Director of Design - Handbags

PRTNR Recruiting • New York, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Now hiring a Director of Design – Handbags & Small Leather Goods for a recognized contemporary New York fashion brand. This is a senior creative leadership opportunity with meaningful influence over the future of a highly visible accessories business. You’ll establish a distinct design perspective for women’s handbags and small leather goods, develop products that connect fashion credibility with commercial potential, and guide ideas all the way from the drawing board to finished production. For a designer who understands both the artistry and engineering behind exceptional leather goods, this role offers the chance to build category-defining product while working closely with executive, creative, merchandising, and product teams. The position may eventually expand into men’s accessories.

Requirements

• 10+ years of accessories design experience, including significant hands-on expertise in genuine leather handbags and small leather goods.
• A compelling handbag design portfolio demonstrating creative vision, technical depth, and products successfully taken from concept into production.
• Proven experience leading designers and overseeing seasonal accessories collections through development and commercialization.

Nice To Haves

• The position may eventually expand into men’s accessories.

Responsibilities

• Build a recognizable creative direction across handbags, small leather goods, materials, hardware, color, and seasonal product stories.
• Turn broader fashion concepts into accessories that feel distinctive, wearable, functional, and commercially relevant.
• Guide collections from early design exploration through technical development, sampling, refinement, and final production.
• Use deep leather goods expertise to elevate construction, craftsmanship, functionality, and manufacturing consistency.
• Shape assortments alongside merchandising and development partners, balancing newness, key styles, pricing, margin, and market opportunity.
• Lead and develop an accessories design team while keeping seasonal work focused, accurate, and on schedule.
• Present concepts to senior stakeholders and collaborate across design, sourcing, production, sales, marketing, and international manufacturing partners.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed