Associate Designer, Knits

Responsibilities:

•      Assist the design team to develop, coordinate, track and follow-up on all swatch development requests both domestically and overseas

•      Partner with the design team to review merchandising plan each season to ensure line plan meets the sales goals

•      Assist in choosing appropriate yarns for each season in order to develop swatch proposals in line with the AWI brand aesthetic

•      Contribute and develop stitch swatches and construction swatches each season

•      Manage swatch developments domestically and internationally and communicate with all vendors to ensure correct information is passed for efficient outcomes

•      Create Photoshop color ups and digital mock ups

•      Create digital seasonal knitwear boards and knit presentation design boards on InDesign for any virtual meetings

•      When applicable, create hand sketches for certain groups each season in line with the brand identity

•      Create technical diagrams for all domestic and overseas swatch development on Illustrator

•      Work with tech team to create full scale layouts for any necessary styles on Illustrator

•      Attend all design meetings to correctly direct the knitwear collection’s direction

•      Attend all yarn and raw materials meetings to help source and counter-source

•      Assist in review of all swatch bulk submits and PP samples for approval for overall look, tension, handfeel and technique

•      Develop, coordinate, track and follow-up with print and special technique development both domestically and overseas

•      Submit monthly development expense reports for swatch development, special technique development, petty cash and inspiration rentals (mid-month)

•      Generate artwork layouts for stitch and print placement together with design team and Technical Designer

•      Conduct research with the design team at the library, archives, vintage resources and online to propose concepts for each season

•      Participate and take notes in all design meetings

•      Attend, participate and take notes at all proto sample and SMS fittings

•      Coordinate with domestic knitters any last-minute seasonal runway items

•      Prepare and track in house samples for styling, line review, and Market Week

•      Update and maintain presentation boards – update flat sketches, swatches, fit photos, inspiration photos, SMS colorway samples (either swatches or CAD representations)

•      Maintain physical and digital knit boards on a weekly basis, coordinating with woven team for their weekly updates

•      Managing knitwear area, organizing swatches by seasons and garments for drape/ destroy

•      Manage inventory and organize storage closet, which includes yarn and samples for "destroy", sample sale and archive items

Assist Technical Designer with development tech packs during peak crunch-time periods

 

Minimum Education (or substitute experience) required:

• Bachelor’s Degree

Minimum Experience required: 

• 2 – 3+ years of experience in knitwear design

Skills Required:

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
• Experience with Dubied, Stoll, Shima, and/or knitting machines
• Present strong critical thinking skills in order to appropriately problem-solve design decisions
• Detail-oriented, organized and the ability to work well under pressure
• Ability to work independently and also as part of a team