Apparel Design Lead
About Us:
Join our dynamic team and lead the creative direction of our Apparel and Fashion Accessories collections. We are looking for a visionary Apparel Design Lead to shape the future of apparel, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.
Purpose
As the Apparel Design Lead, you will manage the collections and special projects from initial concept to launch. You will work closely with the Design Director and the Brand & Product Director to ensure alignment with commercial objectives and the brand vision.
Creative Leadership
- Lead the creative direction of Apparel and Fashion Accessories, inspire and guide the Design Team, encouraging creativity, research, and innovation in developing future collections.
- Work closely with the Brand & Product Director to ensure alignment with commercial objectives and the brand vision.
- Analyse best selling products to identify trends and apply these insights to inform future product development.
- Inspire the team to push boundaries and gather fresh ideas for future collections.
- Explore archives to find inspiration for new directions rooted in the brand’s heritage.
Product Development
- Take responsibility for the ideation, range planning, and development of collections, ensuring alignment with the brand’s creative and commercial goals.
- Create mood boards and other creative materials to guide the team and support the promotion of design projects.
- Partner with the Quality Assurance team to monitor and improve fabric performance for apparel and accessories.
- Ability to develop a new quality from initial concept to final product
Collaboration
- Work closely with the Head of Design and the Presentation & Project Manager to plan timelines and ensure collections are delivered on schedule.
- Work with the Head of Design to ensure that workload and priorities are delegated effectively within the team.
- Partner with the Brand & Product Director, Production and Procurement teams to review product costings, identifying opportunities for cost optimisation and innovative engineering solutions.
- Collaborate with the Marketing, Presentation, and Samples teams to plan the presentation and promotion of collections, ensuring creative cohesion across all touchpoints.
- Build strong relationships with internal teams, including Production, Sales, Product, Quality, and Marketing, ensuring seamless communication and alignment.
Presentation Of Product
- Collaborate with Marketing and Presentation teams on product visuals, photoshoots, and social media content related to design projects.
- Work with internal teams to design and curate displays for new collections, ensuring they are impactful and aligned with the brand’s aesthetic.
Customer & Market Insight
- Understand the brand’s target customer and market areas for all product areas.
- Travel to trade fairs and customer visits for research and to strengthen understanding of the market.
- Incorporate feedback from customers, Sales Teams, Key Account Managers, and Agents into the design process.
- Extensive industry experience in Textile Design specialising in Woven Structure
- Strong understanding of all processes from fibre to finished cloth
- Commercial understanding of fabric performance and the required standards for apparel
- Visionary and forward thinking with an ability to bring newness and challenge boundaries whilst aligning with brand vision and commercial objectives
- Strong presentation skills both visual and verbal
- Team and leadership skills, motivational, creative brainstorming, blue sky thinking
- Excellent communication skills with the team, interdepartmentally and with suppliers and customers
Good to have:
- Degree or other qualification in textile Design specialising in Woven Structure
- Experience working with woollen fabrics
- Full current driving licence.
- Hungry – we want you to commit to working hard, have a burning desire to achieve your goals and are willing to put in the effort and dedication to make them a reality.
- Humble – we want you to recognise your strengths while staying open to learning, growing and acknowledging the contribution of others.
- Smart – we want you to be honest and inclusive and respectful of others, value diversity and foster a sense of belonging for everyone.
We are an international brand with a long-standing reputation for innovation, design and premium quality – producing authentic, woollen fabrics and accessories for leading fashion brands and interior designers worldwide.
As one of the select few mills in the UK that can perform all processes at a single site, we boast remarkable versatility and the ability to control each process to meet our exacting standards. Each of these processes required incredible expertise and finesse, which is where our fantastic, diverse team come into play who champion a culture that encourages leadership, creativity, innovation and learning p interacting as one team, irrespective of position or level.
Even after almost two centuries in business, we remain incredibly ambitious with big plans for growth and expansion. End-to-end technology integration, growing new routes to market, and increasing brand awareness are just some of the exciting new projects in the pipeline, with plenty more to come.
Closing Date: Friday 28th February 2025
If you are passionate about creative textile design, collaboration and driving innovation in apparel design, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a summary portfolio to careers@moons.co.uk by Friday 28th February 2025. Initial interviews will be held weeks commencing 10th and 17th March 2025 and any final interviews being held w/c 31st March 2025.
