Design Director

Centric Brands•New York, NY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets and sells high quality products in multiple segments, including women’s, men’s and kid’s apparel, accessories, entertainment and beauty. Centric Brands is focused on our customers and our brands that will drive the company’s future growth. We are defined by innovation as we seize new opportunities and thrive in an environment informed by creativity and thinking that is both analytical and outside the box. Centric Brands reflects a team built on respect, for others and for the hard work it takes to achieve our goals and build our bright future together. What could be more exciting than putting your mark on some of the world’s most famous and well-loved fashion brands? As a designer for Centric Brands, you’ll use your skills and creativity to create designs based on style plans, sales needs and emerging trends. You will also ensure that your work can be transformed into a finished product in a timely manner and at an appropriate price point. This means working not only with our technical design and production teams, but also building collaborative relationships with outside vendors and other external stakeholders. The challenges are exciting and the possibilities endless – as you contribute your skills in a vibrant, customer- and people-centric culture that celebrates you as a valuable member of the team.

Requirements

Superior organizational skills and excellent communication skills; team oriented.
Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines; highly detail oriented, meticulous and creative.
Creativity, technical capability and sensibility for merchandising; strong ability to sketch in illustrator.
Extensive knowledge of licensed accessories with a focus on knit execution.. we are the hosiery division the knowledge of silhouettes, color ways, fabrication and trim; familiarity with circular knitting along with novelty trim application.
Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design or Graphic Design.
8 - 10 years experience in apparel design; preferably in socks.
Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe products, and Mac computers.
Sock experience is preferred.

Nice To Haves

Sock experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Drives the seasonal design development process, from concept to delivery, by supervising a team of designers to create original, trend-appropriate design concepts that meet market needs and drive sales, managing the timely execution of each stage in the process, and coordinating across categories to ensure consistent quality and look.
Works with performance brands like Merrell, Spyder, CAT and Twisted X.
Shops and performs research to isolate key, relevant trends for each category or brand, where appropriate; reviews and provides perspective on competitive analysis; oversees product development and concept boards, mock-ups, color-ups and inspirational photos for presentations.
Oversees development of initial seasonal design concepts in context of larger assortment and cost structure; collaborates with sales to devise style plans and design according to trends; ensures timely execution of product development calendar; coordinates among design teams to ensure brand cohesiveness, where appropriate, across categories.
Designs and develops collections that will be presented to key retail partners.
Leads team in troubleshooting, including identifying and resolving quality and technical issues.
Supervises creation of Illustrator sketches; approves specification sheets and line sheets; reviews product development logs, line sheets and boards for consistency; approves raw materials and trims.
Approves lab dips and ensures consistency with color standards and licensor directives, where appropriate; approves prints and graphics where appropriate.
Works with the robust Design Ops team to ensure the workflow is running smoothly.
Directs interoffice communication and follow-up with internal and external customers and contacts, including suppliers and vendors; partners with production and tech; manages interoffice communication and relationships with vendors and internal customers.
Contributes positively to team dynamic and manages up where necessary.
Attracts, develops and retains talent.
Monitors and evaluates performance of individuals and team.