SENIOR DESIGN DIRECTOR - MEN'S SPORTSWEAR

SENIOR DESIGN DIRECTOR - MEN'S SPORTSWEARJOB OVERVIEW Lead the brand's design direction for all Sportswear (non-tailored) categories. The Sportswear category currently includes dress shirts and accessories.Drive all seasonal Sportswear offerings from concept through both prototype creation (specifying fabrics / yarns, fit, labeling) and selling sample developments.Work collaboratively with the tailored merchandising team (suits, blazers, eveningwear, outerwear, trousers, and casual bottoms) to ensure the entire collection is unified and consistent in terms of colors, textures, materials, price, and styling.Work collaboratively with the administrative / import / production team in NYC and Montreal to ensure production conforms to specified designs; participate in bi-weekly meetings.Participate with senior wholesale account executives to present the collection to major accounts.Identify new trends in men’s fashion and interpret them through the lens of the brand’s design codes.Leverage the company's core competency in tailored clothing to increase recognition of the brand.Engage existing brand followers and persuade a new community of customers to connect with the brand.JOB DESCRIPTION Design, source and assist with selling for the brand, consistent with the brand’s design codes the following categories : knitwear, woven sport shirts, dress shirts, neckwear, pocket squares, scarves, and beanies.Develop seasonal mood boards and color stories for the seasonal collection; share same and collaborate with the tailored merchandising team to assure a unified collection in terms of color, styles, raw materials, and price.Working with the company’s suppliers of fabrics European and North American agents, visit factories, showrooms, trade shows to develop the seasonal collections.Identify and develop potential successful replenishment items which can be sold on either a year-round basis or each successive Fall or Spring season.Supervise two NYC sportswear team members in their administrative work on the collection’s development.Become the 'face' of the Sportswear categories with potential wholesale accounts, giving credibility to the company's efforts to be a reliable and competent supplier in those new areas.Direct tech pack creation by graphic design staff where needed.Work with senior executives and financial team to receive signoff on sample and production purchase orders.Strive to achieve strong financial returns in these new categories.Work with senior management to correctly align the pricing of new category SKUs with the pricing of existing clothing / outerwear offerings.Work with staff Financial Analyst to develop (during the line development process) projected retail and wholesale pricing and costing for the collection.Adjust as needed product development to achieve targeted margins for all SKUs.Related Responsibilities Work closely with the Ecommerce team to recommend selections from the collection that should be available on the brand’s DTC site.Work closely with the Marketing team to highlight important products and product attributes so that advertising and other DTC and wholesale communication is accurate and correctly focused.Coordinate with the wholesale team to ensure that B to B creative materials are in sync with the DTC creative approach (for example : seasonal stock books, retailer portals for MTM).Help sell / recommend potential new customers.Assist with Product Knowledge presentations to key retail partners (i.e., Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew) and fashion and media industry.Work with the president to develop a strong group of brand heritage assets, such as a brand monogram and house patterns and designs that can serve as the basis for future creative development.Work with senior sales executives whenever possible to ensure timely disposition of excess goods that need to be cleared.IDEAL CANDIDATE Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Fashion Design or related field.10 years of relevant work experience in men’s luxury or premium sportswear design / merchandising.Experience in working with the fashion press and the brand’s PR firms to promote seasonal collections.Ability to create unique designs that reflect the brand’s DNA.Strong understanding of the commercial side of the men’s sportswear business, including product costing, MOQs, retail margin math.Strong experience and ability to work directly with foreign agents, factories, mills, yarn suppliers, design houses.Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with Tailored Merchandisers, Sales, Marketing, Ecommerce, and Operations.Excellent contacts within and knowledge of the European supplier network of men’s sportswear makers and textile / yarn suppliers.Familiarity with key software programs such as Excel, Photoshop, Illustrator.Strong attention to detail and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.Passion for staying up-to-date with the latest men’s fashion trends, particularly interest in “quiet luxury.”Excellent attention to even the smallest details.Strong English written and spoken communication.#J-18808-Ljbffr