TITLE: APPAREL DESIGNER

DETAILS: MINNEAPOLIS, MN

ABOUT TAI APPAREL:

· Apparel manufacturer with US Sales and Design team based domestically and overseas

· Specialize in knit and woven apparel

· US Sales and Design team located in Minneapolis and LA

· US Design and Sourcing team based in China driving a fast fashion speed to market business model

· Design team specializes in trend, fabric, technical spec/fit, sketches, fit approvals, CADs, graphics, art separations and art strike offs.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Support the product design by delivering ongoing CAD & product development to meet internal and external needs. Work alongside domestic and international design partners to manage tight deadlines and art turnarounds.

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES:

· Passionate about the apparel industry & art

· Possesses a strong design aesthetic and eye for fashion

· Ability to deliver under tight deadlines

· Knowledgeable in fashion and trend

· Proficient on Mac platforms

· Quick and eager to learn

· Driven to innovate and execute

· Self-motivated with a collaborative attitude

· Positive, Drama-free

· Operates well within feedback culture and strives to develop in role

· Passionate about developing & driving product assortments that make sense and will sell thru to the customer

TECHNICAL ABILITY:

· Proficient in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator flat sketches and Color cads

· Knowledge of fabrics, washes/treatments, and silhouettes

· Experience in a PLM System

RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Work alongside team to learn internal product design and development process.

· Collaborate, strategize + develop deck presentations.

Task examples include; realist sketches, color fill, layer fill, graphic placement, art boards.

· Assist Senior Designer/Merchandiser to develop and design trend right and compelling product to fit the needs and white space opportunities of the retailers we serve

· Deliver CAD sketches + color + art + print & pattern fills under tight deadlines.

· Manage Assistant design workload and projects

· Work across a variety of apparel categories to deliver upon retailer expectations.

· Assist Account Manager with follow up meeting/narrowed CAD decks, costing requests for retailers.

· Understand retailer private label brands and deliver aesthetic that fits within the brand DNA.

Deliver work that fulfills retailer needs and white space opportunities.

· Provide trend direction input when appropriate (example: making silhouette direction recommendations when necessary).

· Able to coach and develop other design team members on key skills, such as CAD development.

· Maintain flexible working hours that account for calls across various time zones.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

·LEARN:

· Learn the internal Tai product design and development process

· Fabric, Silhouette, Wash Techniques, Style #, Technical Design Process, Sampling Process, Sketching & Project Management Process

· PML System Style management

STRATEGY:

· Research and provide trend insight from the market to architect a product strategy/assortment.

· Identify key item/white space/emerging trends with regards to silhouettes, fabric, color, techniques and trims to ensure product is consistently relevant and evolving with the market through trend shopping, online research (WGSN), etc.

· Ability to translate pre-peak trends to mid-tier/mass retailers

· Constantly brainstorming newness, in partnership with design.

· Regularly pull art inspiration for graphic artists.

· Meet with Sales Team to strategize upcoming needs/meeting goals & approach.

DEVELOP:

· Develop product, in partnership with sales team based on market trends/retailer needs & white space.

· Comp Shop the market, online, Instagram, WGSN – finding inspiration everywhere

· Sample Handoff with Technical design

· Co-create sample requests/needs/ideas for upcoming meetings, ensuring samples tie back to presentations.

· Partner with overseas designer and US development designers

· Thought leadership with regards to developing elevated product a retailer can afford given IMU goals.

· Identify fabric backups and cost options.

· Partner with technical designers on new silhouettes/technical packets for sample development and/or potential bulk buys.

· Manage sample ETA’s & due dates

· Develop CAD presentations for upcoming meetings.

· Create Presentations

· Trend Pages & Inspiration

· Silhouette, color/print and pattern/graphic direction

· Partner with Design Assistant to assign style numbers for all new silhouettes.

· Direct/guide Designers on filling CADs.

· Provide Feedback

· Partner with Art Team to drive graphic requests

· Partner with Trend Team to create compelling trend boards

· PRESENTATION:

· Assist in organizing, prepare, pack apparel line for upcoming meeting.

· Assist Merchandiser in presenting apparel concept and product lines (via CADS & samples) to various retailers

· Sell product with conviction.

· Quick on your feet and comfortable with on the spot questions/challenges

· Travel as necessary (depending on accounts)

· Comfortable presenting product in Retailer meetings with Buyers & PD&D Teams

POST MEETING:

· Assist sales with follow up meeting/narrowed CAD decks for retailers

· Communicate design meeting follow-up/ changes to internal and external groups (US design, overseas team, sales, merchants, TD team, as needed)

· Own design/art follow-ups post retailer meetings.

· Responsible for prioritizing needs for design team in partnership with sales team to ensure prompt response.

· Help drive urgent/one off chase requests

PRODUCTION

· Assist with the following, as necessary:

· Preferred and Back-Up Fabric recommendations

· Fit sessions & comments (in partnership with the TD Team)

· Approval process alongside Product Development

NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

· Partner with Sales Team to drive new/incremental business opportunities

· Simultaneously manage current accounts while ensuring focus on what is going to drive the most business.

MISC

· Flexible work hours due to conference calls overseas, Teams chat.

· Positive attitude and always looking to work smarter, not harder

· Be open to new ways of doing things - different – better – more efficient

Apparel Designer