Design Manager, Women's Handbags and Leather Goods

Job Description

GENERAL SUMMARY: Withminimal supervision and high level creative direction, designs a large categoryor several medium-sized categories. Recommends new product category or businessideas.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Researches trend in magazines and on-line. Inspiration shops domestically. May shopinternationally.
• Provides thought leadership related to area of expertise;may manage or mentor others to design and develop product for assigned productcategories.
• Translates seasonal concepts into key items, styles, andoutfits. Ensures roadmap requirementsare met.
• Selects fabric, color, print/pattern story, details andtrims. May develop fabric and rawmaterials.
• Makes style-based grow/maintain/decline recommendations fora specific product categories based on trend and historical businessperformance.
• Present key items and styles at alignment meeting to OldNavy leadership team.
• Partners with merchandising and production to select stylesfor sampling, set up boothsets by shop by flow, finalize garment details, andcomplete fittings.
• Creates BOMS.
• Ensures sample development is kept within agreed upondevelopment ratios. Adheres to product development deadlines.
• Works with factories in–country to develop samples foradoption.
• Approves styles, including fabrication, construction, color,details, trims and fit.
• Approves fit. Attendfittings with tech services, to ensure design integrity. Sends garment to final fit.
• Familiar with best and worst sellers across categories andadjusts development accordingly. Can connect sales results to see overarchingthemes in the business.
• Successfully delivers additional volume through areinvention or introduction of new categories or classifications.

Qualification

• College degree in Fashion Design or related field
• Eight to ten years design experience
• Experience working with cross-functional partners concerningdesign concepts, aesthetics, production, construction issues required.
• Mass retail experienced preferred
• Travel – 20% - 25% domestic and international may berequired

Functional and Technical Skills

• Defined aesthetic point-of-view
• Strong design and color sense.
• Knowledge of color theory
• Computer skills; proficiency in Illustrator and Photoshop
• Proficient in Illustration
• In-depth knowledge of silhouettes, fabrication, color ways,sewing techniques, graphics and trim.
• Expert level of understanding of fabric and garmentconstruction
• Demonstrated ability to interpret vintage and high fashiontrends for a mass market, to evolve a big idea, and to design a cohesive collection
• Knowledge of fit and standard measurements
• Conversant with the basics of merchandising and retailmanagement

Key Competencies Required:

• Business Acumen
• Drive for Results
• Learning on the Fly
• Peer Relationships
• Composure
• Managerial Courage

Frequent contact with all levels of Design, CAD,Graphics, Merchandising, Production and Technical Design