Design Manager in Trafford

Design Manager – MP Activewear

As Design Manager, you will lead and inspire the design team across Men's, Women's, and Accessories categories.

Reporting to the Head of Product, you will drive the creation of stylish, functional, and high-performance apparel that resonates with our customers and elevates MP's position in the activewear market.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design team, fostering creativity, collaboration, and high performance across Men's, Women's, and Accessories lines.
• Develop and deliver innovative, trend‑led collections that embody MP Activewear's brand values and appeal to our active customer base.
• Drive the creative vision of the ranges with brand, ensuring the creative brief is executed.
• Conduct ongoing research into fashion trends, fabrics, technologies, and sustainability to ensure products remain current, functional, and market‑leading.
• Collaborate with product development to ensure designs meet technical, fit, functionality, and production requirements.
• Maintain a clear understanding of the product development process, timelines, and critical path milestones.
• Present design concepts and collections confidently to stakeholders, integrating feedback to refine and enhance output.
• Work with buying teams to select materials that balance sustainability, quality, and cost‑effectiveness.
• Monitor competitor activity, influencer trends, and market shifts to maintain MP's competitive edge.
• Participate in fittings and collaborate closely with production teams to ensure the highest quality execution of designs.

Qualifications

• Degree in Fashion Design or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in clothing design, with at least 2 years in a management or leadership role, preferably in activewear, sportswear, or fashion.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in performance and activewear design.
• In‑depth knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, and technical design principles.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and other relevant design software.
• Ability to balance creative innovation with commercial insight, designing products that are both stylish and functional.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Passion for activewear and a deep understanding of the modern consumer's needs.
• Adaptable, proactive, and able to thrive in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.
• Equal Opportunity Employer

We are a Disability Confident and Committed employer.

If you are invited to interview, please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to the recruitment process that will enable you to perform to the best of your ability.

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