Senior Softs Designer

Overview

ME+EM is one of the UK's fastest-growing luxury fashion brands. In addition to a thriving global digital presence, we operate flagship stores in London and Edinburgh, concessions within Harrods and Selfridges, and have recently expanded with new store openings in the U.S. At ME+EM we are an entrepreneurial, creative, and passionate group of people. We work hard, are enthusiastic to learn and are not afraid to take risks. Everyone contributes to our success at all levels, and that precisely what makes being a member of the team so rewarding. Our office and stores are always busy and fast paced, but we work just as hard to make sure it's fun, with social activities and biannual parties. We pride ourselves on being approachable, supportive, and welcoming and ensure that everyone's hard work is rewarded.

About the Role

ME+EM are looking for a Senior Softs Designer to create original, high-quality product that embodies our brand DNA, captures relevant emerging trends, and delivers commercial success through strong margin and on-time delivery. You'll play a key role in shaping the softs collection, bringing creative vision, technical confidence, and commercial thinking to every stage of the process.

Responsibilities

• Has a clear understanding of the Me+Em Brand positioning and designs product that appropriately reflects the brand & customer requirements.
• Works with the Softs team to build stories, produce mood boards and colour palettes for each story.
• Responsible for designing own styles from initial research, through detailed sketches, artwork and spec packages, working with suppliers to develop the first prototype.
• Manages the presentation of styles in the run up to Sketch & Swatch meetings, working closely with the Senior Softs team to be prepared and ready for presentation to the Design Director.
• Produces detailed tech packs, working with our PLM and liaising with suppliers & factories confidently.
• Manages presentation of own styles in the Proto meetings.
• Decides the best styling for each piece to showcase its part of the Fashion Lego and appropriateness for the collection.
• Can take an objective view of developments in selection meetings and deciding whether they are right to be included in the collection.
• Offers suggestions to improve the styles where relevant to improve commerciality, price or delivery.
• Ability to view the whole softs collection, ensuring that the offer caters to a broad range of customers as well as ensuring that outfit building is achieved through collaboration with other senior designers.
• Anticipates and meets the customers' needs through customer and sales feedback and uses this to appropriately influence designs.
• Manages the actions from the Sketch & Swatch, Proto, Intake meetings in a timely fashion.
• Proactively presents lab dips, colour options, inspiration in Proto meetings to support the decision-making process.
• Able to lead in fit sessions, working with the Garment Tech & Buyer and at times mentoring the junior designer to ensure all styles are reviewed in accordance with the brand DNA, cost and quality.
• Always considering - flattering, functional, forever and fair.
• Aware of company and competitor product and retail prices and can work on design developments to achieve price targets.
• Understands and achieves company wide and individual style critical paths.
• Is decisive to avoid blockages to critical path and collaboratively works to resolve these.
• Has a grasp of wider implications when issues arise and escalates to the Design Director where relevant.
• Working proactively with a junior designer, alongside the other senior softs designers, to ensure workload is managed, critical path deadlines are met, and the range is balanced and cohesive.

External awareness

• To ensure that new trends are identified and included in the range as appropriate.
• To build own trend awareness through inspiration shopping, personal research and other mediums; constantly looking for new sources of inspiration.
• Continually seeks to keep abreast of new technologies, trends, suppliers and techniques.
• Seasonal store visits - with Design & Technical to ensure brand KPI's are consistently achieved.
• Sourcing fabrics that meet the Me+Em customer expectations (washable where relevant, non-crease, luxurious, a point of difference).
• Meeting suppliers/travel where appropriate to develop new styles/fabric/trims.
• Attendance at fabric fairs.

Skills

• Commercial and Aspirational softs design with relevant design experience.
• Highly creative, trend driven with a high-end taste level and a true connection to softs product design with an affinity for print and pattern as well as fabric and trim.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced fashion environment.
• Good technical knowledge and understanding of garment construction.
• Able to work on their own - take initiative and work as part of a team.

Employee Benefits

• 33 days annual leave for full time employees (25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays).
• A day off to celebrate your birthday.
• Pension Scheme.
• Group Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Length of Service Award.
• Refer a Friend Scheme.
• Staff uniform for retail employees.
• Generous Staff and Friends and Family Discount.
• Annual Volunteer Day.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Tech Scheme.
• Eye Care Vouchers.
• Real Living Wage Employer.
• Employee led committees.
• Social events and biannual parties.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity package after 2 years of service.

ME+EM is an equal opportunities employer committed to fostering and preserving a culture of diversity, equality, and inclusion in our workforce. As an equal opportunities employer, we do not discriminate against applicants based on race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We believe that diversity enriches our workforce and strengthens our organisation. Therefore, we encourage minorities, LGBTQ+ candidates, and individuals with disabilities to apply for opportunities within our company. Please email [email protected] should you require any adjustments needed to take part in this recruitment process. Please note, due to the large number of applications we receive, we can only reply to those that are successful to the next stage.