Senior Designer (Denim)

V&C Associates is partnering with a major player in the global garment and fabric supply chain, a business that develops and manufactures Denim Garments for some of the world's most recognised high-street fashion brands and retailers. With expertise spanning fabric through to finished garment, they combine creative design with deep technical and manufacturing capability, working with major brands and retailers worldwide.

They are now looking for a Senior Designer to lead creative development across denim, casual outerwear, shirts and bottoms, with denim and wash development at the heart of the role. This is a senior, hands-on position for a multi-product designer who understands that in denim the wash is the product, and who can take a concept from a raw fabric header through to an approved bulk standard without losing the handwriting along the way. You'll create commercially strong, trend-led collections and work closely with design teams, account managers, offshore development teams, mills, laundries and clients.

Denim & Wash Development

• Lead the denim offer end to end: fits, silhouettes, fabrication, wash, finish and detailing.
• Develop wash concepts and standards across the full spectrum — raw, rinse, stone, enzyme, bleach, tint, overdye and vintage effects — building a recipe library the business can build seasons from.
• Specify dry and wet processes in detail, including hand sanding, whiskering, grinding, destruction, PP spray, and laser and ozone finishing, with clear and accurate wash instructions that translate cleanly offshore.
• Work directly with mills and laundries to create, refine and approve wash standards, and keep them consistent from proto through to bulk.
• Own wash submissions: review, comment and sign off against approved standards, resolving shade variation, shrinkage, colourfastness and hand-feel issues before they reach production.
• Select denim fabrics with a strong understanding of weight, construction, composition, stretch, cast and how each behaves through the laundry.
• Champion lower-impact finishing that reduces water, energy and chemical use without compromising the look — and be able to sell that case to clients.
• Track wash and finishing innovation across the market and feed it into seasonal direction.

Design & Creative Direction

• Design original, trend-led and commercially focused ranges across denim, casual outerwear, shirts and bottoms for high-street fashion brands.
• Contribute to seasonal colour, fabric, wash and trend direction, turning market insight into ranges that sell.
• Create sketches, technical flats and digital illustrations using industry-standard design software.

Fabric & Materials

• Source and select fabrics, trims and hardware across all categories, from denims and twills to technical outerwear fabrics and shirtings.
• Carry out material assessments to ensure durability, performance and suitability for both design and function.

Technical & Product Development

• Prepare accurate, detailed tech packs for all designs, including full wash specifications, placement of effects, and trim and hardware details.
• Guide and support offshore teams to meet design specifications, wash standards and deadlines.
• Collaborate with sample makers to turn concepts into prototypes, and attend fittings to give feedback on fit, style and comfort.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work alongside account managers, sourcing and offshore development teams to build seasonal collections and present them to clients.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, mills, laundries and factories across Europe and the Far East.

About You

• In-depth, hands-on knowledge of denim fabrics, wash processes and finishing techniques, gained working directly with mills and laundries — this is the core of the role.
• Proven senior-level experience designing across multiple product categories for high-street fashion brands, with denim as your strongest suit.
• Confident writing and approving wash standards and holding them through to bulk.
• Experience designing casual outerwear, including technical fabrics, and woven shirts.
• Strong knowledge of the retail fashion market and consumer trends.
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Experience with 3D design software or digital wash and laser design tools is a real advantage.
• Solid understanding of fabrics, trims, garment construction and manufacturing processes across the global supply chain.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, and confident working across diverse, international teams.
• Highly organised and able to manage multiple categories and projects at pace.
• Degree in Fashion Design or a related field.
• Passionate, creative, proactive and results-driven.