What are the responsibilities and job description for the Technical Apparel Designer position at imogene + willie?
We are seeking to hire a Technical Apparel Designer to work alongside our Product Development and Production teams to propel us forward from a design perspective. The prospective candidate will provide technical expertise in regard to construction and will have a masterful understanding of pattern and garment specifications. This person will oversee technical details to ensure all products are aligned with the initial design intent.
This full time, in-person role is based in Nashville, and reports to the Director of Product Development. The Technical Apparel Designer can expect to work closely with our executive partner leadership, development team, pattern maker, production team, our sewing facility in Los Angeles, and denim laundry partner facilities.
Responsibilities:
● Manage and maintain style-level tech packs to ensure all details are communicated to the Los Angeles sampling team
● Provide technical sketches for each seasonal style to effectively convey construction details of new style designs
● Provide solutions for challenges encountered when designing and developing complex patterns and constructions
● Collaborate with patternmaker to advance style concepts through patterning and weekly fit sessions
● Schedule weekly fit sessions and manage list of styles to fit each week
● Track fit and pattern changes with notes in PLM system
● Communicate with sample room, pattern makers, and development team on a daily basis to ensure proper and efficient progress of samples
● Inspect and analyze all development and production samples to ensure specifications and details are correct
● Troubleshoot any discrepancies on fit and measurements with factories, LA sewing team, customer service, and production teams
● Communicate with QC manager in Los Angeles to problem solve issues that arise with pre-production samples or bulk production units
● Manage internal ‘wear test’ program to track how garments are changing with initial wear
● Communicate final production specifications of all garments and every production cut with customer service team, taking past stock specifications into consideration
Qualifications:
● Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effortlessly convey design concepts and specifications
● Excellent knowledge of silhouettes, fabrication, garment construction, fabric, and finishings
● The ability to visually convey comprehensive design concepts
● Experience using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop for flat sketching, print recoloring, and development
● Successful project management skills and knowledge of the product cycle and product development timelines
● Highly detail oriented and process focused, with the ability to see the big picture
● Must be an inspiring team player with a steadfast work ethic, and thrive in a very fast-paced environment to juggle multiple projects concurrently
● Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
● At least 5 years of apparel design experience
● Passion & experience working with denim is highly valued
Who we are:
imogene willie was founded in 2009 with a dedication to high-quality, handcrafted denim. For 15 years, the brand has remained committed to always producing in the USA, prioritizing community and authentic storytelling. Made with love, made to last. We offer:
- A fast-paced, energetic, creative environment with passionate people who care a great deal about what we make and how
- Competitive pay and benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, and Paid Parental Leave, just to name a few)
- Generous retirement contributions: 401(k) employer match
- Generous product discounts
We are not accepting unsolicited third-party recruitment agencies in the hiring process for this role. If you are a potential candidate interested in this role, please submit an application directly. If you have any questions about the application process or the role itself, please reach out to jobs@imogeneandwillie.com.