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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the creative direction of fashion collections and mentor junior designers.
- Company: Dynamic fashion brand focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, 25 days holiday, and a birthday day off.
- Why this job: Shape the future of fashion while working with a vibrant team.
- Qualifications: Extensive fashion design experience and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with exciting team socials and competitions.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About the role
Reporting into the Head of Design, the Design Manager plays a pivotal role in leading the creative direction of collections, ensuring brand consistency across all ranges. This role works cross-functionally with key departments, including buying, marketing, and garment technology - to drive commercial success while mentoring and developing junior members of the design team.
Your Responsibilities
- Provide creative direction and leadership for the Design team, guiding and inspiring them to achieve the brand's vision.
- Conceptualise and develop cohesive design concepts, themes, and narratives for each collection.
- Collaborate closely with the Head of Design to align each collection with the brand's overall creative direction and vision.
- Oversee the end-to-end design process, from initial sketches to final production, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality collections.
- Partner with the Buying & Merchandising teams to understand market research and trend analysis to identify emerging themes, styles, and consumer preferences.
- Translate trends and market insights into innovative and commercially viable design concepts that resonate with our target audience.
- Partner with the Creative and Marketing teams to support seasonal concept development, including shoot concepts and storytelling.
- Approve final line-ups, ensuring product range aligns with customer needs and commercial objectives.
- Evaluate market trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor activity to drive future design strategies and direction.
- Lead high-level supplier relationships and negotiate key developments independently.
- Oversee collection planning, ensuring design workstreams align with critical path and business priorities.
- Mentor and develop junior designers, providing guidance on both creative and technical aspects.
- Collaborate with senior members (Buying, Marketing, Merchandising) to align creative direction.
- Lead design reviews and present collections to leadership with clear rationale and vision.
- React strategically to trade and performance feedback, driving quick-turn updates or edits to enhance sell-through.
Qualifications
- Extensive experience in fashion design, with a strong track record of designing commercially successful womenswear collections.
- Strong technical experience across Knitwear, Tailoring and Jersey.
- Demonstrated ability to set and lead creative direction across multiple product categories, with a deep understanding of brand identity and customer profile.
- Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience managing, coaching, and developing junior designers.
- Proven experience conducting market and trend research, with the ability to translate insights into commercially relevant, brand-aligned collections.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), and confident in producing high-quality CADs, moodboards, and presentation materials.
- Strong technical skills in garment construction and product development, including creating and reviewing detailed tech packs and prototypes.
- Experience negotiating with suppliers and managing high-level vendor relationships with confidence and professionalism.
- Confident in presenting collections and design rationale to leadership and cross-functional teams.
- Excellent organisational and project management skills — able to manage multiple deadlines, oversee the critical path, and balance creative output with business priorities.
- Collaborative approach with cross-functional teams (Buying, Merchandising, Garment Tech, Marketing), ensuring alignment at all stages of the design and development process.
- Resilient, adaptable, and solution-oriented, with a forward-thinking, trend-led design approach.
Benefits
- Birthday day off
- 25-day holiday
- Flexible hours
- Vibrant team
- 40% off staff discount
- Team socials
- Free Parking
- Competitions
- Hybrid working - 4 days in the Altrincham office
Fashion Design Manager in Altrincham employer: 4Th & Reckless Uk
Contact Detail:
4Th & Reckless Uk Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Fashion Design Manager in Altrincham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at fashion events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work. When you land that interview, bring it along to showcase your design skills and creative vision.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to talk about your design process and how you’ve led teams in the past. Confidence is key, so rehearse your story until it flows naturally.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing applications directly from passionate candidates. It shows initiative and gives us a chance to see your enthusiasm for the role right from the start.
We think you need these skills to ace Fashion Design Manager in Altrincham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Creative Flair: When you're putting together your application, let your creativity shine through! Use your design skills to create a visually appealing CV and cover letter that reflects your personal style and aligns with our brand's aesthetic.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for the Fashion Design Manager role. Highlight your experience in leading design teams and your ability to translate market trends into successful collections. We want to see how you can contribute to our vision!
Be Clear and Concise: While we love creativity, clarity is key! Make sure your application is easy to read and straight to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to showcase your achievements and skills without overwhelming us with text.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This way, your application will go straight to the right people, and you'll be one step closer to joining our vibrant team. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at 4Th & Reckless Uk
✨Know Your Collections
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's past collections. Understand their themes, styles, and what made them successful. This will not only show your passion for the brand but also help you discuss how you can contribute to future collections.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've led design teams in the past. Highlight your mentoring experiences and how you've inspired junior designers. This is crucial as the role requires strong leadership and collaboration with cross-functional teams.
✨Market Trends Mastery
Brush up on current fashion trends and market insights relevant to the brand. Be ready to discuss how you would translate these trends into commercially viable designs. This shows that you’re not just creative but also commercially savvy.
✨Present with Confidence
Practice presenting your design concepts clearly and confidently. Use visuals like moodboards or CADs if possible. Being able to articulate your vision and rationale effectively will impress the interviewers and demonstrate your readiness for high-level presentations.
