Senior Knitwear Designer (Maternity Cover)

We are looking for a Lead Designer for the Knitwear collections on both Womenswear and Menswear, reporting directly to Creative Director and Head of Design. The initial contract will be in place for 9 months. Please submit a link to your portfolio upon application. 

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY 

• Manage the entire development process from design concept to final product.
• Manage the critical path for the entire development process to ensure deadlines for raw materials, samples, fittings, and prices are met.
• Close dialog with suppliers, factories, pattern design, production team and sales team.
• General design related task within the department
• Manage Junior Knitwear Designer & Assistant Knitwear Designer.

TASKS

• Designing 2 yearly collections and 3-4 capsule collections.
• Senior level experience in knitwear design for both Womenswear and Menswear.
• Present all sketches and design mock-ups to Creative Director.
• Source all yarns, sketch in Adobe Illustrator, allocate colours and create knit stitching instructions.
• Launch all seasonal swatch development driving newness through stitch, technique and yarn application.
• Create detailed technical packs for suppliers allocating styles to suppliers based on technical capability and brand objectives for the knitwear range.
• Communicating and developing all garments with overseas suppliers.
• Alignment within each design department (Women & Men) and cross alignment between the two.
• Participate in collection mood boards, prints and colors as well as collating all knitwear moodboards for the season.
• Lead knitwear fittings and maintain ongoing dialog about fits, shapes and details with Pattern and Production Team. 
• Approve all colours/stitches.
• Inspiration and supplier trips, research for new yarns, stitches, details and silhouettes
• Participate in all development meetings along with Sales.
• Participate in the daily Design Team operation and preparations.
• Participate in handover production fittings and maintain communication with knitwear technician and Head of Production until production has been completed.

ABOUT YOU

• You are well organised and able to prioritise the workload to meet set deadlines and range plans.
• You are self-motivated with the ability to lead a team.
• You have a keen eye for detail.
• Must have a passion for Casablanca brand and clothing.