At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative direction for women's and kids' products in wholesale.
- Company: Dynamic fashion brand focused on innovative design and growth.
- Benefits: Up to £70k salary, 1 WFH day a week, and vibrant London office.
- Why this job: Shape trends and create impactful collections that resonate with retailers.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in product-led design or buying, with strong commercial acumen.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to influence major retail partnerships.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 70000 £ per year.
As Head of Design, you will lead the creative and trend direction of their wholesale business across both branded and white-label collections for women's and kids' products. This is a product-led, commercially focused role where you will define what we create for our retail partners. You will set the trend vision, build ranges that work across different retailers and markets, and ensure we consistently deliver products that are both design-led and commercially strong. You will collaborate closely with our D2C teams to leverage customer insight, but the primary focus is on driving growth across wholesale.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead trend direction across all wholesale categories, including accessories, tech and apparel
- Set seasonal colour palettes, prints, graphics and key product stories
- Translate trends and consumer insight into a commercially viable product
- Identify new product opportunities and categories
- Oversee the development of all wholesale ranges from concept to final product
- Build collections tailored to different retailers, customers and price points
- Balance branded and white-label products across key accounts
- Present concepts and ranges to retail partners
- Work closely with Buying, Merchandising and Sales to deliver commercially successful ranges
- Align product with trading calendars and partner requirements
- Use D2C insight to inform product direction where relevant
About You
- 8+ years’ experience in a product-led creative, design or buying role
- Strong experience developing products for wholesale retailers
- Proven track record in building commercially successful, trend-led ranges
- Deep understanding of multi-category product, ideally accessories and apparel
- Strong commercial mindset and ability to work across multiple partners
- Experience leading teams and presenting to buyers
Nice to Have
- Experience across both branded and white-label
- International wholesale experience, particularly US
- Background in fast-paced, trend-led businesses
Head of Design in City of London employer: Make It Happen Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Make It Happen Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Design in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at design 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! When you land that interview, make sure to bring a killer portfolio that highlights your best work. Tailor it to showcase projects that align with the company's vision and products.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky questions! Research common interview questions for design roles and practice your answers. Be ready to discuss how you've driven growth and created commercially successful ranges in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing applications come directly from our site. It shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team and makes it easier for us to find your application.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Design in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Creative Flair: As a Head of Design, we want to see your unique style and creativity shine through in your application. Use visuals or a portfolio link to showcase your previous work and how it aligns with our trend direction.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this role. Highlight your experience in developing products for wholesale retailers and how you've successfully built trend-led ranges in the past.
Be Commercially Savvy: We’re looking for someone with a strong commercial mindset. In your application, emphasise your ability to balance design with market needs and how you’ve driven growth in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves.
How to prepare for a job interview at Make It Happen Recruitment
✨Know Your Trends
As a Head of Design, you need to be on top of the latest trends. Research current fashion trends, especially in women's and kids' products, and be ready to discuss how you can translate these into commercially viable collections. Bring examples of successful trend-led ranges you've developed in the past.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Mindset
This role is all about balancing creativity with commercial success. Prepare to discuss how you've previously aligned product development with trading calendars and partner requirements. Be ready to share specific examples of how your designs have driven growth in wholesale.
✨Collaboration is Key
Highlight your experience working cross-functionally with teams like Buying, Merchandising, and Sales. Think of examples where collaboration led to successful product launches. This will show that you understand the importance of teamwork in delivering commercially strong products.
✨Prepare for Presentations
You'll need to present concepts and ranges to retail partners, so practice your presentation skills. Prepare a mock presentation of a collection you've worked on, focusing on how it meets the needs of different retailers and price points. Confidence in your delivery can make a huge difference!