Senior Designer

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Trend forecasting, research, and analysis, including the development of seasonal trend boards, themes, key items, and colour palettes.
• Creation and presentation of seasonal trend reports, lookbooks, and range concepts to buying teams.
• Local and international sourcing and buying of trend-driven products and samples
• Identification and sourcing of key directional products across menswear and womenswear categories (and occasionally, kidswear).
• Preparation, presentation, and evaluation of overseas samples, incorporating buyer and internal team feedback.
• Development of comprehensive tech packs, including technical drawings, garment specifications, trims, graphics, and print designs.
• Trim, graphic, and print design and development for seasonal collections.
• Collaboration with buyers, planners, suppliers, and manufacturers throughout the costing, sampling, and product development process.
• Liaison with local and international suppliers across South Africa, China, Bangladesh, and other sourcing regions.
• Management of brand approvals.
• Conducting garment fittings, quality assurance, and product reviews from initial sample stage through to bulk production.
• Monitoring bulk production quality to ensure design, fit, and specification standards are maintained.

Requirements:

• Diploma or Degree in Fashion Design, Clothing Management, Textile Design, or a related field.
• 35 years' experience in a Fashion Designer role, preferably within a fast-paced retail, manufacturing, or apparel environment.
• Previous experience leading or mentoring a team, with the ability to manage and develop a team.
• Strong understanding of garment construction, fabrications, trims, fits, and production processes.
• Proven experience in designing commercial product ranges aligned with customer, market, and brand requirements.
• Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and related design programs.