Associate Designer - Intimate Apparel/Bras

Dana-co, a leading design company of luxury intimate apparel, is looking for an Associate Designer.  This role is in-office, 4 days onsite in New York City with an option to work remotely for 1 day.  This role will assist with the creation of innovative designs that maintain brand image and align with overall concept and business strategy.  This person has demonstrated, hands-on working knowledge of the bra design process, enjoys executing projects on time in an organized and systematic manner and demonstrates passion for the brand and the intimate apparel industry.  They will also be a collaborative partner with a team-oriented approach, working cross-functionally with merchandising, product development, technical design, production, and other relevant teams. 

Qualifications:

• Must have 3-5 years of experience in lingerie design, with a focus on bras.
• Strong knowledge of garment construction, fabrics qualities, and production processes to design product that is production feasible.
• Strong portfolio showcasing elevated taste level and a range of bra designs from concept to production.
• Organized, systematic, and structured working style, with experience managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Must be proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud and working knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel
• Working/General knowledge of Lectra.  Able to check patterns, print patterns and implement corrections to SMS sizes. (Grade team can support as necessary)
  
• Understanding of industry trends, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.  
  
• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design
  

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for staying up to date with current fashion trends and silhouettes. 
• Responsible for being up to date with key retail stores that carry the brands and their assortments including products from our competitors, including shopping the market.
• Review overall trend direction with Merchandising and Design Managers at concept meetings.
• Responsible for creating boards or presentations, as needed.
• Ensure all garments on racks are tagged and any component or fit issues are called out.
• Responsible for following all Product Development calendar dates.
• Attend vendor meetings and assist in selecting brand right materials that fit in design, cost, and minimum to the brand structure.
• Conceptualize and design brand-right products for corresponding brand identities.
• Sketch and provide clear communication to CAD specialist for silhouette, construction details, and lace placement for accuracy in CAD images.
• Set up callouts on F&B pages before setting up/ sending specs to ensure everything is accurate and consistent. 
• Responsible for owning and maintaining cross-functional charts to ensure accuracy.  (ex: Fit Notes, Fit Photo Pages, Style Summary Sheets, and Features & Benefits pages).
• Develop and train Design Assistant to update cross-functional charts.
• Initiate and update style requests with accurate POM’s, Spec Measurements, BOM, and construction details.
• Responsible for checking over and ensuring spec is complete and correct.  Set up a meeting with Manager and Design and Development Associate before sending it to the factory.
• Responsible for creating and sending pad shape and wire shape for factory if necessary, depending on style.
• Daily communication with factories to ensure they are clear and garment details are followed.
• Responsible for reviewing initial proto and proto pattern corrections sent from the factory to ensure they match our request.  Adjust patterns and reply as necessary. (Grade team can support as necessary)
• Knowledge of all incoming proto sample emails, adding to fit list and coordinating model fittings with team members, as needed.
• Responsible for reviewing all protos before adding to fit bin (measure, check that garment matches our request and that we received all requested items).  Follow up with factory, as needed.
• Responsible for reviewing all proto pads/plastic shots, cup covers, and wires to ensure they follow our request. 
• Responsible for filing and storing all samples, plastic shots, and covers within fit bins for record keeping and Technical Design style pass-off.
• Attend all model fittings and use technical knowledge to refine designs, balancing aesthetics and functionalities and cost considerations. Responsible for bringing fit notes and measurement sheets for all samples into fittings. 
• Responsible for ensuring fit notes and photos are accurate in file.   Must review notes prior to working on corrections. 
• Ability to analyze and correct proto size patterns until style is finalized for SMS and passed to Technical Design.
• Attend Technical Design pass-off meetings to ensure design intent and details are shared with team.
• Attend all fittings after passing off to make sure design intent is carried out between grade sizes.
• Responsible for ensuring all necessary work is added to weekly package list and factory bins.
• Dress models for larger account market meetings and attend any market photo and video shoots to ensure garment is presented correctly on the models.
  
• Communicate within the team and other teams in a timely, proactive and organized manner.
• Assist team as needed with opening packages, distributing items, and confirming receipt with the factory.
• Follow current company process so that all files and work are in order and easily accessible to the team. Including common areas and archives. Ensure these archives are organized and reviewed quarterly.

Benefits for full-time employees include:

• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid Vacation, Sick, Personal time
• Paid Holidays
• 401(k) with a company match
• Parental leave (non-birthing parents included)
• Short-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Bereavement Support
• Education Reimbursement
• Voluntary benefits include term life insurance, short-term disability, AD&D, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, and group legal services
• Employee discounts
   

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Dana-co is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce. We provide a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected characteristic, including, but not limited to, an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

Full Time: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week

Work Location: In-office 4 days and remote 1 day

Salary : $65,000