Knitwear Technical Designer - Luxury Fashion in Matlock

Full Time | Fixed-Term Contract (12-18 Months)

£30,000 per annum + Allowances

32 Days Holiday Per Year

Matlock, Derbyshire

Start Date: September 2026

Help shape the future of British luxury knitwear at John Smedley, where design is where heritage, craftsmanship and innovation come together. For over 240 years we've been creating the world's finest knitwear, combining exceptional British manufacturing with contemporary design to produce garments recognised and respected around the world.

We're looking for a talented and enthusiastic Knitwear Technical Designer to join our business on a 12-18 month fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave. This is an exciting opportunity to work within one of Britain's most iconic luxury brands, supporting the technical design, development and delivery of premium knitwear collections. Reporting to the Chief Product Officer, you'll work closely with our Design, Product Development and Technical teams, contributing to seasonal collections while translating design concepts into technically robust, production-ready knitwear, ensuring products are successfully developed from concept through to production.

This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about product and enjoys turning creative ideas into beautifully crafted garments. You'll work collaboratively with Technical, Manufacturing, Commercial and Marketing teams, helping to create products that reflect the quality, innovation and craftsmanship that define John Smedley through excellent technical development, garment construction and product engineering.

The Role

• Support the design and development of seasonal knitwear collections from concept through to production on the John Smedley collection and collaborations.
• Assist in researching seasonal trends, colours, yarns, fabrics and silhouettes to help inspire future collections.
• Create design concepts, sketches, CADs and presentation materials to support the collection development process.
• Produce accurate technical specifications, garment packs, construction details, measurement specifications and product documentation.
• Work closely with the Product Development, Technical and Manufacturing teams to ensure designs are commercially viable, technically feasible and production-ready.
• Support garment fittings, sample reviews and product evaluations, identifying fit, construction and technical improvements and making updates where required.
• Liaise with Manufacturing to help ensure products are developed efficiently and to the highest quality standards, maintaining design intent while optimising construction and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with Design, Technical and Manufacturing teams to resolve technical challenges throughout the sampling and development process.
• Assist with maintaining seasonal critical paths and ensuring key development milestones are achieved.
• Collaborate with Commercial and Marketing teams to ensure products meet customer and market requirements.
• Contribute ideas for product innovation while respecting the heritage and values of the John Smedley brand.
• Help maintain accurate product records and development documentation throughout the design process.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for a creative, organised and technically minded Knitwear Technical Designer who enjoys working collaboratively and has a genuine passion for premium product development. Experience within knitwear would be highly desirable, as knitwear sits at the heart of our business. However, we'll also consider candidates with experience in premium apparel or fashion design who are keen to develop their knitwear expertise.

You will bring:

• Experience within fashion, apparel or knitwear design, with knitwear experience highly desirable.
• Good knowledge of garment design, technical garment development, technical specifications and the product development process.
• An understanding of knitwear construction, garment engineering, fabrics, yarns and manufacturing processes.
• Strong Adobe Creative Suite skills, particularly Illustrator, together with CAD experience.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• A collaborative approach and the confidence to build positive relationships across Design, Technical, Manufacturing, Commercial and Marketing teams.
• Strong communication skills and a willingness to learn from experienced colleagues.
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality work.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of customer-focused product design.
• An understanding of garment fit, measurement specifications and premium quality standards would be advantageous.
• A passion for premium fashion, innovation and beautifully crafted products.

Why Join John Smedley?

This is an exciting opportunity to develop your design career within an internationally recognised British luxury brand. Working alongside the Chief Product Officer and our experienced Design and Product Development teams, you'll gain exposure to every stage of the technical product development journey while contributing to future collections and product innovation.

What makes John Smedley truly unique is our fully integrated, on-site manufacturing. You'll work alongside Design, Technical, Product Development and Manufacturing teams under one roof, giving you the opportunity to see your ideas evolve from concept to finished garment through a level of collaboration that's increasingly rare within the luxury fashion industry.

In return, we offer:

• The opportunity to work on premium knitwear collections for a globally recognised British heritage brand.
• A collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Hands-on involvement throughout the complete product development process.
• The opportunity to contribute to exciting new product development projects.
• Discounts at hundreds of retailers.
• Access to wellbeing services.
• Fantastic employee discount.
• 34 days' annual leave, including Bank Holidays.
• Salary of £30,000 + Allowances.
• Full Time Hours.
• Contract: Fixed-Term Contract (12-18 Months).
• Start Date: September 2026.

Ready for your next challenge? If you're a creative Knitwear Technical Designer with a passion for premium products and an interest in knitwear, we'd love to hear from you. Join John Smedley and become part of a business where heritage, craftsmanship and innovation come together to create the world's finest knitwear.