Designer, Women's & Kids Footwear
About The Position
American Exchange Group is seeking a creative, trend-focused, and detail-oriented Footwear Designer to lead the design and development of women’s and kids’ footwear. The designer will translate fashion and footwear trends and customer direction into commercially relevant products at appropriate price points, creating collections across classifications while balancing design, cost, and quality. The role works with the Design Director and collaborates with Merchandising, Sales, Product Development, and overseas vendors to take concepts from inspiration through production. This is a fully onsite position at the company’s New York City headquarters in the Garment District.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of footwear design experience; experience in women’s, kids’, or value-focused footwear is preferred.
- A strong portfolio demonstrating commercial footwear design, trend interpretation, and product development.
- Strong understanding of footwear construction, materials, components, and manufacturing processes.
- High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator and Photoshop.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including experience using it for spec sheet detailing.
- Experience creating footwear CADs, technical drawings, colorways, and production-ready specifications.
- Ability to create linesheets and miniwalls.
- Ability to translate fashion and footwear trends into commercially successful, brand- and customer-relevant products.
- Strong organization, attention to detail, process orientation, and follow-through.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work effectively under tight deadlines.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, including cross-functional work with Merchandising, Sales, Product Development, and Production.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with quick turnaround times.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working directly with overseas factories and vendors is strongly preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Footwear Design, Product Design, or a related field is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Work closely with the Design Director to conceptualize and design trend-right women’s and kids’ footwear.
- Research fashion, footwear, color, material, and consumer trends to identify commercial opportunities.
- Translate trends and customer direction into commercially viable footwear designs.
- Develop seasonal footwear collections across classifications, price points, and retail channels.
- Create sketches, CADs, colorways, and technical drawings for production.
- Specify proposed products and provide detailed design direction for product development and production.
- Select and develop materials, components, trims, colors, and construction details while maintaining target costs.
- Collaborate with Product Development and overseas factories to achieve design intent, quality, cost, and timeline objectives.
- Review samples, provide revisions and approvals, and ensure final products meet design and commercial objectives.
- Participate in line reviews, presentations, market research, and customer meetings as needed.
- Monitor competitors and emerging trends in moderate, juniors, private label, and off-price footwear markets.
- Manage multiple projects and seasonal deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Assist with additional design projects and responsibilities as needed.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance.
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.
- Generous paid time off and paid holidays.
- Half-day Fridays with shortened hours during the summer and winter seasons.
- Health Savings Account (HSA).
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
- Tax-free commuter benefits.
- Exclusive employee merchandise discounts.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
