Assistant Fashion Designer

Job Details:
Industry: Apparel/Fashion

Job Title: Associate Designer, Sweaters Department

Location: New York, NY (3-Days Hybrid Onsite/week)

Duration: 3 Months

Hours: 30 hours / week

Description:
Position Overview
The Associate Designer, Lifestyle Brands, Sweaters COE, supports the design and development of knitwear collections from concept through production. This role partners closely with Merchandising, Technical Design, and Production to deliver on-brand, commercially viable sweaters that align with seasonal direction and business needs. The Associate Designer contributes to yarn selection, stitch development, and silhouette execution while supporting category-specific workflows and timelines.

Key Responsibilities Design & Creative Support

Assist in developing seasonal sweater concepts, including yarns, stitches, patterns, and silhouettes aligned with brand direction

Create design sketches, stitch callouts, and technical flats using Adobe Illustrator

Support development of stripe layouts, jacquards, textures, and novelty stitches

Collaborate on yarn selection, color development, and trim details with cross-functional teams and vendors

Help build mood boards, concept decks, and sweater-specific presentations for seasonal reviews

Conduct trend, market, and competitive research focused on knitwear using digital platforms (e.g., TikTok, Instagram, Miro, WGSN)

Product Development & Execution

Assist in creating and updating detailed tech packs, including stitch specifications, gauge, yarn details, construction, and measurements

Support communication of design intent to overseas vendors, including stitch developments and proto comments

Participate in fit sessions for sweaters; take notes, track revisions, and support approvals

Review knit-downs, strike-offs, and samples to ensure accuracy of stitch, color, and quality

Track development timelines and maintain accurate records to ensure on-time delivery

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Merchandising to support sweater assortment plans, pricing architecture, and seasonal direction

Collaborate closely with Technical Design to ensure fit, construction, and knit feasibility

Work with Production and vendors to align on yarn sourcing, cost targets, and manufacturing capabilities

Support seasonal milestone meetings and ensure deliverables are completed on schedule

Operational & Team Support

Maintain organized sweater design files, yarn libraries, stitch references, and seasonal documentation

Update PLM systems with accurate sweater-specific data (yarns, gauges, constructions)

Assist with line plan updates, sample tracking, and development charts

Support market preparation, sample organization, and presentation setup

Qualifications Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Knitwear Design, or related field preferred

Experience

1–3 years of apparel design experience, preferably in sweaters/knitwear (internships included)

Experience in a fast-paced, high-volume environment preferred

Portfolio required (including knitwear/sweater work strongly preferred)

Skills

Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; PLM familiarity preferred

Understanding of knitwear construction, stitches, gauges, and yarns

Experience working with or exposure to knit-downs and sweater sampling processes

Familiarity with Miro or similar tools for collaboration

Exposure to AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Vizcom) for ideation is a plus

Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

Ability to manage multiple styles and deadlines simultaneously

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Personal Attributes

Passion for knitwear design and strong interest in menswear trends

Creative with a strong eye for texture, pattern, and color

Detail-oriented, proactive, and eager to learn

Collaborative team player with a positive, adaptable mindset

Comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Physical Requirements (if applicable)

Ability to lift and transport garment samples, yarn cones, and sample boxes

Ability to attend fit sessions, line reviews, and market meetings

Mindlance is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of Minority/Gender/Disability/Religion/LGBTQI/Age/Veterans.

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