Sr. Designer, Knitwear

Tapestry•New York, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Designer will work with the Senior Director, Design – RTW to initiate concepts each season that are fashion driven, reflective of the creative vision and Coach aesthetic. You will be a part of a dynamic, creative environment where you will collaborate with talented designers and cross-functional partners in the business. The successful candidate will bring exceptional design expertise to craft elevated knitwear that blends modern design with the heritage and sophistication of the Coach brand.

Requirements

Must possess a strong fashion sense and have the ability to interpret trends
Must have knowledge in knitwear design and yarn technology
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to interact with a diverse group at all levels
Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail and follow-up
Must be flexible and adapt easily to change
Passion for RTW and a thirst for knowledge
Minimum 7 years’ design experience, preferably in knitwear
Bachelor’s Degree in Design or related field
Excellent hand sketching skills; ability to create both freeform garment renderings and renderings on figure drawings
Ability to CAD technical drawings and strength in image manipulation
Experience developing product directly with factories; understanding of knitwear development from concept through commercialization
Understanding of materials, and garment construction & performance (i.e. strong knowledge of fabric, material quality, and how it will perform as a garment)
Understanding of garment fit & and ability to independently conduct fittings on a model
Strong working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Office

Nice To Haves

Courage
Creativity
Customer Focus
Dealing with Ambiguity
Drive for Results
Interpersonal Savvy
Learning on the Fly
Strategic Agility
Developing Direct Reports and Others
Building Effective Teams

Responsibilities

Partner with the Senior Director to refine knit designs from initial idea to show sample across Women’s and Men’s Collection and Multi channels.
Lead design research for knitwear from initial concept stage.
Research and develop stitch and garment concepts for both seasonal collections and special projects.
Conduct seasonal research—visual, vintage, and trend-based—to inspire and inform design direction.
Create mock-ups for stylist meetings, both in 3D and digitally rendered formats.
Research seasonal yarns and collaborate with knitwear vendors to drive innovative fabric development.
Create a knitwear assortment across collection and multi-channel, leveraging shared design concepts and materials for greater cohesion.
Mentor and manage junior designers, providing guidance, feedback, and clear delegation.
Oversee team output and ensure deadlines and business objectives are met through collaborative leadership.
Ensure product is created that protects brand integrity.
Ongoing research to develop and pitch new branding concepts.
Collaborate with the design team on concept boards, concept styling and seasonal color direction.
Work closely with design, merchandising, product development and technical design teams to align creative vision with business objectives and deliver cohesive, market-right product.
Partner with merchandising to analyze market trends and align designs with business needs.
Engage cross-functionally with Merchandising, Concept, Print, and Product Development teams; actively participate in category meetings.
Present design work to internal partners, maintaining strong relationships throughout the process.
Solve design challenges with a balance of creativity and product knowledge; confidently push back on ideas that don’t align with brand right decisions.
Ensure timeline adherence to calendar by completing design cards accurately and delivering to development on schedule.
Manage development to ensure all samples are received for product presentations.
Uphold design integrity, quality, and timeliness throughout the entire development cycle—from concept through commercialization.