At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the creative design of seasonal menswear collections and inspire a talented team.
- Company: Join FatFace, a B Corp certified brand known for its inclusive culture and commitment to quality.
- Benefits: Enjoy 60% off products, flexible working, and extensive learning resources.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values equality and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in fashion while promoting sustainability and creativity.
- Qualifications: Proven design experience and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Role Title: Senior Designer - Menswear
Department: Design
Reports To: Head of Design and Buying - Menswear
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Arrangements/Pattern: Full Time, 35 hours
Working Location: FatFace HQ, Havant
Who are we? For over 30 years, we’ve travelled, we’ve laughed, we’ve grown. We believe life is for living and more fun with those we love. We are Made for Life.
Our mission statement: Crafting clothes for life’s everyday adventures. Today, tomorrow and always.
Our Product formula: Considered style. Trusted Quality. B Corp certified.
We are proud to have featured in the Sunday Times top 10 best places to work 2025 and best places to work for women 2025. Equality and inclusion isn’t an aspiration but the standard. We promote and drive equality within our workforce to ignite an inclusive foundation for us all to build from and truly connect with our customers, colleagues, and communities alike. You play a key part in creating an environment free from prejudice, racism, sexism, harassment, bullying and any other form of marginalisation in our workplaces.
Role Summary: A Senior Menswear Designer leads the creative development of seasonal collections, ensuring alignment with brand identity, market trends, and commercial goals.
Role Responsibilities:
- Vision/Strategy
- Be the custodian of the creative vision for FatFace Men's wear
- Create seasonal Design strategy in collaboration with the design team
- Ensure the product strategy always reflects and re-enforces FatFace style whilst pushing for innovation and newness
- Lead design projects as required including the development of new products ranges or collaborations
- Collaborate with Creative & Marketing leads to deliver vision
- Align self to companies social and environmental mission and champion any actions that you can directly impact at all times
- Design
- Identify season trends appropriate for the FatFace brand through trips, research, competitor’s visits and reviews of past performance.
- Category design ownership, creating product spec’s, fabric/yarn sourcing and developing with suppliers.
- Providing design direction and updates at department level to ensure the best product possible is selected and successfully signed off working in collaboration with buyer & merchandiser
- Monitor supplier and market activity to update own knowledge with latest trends techniques and washes to ensure the FatFace products are up to date, high quality, pushing our sustainability strategy forwards and meet the current and future customer needs
- Keep up to date with company, department and product sales performance and trading activity and feedback into the design process
- Lead
- Inspire, Motivate and lead the mens wear design team
- Provide the team with clear accountabilities and direction
- Ensure the team understands and buys into the FatFace visions and strategy
- Build an effective team through coaching and feedback
- Manage timelines to ensure all critical dates are met
- Manage department budgets & freelance spend
- Develop and maintain effective relationships with product teams, creative & marketing teams and companywide managers to ensure all functions operate as a team working towards achieving common objectives
Skills and Experience:
- Innovative
- Commercial acumen
- Presentation skills
- Influencing skills
- Ability to react quickly in a fast-paced environment, redefining goals where necessary.
- Instinctive taste level and leadership skills to inspire, motivate and suggest ways to make improvements to their team, to deliver a cohesive and inspiring brand experience.
- Understand market trends to ensure FatFace develops business performance. Balance of creative and process skills to manage deadlines and continually seek ways to improve working practices.
Role Competencies:
- Understands the FatFace style, customer and thrive to deliver the best ranges possible.
- Strong team player and people manager with the ability to gain trust, respect and confidence quickly & effectively.
- Builds relationships with suppliers to deliver product vision
- Strong presentation skills, ability to present at board level with confidence & leadership
- Understands and works within annual budget guidelines
- Collaborates with the creative and marketing teams to deliver successful PR and press events/initiatives
Key Contacts and Relationships:
- Internal: Product team, Creative & Marketing team, VM, People Team, Finance, FF Directors, Retail ops
- External: Freelance Designers, Suppliers, Industry contacts, Industry fairs
Accountable for Resources:
- Budget – freelance spend
- People plan and development
Represents the brand image and handwriting – impacting on a wide area of customer facing brand collateral and seasonal communications. The visual proposition of these assets can strongly effect sales, plus both brand integrity and customer brand loyalty.
FatFace Benefits:
- Financial & Protection Benefits
- Sick pay allowances
- Critical Illness Income protection/ Death in service (for salaried colleagues)
- Pension scheme – with net deduction and salary sacrifice options
- Dental insurance (colleague funded)
Discounts & Perks:
- 60% off FatFace products
- 25% discount at Next stores (across full price products)
- O2 phone discount
- Discounted gym membership
- Cycle to Work scheme (for salaried colleagues)
- EV vehicle scheme (for salaried colleagues)
- Perkbox – our online platform offering: Day-one access, Exclusive brand discounts, Wellbeing content, Home workouts and more
Health & Wellbeing:
- Specsavers eye care scheme
- Eye tests and contributions to glasses
- Free period products
- EAP support 24/7 via UNUM, Retail Trust, and Fashion & Textiles Support
Learning & Development:
- THRIVE – our learning management system: Day-one access, 1,000s of learning resources
Time Off & Leave:
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Sabbatical leave (in line with service)
- Enhanced family-friendly policies – including enhanced maternity leave
- Flexible Working Opportunities – flexible working requests can be made from day one of employment and are considered on an individual basis.
Additional Perks:
- Refer a Friend scheme
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply — you might be just the right fit.
Senior Designer in Havant employer: FatFace
FatFace is an exceptional employer, recognised as one of the Sunday Times top 10 best places to work in 2025, offering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that champions equality and personal growth. Located at our HQ in Havant, employees enjoy generous benefits including a 60% discount on products, flexible working opportunities, and access to extensive learning resources through our THRIVE platform, all while contributing to a brand committed to sustainability and crafting quality menswear for life's adventures.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Designer in Havant
✨Get Down to the Fashion Events
Dive headfirst into local fashion shows, trade fairs, and networking events. These are golden opportunities to meet industry pros and showcase your passion for the industry in person. Plus, it gives you the chance to chat about potential roles at places like FatFace!
✨Join Fashion-Focused Communities
Become a part of online fashion communities on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest. Participate in discussions and share your insights on trends or your personal style journey. It’s a great way to get noticed by brands looking to fill positions, including FatFace.
✨Craft a Rock-Solid Portfolio
Since you're aiming for a full-time gig, your portfolio should reflect not just your best work but also your personality. Whether it’s lookbooks, design sketches, or styling projects, make sure it screams 'you' and includes a bit about why you’d be a perfect fit for FatFace.
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re fresh out of university, don’t underestimate your career services. They often have partnerships with fashion companies for internships and entry-level roles. Use this to your advantage and connect with them to find any openings at FatFace!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Designer in Havant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Style:In the fashion-apparel industry, your personal style and understanding of current trends are crucial. Make sure your CV and cover letter reflect your unique fashion sense – use visuals if you can and highlight any fashion-related experiences or projects that show off your flair!
Highlight Relevant Experience:When you're applying for a full-time role, be sure to focus on any past roles or internships in fashion that’ve honed your skills. Whether that's working in retail, fashion design, or marketing, quantify your achievements and show how they relate to the role at FatFace.
Include a Strong Portfolio:An impressive portfolio is key in fashion! Make sure to include a link to your online portfolio in your CV, showcasing your best work, be it designs, campaigns, or styling projects. This is your chance to let your creativity shine and demonstrate your abilities to FatFace!
Craft a Standout Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to weave in your passion for fashion and the specific reasons you want to work at FatFace. Share your vision of how you'd contribute to their brand and why you're excited about their work. Tailoring this will make you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at FatFace
✨Showcase Your Style Portfolio
For a role in the fashion-apparel industry, having a well-curated portfolio is essential. Ensure you include your best work that reflects your style and creativity, whether it's sketches, lookbooks, or completed designs. Be ready to discuss your design process and the inspirations behind your pieces!
✨Know the Latest Trends and Brands
Being well-versed in current fashion trends and influential brands can give you a leg up in the interview. Get familiar with what’s trending in the market and know your competitors. This shows your passion for the industry and helps you connect your work experience to current fashion trajectories.
✨Demonstrate Your Collaboration Skills
In a full-time fashion role, collaboration is key, whether you’re working with designers, marketers, or suppliers. Be prepared to share experiences where you successfully worked as part of a team or navigated challenges with colleagues. This will highlight your ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
✨Dress the Part
This might sound obvious, but in fashion, how you present yourself is part of your brand. Wear something that represents your personal style while still aligning with the company’s aesthetic. It’s a great way to show you understand the industry's essence and can embody the brand’s image!
