Senior Sweater Designer (Freelance)

Are you a movement maker? Are you seeking new and exciting career opportunities?

Here is what you need to know about the job:

Ralsey Group is seeking a Freelance Senior Sweater Designer to support its Junior's business, with the potential for the role to become permanent. This position provides full visibility into the global knitwear market, including Europe and Asia, while reporting to the Design Director and VP. Responsibilities include designing and executing trend-appropriate design concepts to meet customer needs and drive sales. The designer will work closely with the Sales team to gain market knowledge and create an enhanced knitwear collection for each season, from concept to delivery for major retailers. This includes coordinating the timely execution of each stage of the process, creating and executing yarns and stitches to meet the needs of our retailers, and maintaining strong relationships with factories, suppliers, and designers.

Strategy & Innovation

• Identify global emerging trends in concept, stitch, pattern, and yarns and offer direction appropriate for Junior's retailers.

• Conduct competitive analysis and prepare yarns, prints, design concepts, presentation boards, 3D CADs, and inspirational photos for review and development.

• Collaborate with the Design Director and VP of Design to conduct Research and Development of seasonal yarns for the Junior's line.

• Partner with the Hong Kong team to develop seasonal yarns and present findings to the VP, Director, and Sales team.

• Direct the Asia counterpart in sourcing and developing new yarns, including both core and novelty yarns for all accounts.

• Design and execute the development of specific customer yarn knitdowns.

• Work closely with customers to provide top yarn information and direction for account-specific presentations.

• Attend trade and trend shows in New York City to collaborate with established partner mills on yarn and silhouette development.

• Develop seasonal sweater designs and cost-engineer each design to be tailored to the customer's needs.

• Shop the local market in New York, Montreal, and Los Angeles for inspiration and partner with teams in Asia and NY for new data analytics.

Operations & Results

• Design according to style plans, sales needs, and emerging trends.

• Ensure the timely execution of the product development calendar.

• Create illustrator sketches, review specification sheets, and line sheets, ensuring accuracy in product development logs, line sheets, boards, and design archives.

• Review and select raw materials, trims, yarns, and maintain libraries for yarns, fabric, and trims.

• Approve lab dips with the Design Director, maintaining consistency with color standards.

Customers & Relationships

• Coordinate follow-up with internal and external stakeholders, including technical design, overseas design, sales, production, and vendors.

• Manage interoffice communication and build collaborative relationships with vendors and internal customers.

• Collaborate with Sales and Senior Management in presenting, designing, and following up for accounts.

• Maintain strong relationships with yarn mills to source and develop new yarns for all accounts.

Skills

• 7+ years of experience in sweater design.

• Proficient in researching trends and offering innovative design ideas.

• Strong illustration skills and experience in creating tech packages.

• In-depth knowledge of yarns and familiarity with the entire sweater development process.

• Proficiency with design software such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

• Ability to lead a small team of interns and junior designers.

• Excellent project management skills for handling multiple projects.

• Strong communication and presentation skills for managing internal and external clients.

• Excellent decision-making, prioritization, and organizational skills.

Compensation/Benefits:

• The approximate annual base salary range for this position is $50.00 - $60.00 per hour. The offered salary or salary range for this position will vary based on role requirements, skill set and years of experience.

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If this sounds like you, Apply Now!

As an equal opportunity employer, we shall consider all applicants regardless of gender, age, religion, marital status, race, sexual orientation, disability, disease, pregnancy, or trade union and/or political affiliation, and disregard all factors deemed inappropriate by local law and the International Labor Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.