**Please do not contact us if you are a recruitment agency**
Job Description
This opportunity is to work hands-on, in a creative focused role with autonomy and responsibility. Strong technical knitwear knowledge and experience is essential.
Maternity cover, Freelance or Fixed-term contract role
Please note this role is a Maternity Cover contract for an initial 9 months with an opportunity to extend. We are also interested in applications from experienced knitwear designers and freelancers for project-based work which could last for 2-3 months at a time.
Location – Leicester, LE2 8AJ
About Us
Paul James Knitwear is a growing designer, manufacturer and retailer of pure natural fibre knitwear. We are committed to producing timeless, sustainable knitwear, and we firmly ground ourselves in producing an affordable luxury experience for our customers.
Find out more on our website – www.pauljamesknitwear.com
Requirements
- Completed a fashion degree
- 5+ years of commercial knitwear design experience – preferably within premium or luxury fashion industry
- An understanding of our brand aesthetic
- Experience working with local and overseas factories and trims suppliers
- Strong presentation skills
- Ability to prioritise multiple tasks and requests with good time management skills
- CAD skills - Excellent knowledge of Photoshop and Illustrator
- Able to work independently and take autonomous responsibilities towards timely completion of assigned projects.
Key Responsibilities
- End to end process of product design and range plan, selecting market relevant and financially viable ranges that link back to departmental strategy and brand direction.
- Conduct research on competitive set including pricing, style, and key messages.
- Collection and market research – runway trends, heritage products, colour stories, new yarns etc. Translate initial ideas and concepts into final high-quality products
- Build a range plan keeping all factors into account so they can drive maximum commercial results.
- Translating selected product ideas into techpacks containing all required technical details.
- Making Swatches / mock-ups / trials
- Technical and design assessment of all received products from suppliers to ensure each product is made to the highest quality standards.
- Conduct fittings and product reviews. Send weekly fit comments.
- Sourcing trims and accessories. Communication with third party suppliers.
- Communicating with the product development team in the UK and India
- Ensure the smooth running of the development process, maintaining schedules and key deadlines
- Email management to maintain department critical path.
- Maintaining and updating archives.
- Analyse business results in preparation for seasonal buy.
- Organising photoshoots. Styling research and inputs.
- Products faults analysis to optimise suppliers manufacturing capabilities.
- Training our pick and pack team on managing faulty items
- Analysis of existing SKUs with quality and fit issues. Coordinating with suppliers to optimise manufacturing capabilities.
- Management of the design for wholesale accounts including attending product meetings and issuing product development to suppliers.
- Manage sampling and development of critical path
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary, Contract
Contract length: 9 months
Part-time hours: 24-40 per week
Salary: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Flexitime
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Flexitime
- Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Leicester: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Knitwear Design: 4 years (required)
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: 2023-05-KDMC
