assortments that drive growth
Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage sales data, market insights, and customer feedback to inform decisions
Deep understanding of fashion trends, consumer behavior, and competitive market dynamics
Excellent presentation, communication, and leadership skills
Highly organized with exceptional project management and prioritization abilities
Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

Nice To Haves

A visionary product leader with a strong aesthetic point of view and passion for product excellence
Strategic thinker who can connect design decisions to business outcomes
Confident decision-maker who can challenge ideas and influence cross-functional partners
Highly collaborative while maintaining clear creative ownership
Obsessed with product quality, customer experience, and continuous innovation
Comfortable leading through ambiguity and building structure within a rapidly growing organization
Leader who thrives in a high-growth, high-SKU, fast-paced environment and can effectively manage significant product volume while maintaining exceptional creative and operational standards
Driven by results, accountability, and a desire to build industry-leading products

Responsibilities

Own and evolve Comfrt's fleece product aesthetic, design language, and category vision
Establish a clear point of view on fit, proportion, silhouette, fabric, color, wash, and construction details
Translate customer insights, sales performance, trend research, and market opportunities into commercially successful assortments
Drive seasonal and long-term fleece product strategy across all core and emerging categories
Ensure all products remain authentic to Comfrt's brand DNA while introducing meaningful innovation
Lead the end-to-end design process from concept through production approval
Oversee silhouette development, fit, trims, graphics, branding, wash treatments, and construction details
Partner closely with Product Development and Technical Design to ensure products meet quality, fit, margin, and timeline requirements
Drive continuous improvement of Comfrt's core fleece programs while introducing newness and innovation
Maintain a strong understanding of consumer needs, comfort expectations, and product performance
Lead trend research across fashion, streetwear, lifestyle, wellness, and comfort categories
Identify emerging product opportunities, white space, and future growth categories
Partner with Fabric Development to elevate fleece innovation, fabric hand feel, performance, sustainability, and comfort
Drive innovation in fleece construction, garment washes, finishes, and functional product features
Stay ahead of industry trends while maintaining a unique brand perspective
Collaborate with Merchandising, Product Development, and Planning to build assortments that support sales, margin, and inventory objectives
Utilize sales reports, market analysis, customer feedback, and business insights to influence product strategy
Understand category performance at the SKU and style level to identify opportunities and risks
Participate in assortment architecture, category planning, pricing strategy, and product roadmap development
Balance creativity with commercial decision-making to maximize business results
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of designers across fleece and related product categories
Establish clear priorities, creative direction, and accountability across the design organization
Build scalable design processes that support rapid growth while maintaining design excellence
Own the design calendar and ensure all milestones and deliverables are completed on time
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, speed, and continuous improvement
Partner closely with Product Development, Technical Design, Sourcing, Merchandising, Marketing, and Creative teams
Align product strategy with business objectives, launch calendars, and operational capabilities
Collaborate on product storytelling, campaign concepts, and seasonal launches
Support vendor partnerships by providing clear design direction and product vision
Ensure design intent is maintained throughout development and production