Associate Apparel Designer & Product Developer

Associate Apparel Designer & Product Developer

Department:

Design

Reports To:

Design Director / Senior Apparel Designer

Location:

Seal Beach, CA

Employment Type:

Full-Time

Compensation:

Competitive salary, commensurate with experience

Position Overview
Contravisual is seeking a creative, highly organized Associate Apparel Designer & Product Developer to work closely with the Design Director and design team across the full product lifecycle. This hybrid role combines hands‑on design — sketching, technical flats, and seasonal concept development — with rigorous product development, including building accurate tech packs and managing the sample and approval process with overseas factories.

The ideal candidate is reliable, detail‑ and team‑oriented, and thrives in an extremely fast‑paced environment. They are self‑motivated and proactive, with a strong eye for trends, excellent technical skills, and a passion for apparel construction. Success in this role means moving designs from concept through production with consistency, clarity, and quality.

Key Responsibilities
Design & Concept Development

Assist in the design and development of seasonal apparel collections from concept through production.

Create sketches, technical flats, CAD sketches, and digital renderings using design software.

Research fashion trends, fabrics, trims, and color palettes to support seasonal concepts.

Maintain organized design files, libraries, and seasonal inspiration boards.

Prepare line sheets, presentation materials, and art matrixes for internal meetings and line reviews.

Tech Packs & Product Development

Create, update, and maintain detailed, easily understandable tech packs based on CAD sketches — from development through production — with product specifications and construction details that are consistently clear and accurate for overseas factories.

Build detailed wash pages and prepare tech packs for production handoff and garment construction.

Ensure art matrixes and tech packs are accurate to design’s vision and that all art is approved through the correct channels.

Create and update line sheets to share with cross‑functional teams.

Sampling & Factory Coordination

Communicate clearly with overseas vendors to produce samples and maintain on‑time sample deliveries.

Request and track all proto and development samples, and manage sample requests while keeping factories accountable.

Provide wash, styling, and trim comments to factories and send reference samples.

Work with design on strike‑offs, handlooms, lab dips, and fabric and trim approvals.

Check in, hang, and organize all incoming samples; manage sample libraries and wash standards on a consistent basis.

Process samples with the Tech Department to ensure specifications and quality requirements are met, communicating all comments to suppliers.

Fittings, Tracking & Records

Attend all fittings, take notes, and communicate fit notes to cross‑functional teams; help revise garments based on feedback.

Maintain and manage the development WIP, including accurate information, costing, and sample due dates.

Update development and sample status weekly and keep the team informed.

Maintain, record, and file all incoming approvals and samples, reviewing with Design for accuracy.

Organize fabric and trim libraries and maintain organized design records for team reference.

Work with the team to ensure design and development calendar deadlines are met.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, or a related field.

3+ years of experience in apparel design and/or product development.

Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop is required.

Expert at creating detailed tech packs in Illustrator that overseas factories can clearly understand and produce from.

Strong understanding of garment construction, fabrics, and the product lifecycle from concept to production.

Excellent sketching and technical drawing skills.

Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects with minimal supervision.

Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across teams and with overseas vendors.

Strong attention to detail, problem‑solving abilities, and a proactive approach in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Direct experience working with overseas manufacturers and managing factory correspondence.

Familiarity with line sheet creation and development WIP / calendar management.

What We Offer

Competitive salary and benefits package.

Opportunities for professional growth.

Collaborative and creative work environment.

Employee product discounts.

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