Design Director, Ready-to-Wear Pre-Collection

Tory Burch•New York, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Design Director, Ready-to-Wear Pre-Collection plays a critical role in driving the design and development of our RTW Pre-Collection. The candidate must be creative, organized, detail-oriented, possess strong technical skills, have experience working with the full product lifecycle and adaptable to shifting priorities. They must be passionate about product and have an elevated aesthetic to match the Tory Burch Brand.

Requirements

12+ years of design experience in womenswear, with a strong focus on wovens.
Proven leadership experience, including managing design teams and cross-functional collaboration.
Proven track record of successful RTW collections from concept to market.
Strong understanding of garment construction, fabric behavior, and patternmaking.
Excellent hand sketching and/or digital sketching ability.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), PLM systems, and Microsoft Office.
Experience developing product directly with factories; understanding of development from concept through engineering
Excellent sense of style, color and ability to conceptualize a collection
Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills; ability to form partnerships to collaborate, influence and drive change.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Strong digital portfolio of work is required

Responsibilities

Lead a team of Ready-to-Wear (RTW) designers in the creation of elevated product across the RTW Pre-Collection categories
Manage RTW swimwear categories inclusive of coverups/caftans etc.
Responsible for upholding design integrity, high-quality execution, and timeliness throughout the entire development process from concept through engineering and commercialization.
Accountable for calendar adherence throughout the entire development process
Create original sketches, detailed technical packs, and design specs for sampling.
Research global fashion trends, fabric innovations, color, and silhouette to inspire seasonal direction.
Give feedback to design team members in developing seasonal mood boards, color palettes, and themes that represent the seasonal storytelling
Ensure cohesive storytelling and commercial relevance across the collection.
Manage product lifecycle from concept through final samples.
Manage and mentor a team of designers and assistant designers; foster creative development, collaboration, and performance.
Partner with merchandising to analyze performance and guide future product assortments.
Maintain excellent partnerships and clear communication with internal cross-functional and external teams, including Merchandising, Product Development /Technical Design
Attend fittings and provide clear design direction and comments to ensure fit and aesthetic alignment.