Director, Cut and Sew Innovation

ALICE + OLIVIA•New York, NY

2d•$150,000 - $170,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Sr. Cut and Sew Innovation Designer is responsible for creating original garments from concept through development, with a strong focus on fabric, silhouette, fit, construction, finishing details, and innovative production methods. This role works with Design and partners closely with our automation/robotics partners to develop unique products, ensuring each garment reflects the brand’s aesthetic, quality standards, technical requirements, and commercial needs.

Requirements

Strong understanding of apparel design, garment construction, fit, fabrication, and the full development process for cut and sew product.
Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or related field.
10+ years of apparel design experience, preferably within contemporary women’s t-shirts, streetwear, activewear, or specialty apparel.
Interest in or experience with robotics, automation, digital manufacturing, or emerging apparel production technology required.
Strong knowledge of cut and sew garment construction, fabric hand feel, drape, fit, stitching, finishing, trims, and production considerations.
Experience creating sketches, flats, tech packs, construction callouts, and design presentations.
Understanding of patternmaking, grading, garment measurements, and fit corrections.
Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; Microsoft Office experience required.
Ability to manage multiple styles, deadlines, seasons, and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to partner effectively with cross-functional teams, vendors, and factories.

Responsibilities

Design original cut and sew garments from concept through sample development, ensuring alignment with seasonal direction and brand identity.
Collaborate with robotics, automation, and technology partners to explore, develop, and produce cut and sew garments using innovative manufacturing processes.
Evaluate robotic or automated garment-making outputs for quality, consistency, fit, construction, and alignment with approved design intent.
Research market trends, fabrications, silhouettes, construction techniques, trims, and finishing details to support new product development.
Create sketches, flats, fashion cards, and design presentations using hand sketching and digital tools as needed.
Develop and communicate design intent through tech packs, construction details, measurements, trim direction, and fabric specifications.
Partner with patternmakers, Technical Design, Product Development, Production, and vendors to execute garments from initial concept through final sample approval.
Attend fittings and product reviews; provide feedback on fit, proportion, construction, fabric performance, and overall design execution.
Monitor garment development against seasonal calendars and follow up on pending issues to keep deliverables on track.
Maintain accurate line sheets, sample tracking, design updates, and style information throughout the development process.
Ensure each style reflects the intended quality, fit, craftsmanship, and brand aesthetic across all details.
Build and maintain strong relationships with cross-functional partners, vendors, and factories to support timely and high-quality product execution.