HEAD OF MENSWEAR ( Design & Creative ) D2C brand in Manchester

Our client is a contemporary men’s and women’s fashion brand rooted in modern luxury, street-inspired design, and strong brand storytelling. They pride themselves on creating elevated apparel that blends trend-led graphics with timeless brand identity. Creativity, attention to detail, and authenticity are at the core of everything they do.

Role Overview:

The Head of Menswear leads the creative and commercial direction of the menswear category, overseeing product development, brand alignment, and go-to-market strategy. This role bridges design, merchandising, and marketing to build a cohesive, high-performing menswear offering that reflects the brand’s identity and drives growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Creative Direction & Product Strategy
• Define and lead the menswear vision in line with the brands DNA.
• Oversee all collections from concept to final product.
• Lead seasonal collections with consistency across silhouettes, fabrics, colour palettes, and branding.
• Drive commercially proven product franchises.
• Identify trends and translate them into commercially viable products.
• Maintain a strong point of view on design, fit, and quality.
• Collaborate with design & buying teams.
• Translate insights into product strategy.
• Product Development & Execution
• Manage the end-to-end product lifecycle (design → sampling → production).
• Work closely with design, technical, and sourcing teams.
• Approve fabrics, trims, fits, and final samples.
• Ensure timelines and product critical path are met.
• Range Planning & Merchandising Strategy
• Oversee range architecture (what products are sold and in what quantity).
• Use sales data to inform decisions (best sellers, gaps, trends).
• Balance fashion forward pieces with core franchises.
• Manage pricing strategy and margins.
• Commercial Performance
• Own sales, revenue, and profitability for menswear.
• Monitor KPIs (sell through, conversion, AOV, stock levels).
• Identify opportunities for growth (new categories and collaborations).
• Cross Functional Collaboration
• Work with marketing (campaign direction, launches).
• E-commerce (product presentations, drops).
• Supply chain (timelines, production).
• Retail team (supporting with wholesale critical path & selling).
• Brand & Marketing Alignment
• Collaborate with marketing on campaign direction, product storytelling, and launches.
• Ensure menswear reflects the brand’s tone, positioning, and visual identity.
• Support content strategy (lookbooks, shoots, social).
• Guide styling and product presentation.
• Leadership & Team Management
• Lead and mentor the menswear design and product teams.
• Set clear objectives, workflows, and creative standards.
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative environment.
• Work cross-functionally with buying, production, and e-commerce.

Key Skills & Experience

• 5–8+ years in menswear design, product, or category leadership.
• Strong aesthetic sense with a clear understanding of modern menswear.
• Proven ability to build and scale product categories.
• Commercial awareness (pricing, margins, sell-through).
• Experience working with suppliers and production teams.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Experience in premium or contemporary fashion.
• Background in both design and merchandising.
• Understanding of DTC and e-commerce environments.
• Understanding and experience in wholesale selling.
• Knowledge of global fashion trends and consumer behaviour.

Success Metrics

• Revenue growth of menswear category.
• Sell-through rates and margin performance.
• Brand consistency and product reception.
• Speed and efficiency of product development cycles.