At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop luxury knitwear collections from concept to production.
- Company: Join John Smedley, a prestigious British luxury knitwear brand.
- Benefits: Enjoy 34 days holiday, employee discounts, and wellbeing services.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for hands-on involvement in product development.
- Why this job: Be part of a unique team where creativity meets craftsmanship in luxury fashion.
- Qualifications: Experience in fashion or knitwear design; strong Adobe skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 30000 £ per year.
Knitwear Technical Designer Luxury Knitwear 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.
The Role:
- Support the Design, Product Development and Technical teams in creating seasonal collections and developing new product opportunities.
- Contribute throughout the technical design and product development process, from initial concepts through to production.
- Prepare detailed technical documentation, supporting garment development and working closely with cross-functional teams.
What You'll Do:
- Support the design and development of seasonal knitwear collections from concept through to production.
- Assist in researching seasonal trends, colours, yarns, fabrics and silhouettes.
- Create design concepts, sketches, CADs and presentation materials.
- Produce accurate technical specifications, garment packs, construction details, measurement specifications and product documentation.
- Work closely with the Product Development, Technical and Manufacturing teams.
- Support garment fittings, sample reviews and product evaluations.
- Liaise with Manufacturing to ensure products are developed efficiently and to the highest quality standards.
- Collaborate with Design, Technical and Manufacturing teams to resolve technical challenges.
- 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.
Who We're Looking For:
- A creative, organised and technically minded Knitwear Technical Designer.
- Experience within fashion, apparel or knitwear design.
- 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 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.
- A passion for premium fashion, innovation and beautifully crafted products.
Why Join John Smedley?
- 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.
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.
Knitwear Technical Designer - Luxury Fashion employer: JOHN SMEDLEY LTD
John Smedley is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to be part of a legacy that spans over 240 years in British knitwear excellence. With a strong focus on quality and craftsmanship, employees enjoy a supportive work culture that values attention to detail, alongside opportunities for personal and professional growth within a renowned brand. Located in a vibrant community, the company fosters a collaborative environment where passion for quality is celebrated and rewarded.
