Location
North London | United Kingdom
Job description
As a Designer, you play a crucial role within the team responsible for bringing Bella Freud's distinctive seasonal and essential collections to life. You'll report directly to the Creative Director and Head of Product, engaging in the entire design process from conceptualisation to finalisation. Your scope will span various categories, including Womenswear, Menswear, Homeware, bespoke creations, and collaborations. Close collaboration with our Woven PD, Production, and factory teams will be essential to guarantee seamless coordination and execution.
Responsibilities
Design Conceptualisation:
- Collaborate with the Creative Director to translate concepts and themes into innovative and cohesive fashion designs.
- Conducting extensive research on current fashion trends, materials, and techniques to bring fresh ideas to the design process.
Sketching and Rendering:
- Design and develop collections in line with the brand vision whilst maintaining budget and critical path.
- Create detailed sketches and digital renderings of design concepts.
- Develop mood boards and VRP to visually communicate design ideas to the business as well as external stakeholders.
Material and Vendor Selection:
- Oversee the raw materials selection for the season and attend key meetings with raw materials manufacturers.
- Sourcing or counter-sourcing all seasonal yarns, trims and accessories that align with the design vision.
- Allocating and launching styles to vendors based on technical capability, volume, capacity, margin targets and brand objectives for the knitwear and jersey categories.
- Agreeing on a critical path with suppliers ahead of all product launches and ensuring they can achieve delivery dates.
- Building and nurturing positive relationships with the supply chain by providing assistance and clear directions.
Prototyping:
- Managing the product development procedures for all Knitwear including Jersey for the successful delivery of the seasonal collections, as well as any special project, from concept through to bulk sign-off. You will be responsible for all development stages: Proto, SMS, gold seal, and shipment samples.
- In accordance with the main critical path, manage your own timeline for the entire development process to ensure deadlines for raw materials, samples, fittings and prices are met.
- Launching all seasonal swatch development showing creative flare, driving newness through stitch, technique and yarn application.
Technical Knowledge:
- Create and maintain detailed technical drawings (CADs) and specifications for production by updating tech packs as well as BOMs for Knitwear and Jersey into Zedonk.
- Provide clear instructions to manufacturers to ensure the accurate execution of designs.
- Being responsible for size specs and size grading to be approved prior to bulk commencement.
- Lead fittings, noting feedback, and ensuring high-quality construction and finishes are translated into clear instructions to our supply chain.
- Being responsible for QC of bulk/ pre-shipment samples.
Collection Development:
- Work with the Head of Department on target prices, margins and SKU counts for each collection prior to the pricing meeting.
- Contribute to the development of seasonal collections, ensuring a balance of creativity and marketability.
- Collaborate with team members to build a cohesive and visually appealing product range.
Collaboration and Communication:
- Attend key business meetings such as sketches review, range review and pricing meeting.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams, including production, marketing, and sales.
- Effectively communicate design concepts and requirements to various stakeholders.
- Manage press special requests as well as ad hoc VIP requests.
- Collaborating with the CD and Head of Brand on assets for lookbook shoots and creative ideas.
- Attend training sessions for store teams on new collections and gather feedback on past collections.
Job tags
Salary
