Fashion Designer (Volunteer)
Mentor A Promise, New York, NY, United States
Fashion Designer (Volunteer)
Thread & Promise | Creative Design & Social Enterprise Division
Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)
Location: Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed (in-person coordination with designers as required)
Type: Volunteer
Reports To: Creative Director, Thread & Promise
Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, education, social‑emotional learning (SEL), creative expression, and workforce pathways. MAP believes creativity is a powerful tool for dignity, identity, and opportunity.
Fashion at MAP is not about trends alone—it is about storytelling, skill‑building, and creating pathways for young people to see themselves as creators, designers, and entrepreneurs.
About Thread & Promise Thread & Promise is MAP’s fashion, design, and creative workforce initiative. The division develops apparel, merchandise, and design projects that blend social impact, youth voice, and ethical production. Thread & Promise also supports educational and career pathways for students interested in fashion, design, and creative industries.
Role Overview We are seeking a Fashion Designer to support the creative development of apparel and design concepts for Thread & Promise. This role is ideal for a designer who is passionate about mission‑driven work and interested in contributing their skills to a creative, youth‑centered initiative.
The Fashion Designer will collaborate with creative leadership, project managers, and fellow designers to develop concepts, sketches, and design assets that align with MAP’s brand, values, and social mission.
Key Responsibilities
Design apparel concepts aligned with Thread & Promise’s mission and aesthetic
Create sketches, design mockups, or digital flats as needed
Collaborate with creative leadership on seasonal or project‑based collections
Support brand‑aligned design elements such as color palettes, graphics, and silhouettes
Participate in design reviews and collaborative feedback sessions
Adapt designs based on project needs, production constraints, and feedback
Support documentation of design concepts for internal use or production planning
Maintain timely, professional responsiveness via email and chat in Google Workspace
Qualifications
Experience in fashion design, apparel design, or related creative fields
Strong visual and design sensibility
Ability to translate concepts into clear design outputs
Comfort collaborating in a team‑based, mission‑driven environment
Reliability and openness to feedback
Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity‑centered values
Preferred Skills
Experience with apparel production or manufacturing considerations
Familiarity with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or similar design tools
Experience designing for youth, community, or social impact initiatives
Interest in ethical fashion, sustainability, or social enterprise
Experience working with distributed or volunteer creative teams
Commitment
Volunteer role
Approximately 5–10 hours per weekMinimum 6‑month commitment preferred
Fully remote with optional NYC‑based collaboration and in‑person design meetings as needed
What You’ll Gain
Hands‑on experience contributing to a mission‑driven fashion initiative
Collaboration with designers, educators, and creative leaders
Professional references and letters of recommendation
Exposure to social enterprise and creative workforce development
A meaningful role using fashion as a tool for dignity and opportunity
How To Apply Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit
Resume (required)
Cover letter (required) describing relevant fashion design experience and interest in MAP’s mission
Sample work or portfolio (required)
Please email us directly at
hr@mentorapromise.org
for any additional questions or concerns.
Help design clothing that tells stories, builds confidence, and opens creative pathways—so young people can see themselves reflected in what they wear.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data‑privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Fashion at MAP is not about trends alone—it is about storytelling, skill‑building, and creating pathways for young people to see themselves as creators, designers, and entrepreneurs.
About Thread & Promise Thread & Promise is MAP’s fashion, design, and creative workforce initiative. The division develops apparel, merchandise, and design projects that blend social impact, youth voice, and ethical production. Thread & Promise also supports educational and career pathways for students interested in fashion, design, and creative industries.
Role Overview We are seeking a Fashion Designer to support the creative development of apparel and design concepts for Thread & Promise. This role is ideal for a designer who is passionate about mission‑driven work and interested in contributing their skills to a creative, youth‑centered initiative.
The Fashion Designer will collaborate with creative leadership, project managers, and fellow designers to develop concepts, sketches, and design assets that align with MAP’s brand, values, and social mission.
Key Responsibilities
Design apparel concepts aligned with Thread & Promise’s mission and aesthetic
Create sketches, design mockups, or digital flats as needed
Collaborate with creative leadership on seasonal or project‑based collections
Support brand‑aligned design elements such as color palettes, graphics, and silhouettes
Participate in design reviews and collaborative feedback sessions
Adapt designs based on project needs, production constraints, and feedback
Support documentation of design concepts for internal use or production planning
Maintain timely, professional responsiveness via email and chat in Google Workspace
Qualifications
Experience in fashion design, apparel design, or related creative fields
Strong visual and design sensibility
Ability to translate concepts into clear design outputs
Comfort collaborating in a team‑based, mission‑driven environment
Reliability and openness to feedback
Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity‑centered values
Preferred Skills
Experience with apparel production or manufacturing considerations
Familiarity with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or similar design tools
Experience designing for youth, community, or social impact initiatives
Interest in ethical fashion, sustainability, or social enterprise
Experience working with distributed or volunteer creative teams
Commitment
Volunteer role
Approximately 5–10 hours per weekMinimum 6‑month commitment preferred
Fully remote with optional NYC‑based collaboration and in‑person design meetings as needed
What You’ll Gain
Hands‑on experience contributing to a mission‑driven fashion initiative
Collaboration with designers, educators, and creative leaders
Professional references and letters of recommendation
Exposure to social enterprise and creative workforce development
A meaningful role using fashion as a tool for dignity and opportunity
How To Apply Interested candidates must apply directly through Idealist and submit
Resume (required)
Cover letter (required) describing relevant fashion design experience and interest in MAP’s mission
Sample work or portfolio (required)
Please email us directly at
hr@mentorapromise.org
for any additional questions or concerns.
Help design clothing that tells stories, builds confidence, and opens creative pathways—so young people can see themselves reflected in what they wear.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data‑privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.
#J-18808-Ljbffr