At a Glance
- Tasks: Design trendy sportswear and athleisure collections while collaborating with global brands.
- Company: Join Next, a leading fashion retailer with a vibrant team culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, staff discounts, and private medical insurance.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in girls' fashion while working with cutting-edge design techniques.
- Qualifications: Experience in sportswear design and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Working Pattern: Typically 5 days in the office, with core hours flexible between 8am-6pm. Please note: Ideal start date September 2026.
The Role
As a Girls Athleisure/sportswear Designer within Next’s Fashion Brands team, you will act as a creative guardian for a prestigious brand portfolio, ensuring the brand's unique "DNA" is translated into elevated, commercially successful designs across contemporary, casual sportswear. By bridging the gap between trend research and technical execution, you’ll make a tangible impact on the aesthetic direction of our collections, reacting with agility to market data to keep our offerings ahead of the curve. You will thrive in a highly collaborative environment, working side‑by‑side with partner brands and internal garment teams to bring concepts to life across diverse product categories. Next provides comprehensive brand immersion and technical onboarding to support your transition into our fast‑paced, premium design landscape.
What You’ll Take On
- Design High‑Impact Sportswear and Athleisure Collections: Create innovative, commercial, and elevated sportswear, activewear, and athleisure garments that blend technical functionality with licensed brand aesthetics.
- Manage Factory Partnerships: Liaise directly with global factories and specialist performance wear suppliers to oversee the manufacturing process, ensuring your garment shapes and technical details translate perfectly into the final product.
- Build Trusted Licensing Relationships: Foster strong, professional bonds with external license brand partners and internal teams to build a culture of confidence, trust, and seamless collaboration.
- Coordinate Cross‑Functionally: Partner closely with Garment Technologists, Buying, and Merchandising teams to develop fit‑for‑purpose ranges that meet rigorous performance standards while hitting critical path deadlines.
- Translate Global Trends: Continually research and communicate emerging global trends in casual wear and sportswear silhouettes, fabric technology (such as sweat‑wicking and multi‑stretch), trims, and colour, turning trend inspiration into commercial design concepts.
- Deliver Technical Precision: Produce detailed and highly accurate Tech Packs, specifying garment construction, performance fabrics, trims, and fit specifications to provide factories with clear guidelines that minimise errors and maximise efficiency.
What You’ll Bring
- Versatile Sportswear and Athleisure Expertise: Adaptable design "handwriting" that allows you to switch effortlessly between different licensed brand and trend aesthetics, age ranges, and product tiers across the girls' activewear market.
- Technical Mastery: Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite with a strong understanding of jersey and activewear construction, performance trims, and specialised techniques (like flatlock stitching, bonding, or ergonomic paneling). Skilled at building thorough tech packs that respect factory capabilities and price points.
- Commercial Activewear Sharpness: Stay ahead of macro and micro sportswear trends, designing silhouettes and apparel ranges that are commercially viable, highly functional, and perfectly aligned with a license partner's DNA.
- Resilience and Agility: Thrive in fast‑paced design environments, remaining organised and positive even when priorities shift. View fast‑moving trends and brand changes as opportunities to innovate rather than hurdles.
- Clear Communication: Present activewear concepts with confidence and communicate complex technical and brand requirements clearly to internal stakeholders, brand partners, and global suppliers.
- Forward‑Thinking Skills: Experience with 3D design software, AI visualisation tools, or a background in technical sportswear garment construction is a significant advantage.
Portfolios
To help us get a feel for your style, please attach a digital portfolio. We’re looking for work that demonstrates a sharp eye for the future of girls' casualwear and activewear, shows how these can be commercially viable for Next, and showcases your trend research, garment designs and CAD work. Please ensure your digital samples are uploaded with your submission, as we are unable to consider applications that do not include a portfolio.
Sponsorship
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role must meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements.
About Us
Next is a FTSE‑100 retail company employing over 44,000 people across the Next group. We are the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and the market leader for Kidswear. We operate over 450 stores plus an online presence, serving customers in more than 80 countries worldwide.
About The Team
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Profit‑related bonus, based on company performance
- Management share options
- Company car or car allowance
- Private medical insurance
- Sharesave scheme – make savings from your net pay to buy Next shares at a discount
- Pension – fixed contribution rates from both employers and employees, with optional voluntary contributions
- Life assurance
- Group income protection
- Wagestream – help you manage your money
- Salary finance – access to affordable loans repaid through salary, simple savings and free financial education
- 25% staff discount on most Next products and additional discounts on other products
- Direct to work – Next orders delivered free to the office for collection
- VIP sale – early access to the Next sale
- Access to Next staff shops
- Octopus energy – cycle‑to‑work‑style scheme for electric vehicles
- Free parking (excluding London locations)
- Travel2Next – bus services dependent on location
- On‑site dining facilities (excluding London locations)
- National and local discounts on goods and services, including cinema tickets
- Wellhub – discounted gym membership access
- Simply health – healthcare subscription service
- Aviva Digicare Workplace+ – includes digital GP appointments and annual health checks
- On‑site GP and physiotherapy – at Leicester Head Office
- A range of dedicated third‑party wellbeing partners
- Free eye testing – voucher to use at specific locations
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change. We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long‑term condition, feel free to get in touch by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line) or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.
Girls Athleisure & Sportswear Designer - Licensed Brands - 12 Months Fixed Term Contract employer: Next
Next is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and collaborative work culture that fosters creativity and innovation in the fashion industry. With comprehensive onboarding, extensive employee benefits including a profit-related bonus, private medical insurance, and generous staff discounts, Next prioritises the well-being and growth of its employees. Located in a dynamic retail environment, this role provides unique opportunities to engage with prestigious brands while contributing to the evolution of girls' athleisure and sportswear collections.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Girls Athleisure & Sportswear Designer - Licensed Brands - 12 Months Fixed Term Contract
✨Get in with Local Boutiques
Fashion isn't just about the big names; local boutiques are often on the lookout for temporary staff, especially during busy seasons. Pop in with your CV and a smile, chat with the staff, and show genuine interest – it can lead to an on-the-spot opportunity or, at the very least, a good contact!
✨Leverage Fashion Events
Fashion shows and local events are goldmines for networking. Attend as many as you can! Strike up conversations with fellow attendees, designers, or even models – you never know who might have a lead on temporary roles that aren't advertised yet.
✨Utilise Social Media Like a Pro
Follow brands and influencers in the fashion-apparel industry on social media. Engage with their content and stay updated on their hiring announcements. Many companies post about temporary positions on their Instagram or Twitter, so keep your eyes peeled!
✨Check Out Our Site for Temp Roles
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website for temp roles at companies like Next. We regularly update our listings, and your best shot at landing something is to jump on it as soon as it drops – so keep checking!
We think you need these skills to ace Girls Athleisure & Sportswear Designer - Licensed Brands - 12 Months Fixed Term Contract
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Style:In the fashion-apparel world, creativity and personal style are key! Make sure your CV and cover letter reflect your unique take on fashion—add a touch of personality, maybe even a mood board if you’re feeling adventurous. This is your chance to show how you’d fit into Next's vibe!
Highlight Relevant Experience:For a temporary role, experience is everything. If you've worked in retail, styling, or even as a personal shopper, make sure to highlight that in your application. We want to see how your past experiences can benefit Next during this short-term stint!
Include a Portfolio of Your Work:If you’ve got a portfolio—whether that's photos of your styling or designs—attach it! We love to see what you're capable of. It’s a great way to stand out, especially in temporary roles where you might need to make a quick impact at Next.
Emphasise Your Adaptability:Temporary roles often require juggling different tasks and adapting to changing needs. In your application, mention instances where you’ve showcased flexibility and quick learning. Showing that you’re ready to jump right in will surely catch our eye at Next.
How to prepare for a job interview at Next
✨Show Off Your Style
In the fashion-apparel world, your personal style can speak volumes. Make sure to express your fashion sense in your outfit and show off any unique pieces that represent your style while keeping it professional. This gives the interviewers a glimpse of your creativity and flair.
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
For a temporary role, it'll be essential to demonstrate your skills quickly. Have a well-curated portfolio that showcases your previous work, whether it's designs, styling, or merchandising. Be prepared to talk through your thought process and the impact your work has had in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Trend Talk
Expect questions about current fashion trends and how they relate to the brand Next. Being able to discuss recent runway looks, sustainable practices, or trending colours will show your knowledge of the industry and that you’re up-to-date with what's happening in fashion.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
In a temporary position, demonstrating that you can hit the ground running is key. Share experiences from previous roles where you've quickly adapted to new trends or tackled fast-paced environments. Your ability to be flexible shows that you're ready to contribute from day one!
