Our client, an apparel company, is looking for an Associate Design Director for Activewear to join their team in NYC!
Responsibilities
- Partner with the Design Director to establish and execute the creative vision, seasonal direction, and product strategy across activewear categories.
- Lead the design and development process from concept through production, ensuring products align with brand objectives, consumer needs, and market trends.
- Oversee seasonal assortments, driving innovation in silhouette, fabrication, color, print, and construction while maintaining commercial viability.
- Conduct in-depth trend, competitive, consumer, and market research to identify emerging opportunities and inform product direction.
- Collaborate closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, Sourcing, and Production teams to ensure successful execution of seasonal collections.
- Present seasonal concepts, product strategies, and collection reviews to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
- Guide the development of technical packages, CADs, color palettes, and product specifications to ensure design integrity throughout the development process.
- Manage multiple categories and projects simultaneously, ensuring adherence to seasonal calendars, milestones, and business objectives.
- Mentor, develop, and inspire design team members, fostering creativity, collaboration, and professional growth.
- Partner with overseas vendors and factories throughout the development process, providing direction and resolving design-related issues to achieve quality and performance standards.
- Drive innovation in performance fabrics, garment construction, fit, and functional details to enhance product performance and consumer experience.
- Support long-term brand growth initiatives by identifying white-space opportunities and recommending new product concepts and category expansions.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Textile Design, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
- 7–10+ years of activewear design experience, with demonstrated success designing performance and lifestyle active apparel.
- Proven leadership experience managing projects, influencing cross-functional teams, and mentoring designers.
- Strong understanding of activewear construction, fit, performance fabrics, garment engineering, and technical product development.
- Expertise in trend forecasting, color direction, fabric innovation, and consumer-driven product creation.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and PLM systems.
- Strong knowledge of the apparel development lifecycle, including sourcing, costing, and manufacturing processes.
- Ability to balance creative vision with business objectives and commercial product strategies.
- Excellent presentation, communication, and storytelling skills with experience presenting to senior leadership.
- Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience collaborating with domestic and international teams, vendors, and factory partners.
- Passion for fitness, wellness, and the activewear market, with a deep understanding of industry trends and consumer behavior.