Associate Designer

Position Overview
Job Title: Associate Designer

The

Associate Designer, Aéropostale

supports the development and execution of seasonal apparel collections, with a primary focus on collaborative initiatives, licensing, and third‑party vendor programs. This role works closely with internal cross‑functional partners and external vendors to ensure collaborative products align with Aéropostale’s brand identity, design vision, quality standards, and seasonal timelines.

The Associate Designer will play an integral role in day‑to‑day design development, technical execution, and coordination across multiple stakeholders. Serving as the key liaison between head designers and third‑party vendors and licensing teams, this role ensures clear communication, timely follow‑ups, and accurate execution of design intent. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail‑oriented, and thrives in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment, combining strong communication skills with a solid foundation in garment construction and apparel development.

Key Responsibilities
Design & Creative Support

Act as the primary point of contact between the design team and third‑party vendors

Clearly communicate design intent, fit comments, and product details

Coordinate and track all sample submissions, lab dips, and design approvals

Manage incoming and outgoing submits to ensure deadlines are met

Maintain professional, timely email correspondence with vendors

Support head designers by documenting and following up on fit comments

Maintain organized design libraries, records, and sample archives

Assist in the preparation of design packages, decks, and presentations

Collaborate with cross‑functional partners to keep projects aligned and on schedule

Support the design development of collaborative and third‑party collections, ensuring alignment with brand standards

Contribute to seasonal concepts, color palettes, prints, and silhouettes specific to collaboration initiatives

Create and update technical sketches and flats using Adobe Illustrator

Support fabric, trim, wash, and color selection in partnership with Designer

Contribute to mood boards, concept decks, line reviews, and collaboration presentations

Conduct trend, market, and competitive research using digital platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, WGSN, and Miro

Product Development & Vendor Coordination

Create, update, and maintain detailed and accurate tech packs, including measurements, construction details, BOMs, and design comments

Support fit sessions by capturing detailed notes, tracking revisions, and following up on required changes

Assist with sample management, including tracking, organizing, reviewing, and maintaining sample libraries

Track product updates throughout the development lifecycle to ensure accuracy and on‑time execution

Support communication with third‑party vendors and overseas factories to uphold design intent and brand expectations

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

Partner closely with Merchandising, Technical Design, Production, and Sourcing teams to align collaborative product with line plans, costing, and timelines

Assist in managing seasonal calendars and collaboration‑specific milestones

Support adoption meetings, line reviews, and cross‑functional checkpoints

Administrative & Operational Support

Organize and maintain design files, collaboration decks, reference libraries, and seasonal boards

Update PLM systems, line plans, BOMs, and internal tracking tools

Support market preparation, collaboration launches, and internal presentations

Qualifications
Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or a related field preferred

Experience

1–3 years of experience in apparel design or product development (including internships)

Experience working on collaborations, licensed product, or with third‑party vendors strongly preferred

Apparel industry experience required

Portfolio required

Skills

Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; PLM experience a plus

Working knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, and fit

Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly when working with external partners

Basic understanding and hands‑on experience using AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Vizcom) for ideation, concept development, and design visualization

Personal Attributes

Strong interest in collaboration‑driven product and brand partnerships

Proactive, adaptable, and open to feedback

Highly organized and comfortable managing multiple timelines

Team‑oriented with a positive, collaborative mindset

Ability to balance creative thinking with execution and deadlines

Physical Requirements

Ability to lift and transport garment samples and sample boxes

Ability to attend fittings, reviews, and seasonal meetings

Pay Range : USD $62,700.00 - USD $114,000.00 /Yr.

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