Design Director, 525 America

NYC Alliance Company LLC•New York, NY

12d•Onsite

About The Position

NYC Alliance seeks a highly skilled Design Director with extensive experience in Sweaters to lead our 525 America brand. This role will oversee the creative development of knitwear collections, driving innovation in yarns, stitches, and silhouettes while ensuring alignment with brand identity and customer needs. The ideal candidate combines strong technical knit expertise with a sharp fashion perspective and a deep understanding of the contemporary market.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or related field
8+ years of design experience, with a strong focus on sweaters/knitwear
Proven experience leading and developing design teams
Strong expertise in knit construction, yarn development, and sweater engineering
Ability to translate brand vision into commercially successful knitwear collections
Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office
Excellent understanding of garment fit, construction, and manufacturing processes specific to knitwear
Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Responsibilities

Establish and drive the creative vision and seasonal direction for the Women’s Sweaters category
Design and develop trend-driven knitwear, with a focus on yarn development, stitch innovation, and silhouette evolution
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of designers, promoting creativity, collaboration, and high-quality execution
Partner with Product Development, Merchandising, and Marketing teams to deliver cohesive assortments that meet brand and business goals
Research and interpret market trends, yarn technologies, and knit techniques to inform design direction
Oversee the creation of detailed tech packs, including knit specifications, gauge, stitch construction, and yarn details
Participate in fittings, providing guidance on fit, proportion, and knit construction to ensure optimal garment performance
Collaborate closely with mills and vendors to develop exclusive yarns and innovative knit structures
Manage timelines and workflow to support on-time development and production