Sweater Design Director - Contemporary Market

Li & Fung•New York, NY

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Brilliant Group is seeking a Sweater Design Director to lead the design and development of sweater collections for our Women’s Contemporary market. This Hybrid role offers the opportunity to work within a fast-paced, trend-driven category with full visibility into the global knitwear landscape, including US, Europe, and Asia. The position plays a key role in creating curated collections that reflect current trends and deliver strong results for our key retail partners.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or related field.
15+ years of experience in Fully Fashioned sweater design, ideally within the women’s contemporary market.
Experience managing a team of designers.
Strong portfolio demonstrating creative range and technical expertise in sweater design.
Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva, Miro and relevant ai design software.
Deep understanding of yarns, stitches, and sweater construction, Tech pack proficiency, cost engineering, with a strong attention to detail.
Proven ability to interpret market trends and consumer insights into on-brand, saleable product concepts.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and time-management skills.
Experience working with overseas counterparts, factories, and vendors.
Passion for fashion, creativity, and innovation, with the ability to balance trend awareness and commercial appeal.

Responsibilities

Design and develop innovative sweater collections for the women’s contemporary market, incorporating the latest trends, yarns, and stitch techniques.
Collaborate with Head of Design & cross-functional teams to align on brand direction, seasonal concepts, and customer needs.
Conduct monthly market research and trend analysis to identify emerging styles, colors, and silhouettes relevant to the junior’s demographic.
Create detailed design presentations, sketches, and tech packs that communicate construction details, fit, and sizing specifications.
Source and select appropriate yarns, trims, and embellishments that meet quality, cost, and design objectives.
Partner with Sales and Merchandising teams to translate customer feedback and retail insights into commercially successful designs.
Manage a team of designers
Oversee sample development, including fit sessions, revisions, and approvals, ensuring design integrity from concept through production.
Build and maintain strong relationships with overseas vendors, factories, and suppliers to ensure timely development and execution.
Attend trade shows and trend shows.
Travel for in person meetings with customers each season