About the role
Reporting into the Head of Design, the Design Manager plays a pivotale role in leading the creative direction of collections, ensuring brand consistency across all ranges. This role works cross-functionally with key departments, including buying, marketing, and garment technology - to drive commercial success while mentoring and developing junior members of the design team.
Your Responsibilities
* Provide creative direction and leadership for the Design team, guiding and inspiring them to achieve the brand's vision.
* Conceptualise and develop cohesive design concepts, themes, and narratives for each collection.
* Collaborate closely with the Head of Design to align each collection with the brand's overall creative direction and vision.
* Oversee the end‑to‑end design process, from initial sketches to final production, ensuring the timely delivery of high‑quality collections.
* Partner with the Buying & Merchandising teams to understand market research and trend analysis to identify emerging themes, styles, and consumer preferences.
* Translate trends and market insights into innovative and commercially viable design concepts that resonate with our target audience.
* Partner with the Creative and Marketing teams to support seasonal concept development, including shoot concepts and storytelling.
* Approve final line‑ups, ensuring product range aligns with customer needs and commercial objectives.
* Evaluate market trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor activity to drive future design strategies and direction.
* Lead high‑level supplier relationships and negotiate key developments independently.
* Oversee collection planning, ensuring design workstreams align with critical path and business priorities.
* Mentor and develop junior designers, providing guidance on both creative and technical aspects.
* Collaborate with senior members (Buying, Marketing, Merchandising) to align creative direction.
* Lead design reviews and present collections to leadership with clear rationale and vision.
* React strategically to trade and performance feedback, driving quick‑turn updates or edits to enhance sell‑through.
Qualifications
* Extensive experience in fashion design, with a strong track record of designing commercially successful womenswear collections.
* Strong technical experience across Knitwear, Tailoring and Jersey.
* Demonstrated ability to set and lead creative direction across multiple product categories, with a deep understanding of brand identity and customer profile.
* Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience managing, coaching, and developing junior designers.
* Proven experience conducting market and trend research, with the ability to translate insights into commercially relevant, brand‑aligned collections.
* Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), and confident in producing high‑quality CADs, moodboards, and presentation materials.
* Strong technical skills in garment construction and product development, including creating and reviewing detailed tech packs and prototypes.
* Experience negotiating with suppliers and managing high‑level vendor relationships with confidence and professionalism.
* Confident in presenting collections and design rationale to leadership and cross‑functional teams.
* Excellent organisational and project management skills — able to manage multiple deadlines, oversee the critical path, and balance creative output with business priorities.
* Collaborative approach with cross‑functional teams (Buying, Merchandising, Garment Tech, Marketing), ensuring alignment at all stages of the design and development process.
* Resilient, adaptable, and solution‑oriented, with a forward‑thinking, trend‑led design approach.
Benefits
* Birthday day off
* 25-day holiday
* Flexible hours
* Vibrant team
* 40% off staff discount
* Team socials
* Free Parking
* Competitions
* Hybrid working - 4 days in the Altrincham office
#J-18808-Ljbffr