Job Description
Working Pattern: Typically 5 days in the office, with core hours flexible between 8am-6pm.
The Role
As a Womenswear Sportswear Designer, you’ll be the creative lead behind our high-performance and "athleisure" collections. Your mission is to fuse technical functionality with high‑street style, ensuring our customers look as good in the gym as they do on the go. You’ll make a real impact by developing innovative, movement‑led pieces that balance compression, breathability, and aesthetic appeal.
Working as a key part of our fast‑paced critical path, you’ll collaborate daily with Buyers, Merchandisers and Garment Technologists to push the boundaries of sportswear. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or stepping into a new challenge, Next offers a supportive environment with access to industry‑leading trend resources and tailored development to help you master our unique design‑to‑shelf process.
What You’ll Take On
* Design Innovation: Research and translate global activewear trends into commercially viable designs, covering high‑intensity performance gear and lifestyle recovery wear.
* Inspiration & Research: Travel for inspiration trips and trade shows to identify emerging fabric technologies, silhouettes and colour trends, bringing fresh global perspectives back to the heart of our collections.
* Technical Execution: Create detailed CADs and technical specifications that prioritise movement, fabric recovery and ergonomic seams.
* Collaborative Development: Work closely with Tech teams to refine fits and with Buying & Merch teams to ensure price points meet our customers' expectations without compromising quality.
* Trend Mapping: Build cohesive seasonal colour palettes and print stories that resonate with the Next woman’s active lifestyle.
* Sourcing & Sustainability: Partner with suppliers to explore new recycled fibres and performance fabrics that align with our commitment to responsible sourcing.
What You’ll Bring
* Activewear Expertise: A deep understanding of performance fabrics (stretch, moisture‑wicking, compression) and the construction methods required for sportswear.
* Trend Intuition: A sharp eye for "what’s next" in the wellness and fitness space, translating catwalk and street‑style influences into wearable retail hits.
* Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for creating high‑quality CADs.
* Pace & Organisation: The ability to stay grounded and productive during busy periods, managing multiple deadlines across the design calendar.
* Communication: A collaborative spirit and the confidence to present your ideas clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
* Portfolio: Please attach a digital portfolio that demonstrates a sharp eye for the future of Womenswear Sportswear, its commercial viability for Next, and showcases your designs and CAD work.
* Portfolio Requirement: Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.
Sponsorship
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements. For further information please see: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.
Benefits
* 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
* Profit‑related bonus - based on company performance
* Management share options
* Company car or car allowance
* Private medical insurance
* Sharesave scheme – make savings from your net pay to buy NEXT shares at a discount
* Pension – fixed contribution rates from both employer and employee with optional additional voluntary contributions (AVCs)
* Life assurance
* Group income protection
* Wagestream – helping you maximise your money
* Salary finance – access to affordable loans repaid through salary, simple savings and free financial education
* 25% staff discount on most NEXT products – plus discount on other products
* Direct‑to‑work – NEXT orders delivered free to the office for collection
* VIP sale – early access to the NEXT sale
* Access to NEXT staff shops
* Octopus energy – cycle‑to‑work style support for electric vehicles
* Free parking (excluding London locations)
* Travel2NEXT – bus services dependent on location
* On‑site dining facilities (excluding London locations)
* National and local discounts on goods and services – including discounted cinema tickets
* Wellhub – access to discounted gym membership
* Simply health – a healthcare subscription service
* Aviva Digicare Workplace+ healthcare service – 7 free services including Digital GP appointments and an annual health check
* On‑site GP – Leicester Head Office
* On‑site Physio – Leicester Head Office
* A range of dedicated third‑party wellbeing partners
* Free eye testing – voucher to use at specific locations
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.
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