Design Assistant

As Design Assistant you will be assisting the Activewear Designers with a variety of tasks including ongoing research and design ideas for trend-inspired women's activewear and loungewear working with influencers. Reporting to the Head of Design.

The successful designer will have a degree in Fashion Design ideally including activewear or sportswear with a minimum of 1-year of industry experience in a fashion design head office or studio through internships or a first job. A natural affinity for influencer and trend-inspired fashion is essential. 

Working in the Central London offices of this leading fashion group you will be part of a young energetic design team with excellent opportunities for career growth.

Main Responsibilities

• Support the Activewear Designers in translating ideas into products for women's activewear and loungewear (pants, tops, t-shirts, sports bras, shorts, jackets, etc).
• Ongoing trend research focusing on newness, fabrics, yarns and key inspiration.
• Collate trend research into monthly trend reports to share across the design team.
• Designing to a brief across several brands and creating CAD's using Adobe Illustrator.
• Create tech packs and action with suppliers mostly in Turkey, Mauritius, BD, China. 
• Prepare fabric packs to send out to mills/factories for sourcing.
• Annual travel to factories with the team.
• Chase and track samples communicating closely with factories to ensure critical path dates are achieved whilst flagging and resolving any issues with the team.
• Design admin, including updating the sample trackers, reviewing submissions and sending approvals out to suppliers ensuring a high level of accuracy.
• Assist the designers with preparation for range review meetings; racking samples and preparing range boards, colour boards and fabric boards.
• Maintain a tidy sample room ensuring all samples are on the correct rails.
• Prepare the fit rail ahead of weekly fit meetings and assist in the fit sessions,  typing comments in Illustrator and ensuring that the sample trackers are up to date.
• Organised and methodical maintenance of the fabric library.
• Liaise with the photo shoot team, ensuring all samples are in-house and handed over in time for shoots.

Essential skills   

• Degree in Fashion Design ideally specialising in Activewear or Sportswear.
• A keen interest or design experience in sportswear, activewear or loungewear.
• Minimum of 1-year of internship experience or first job in a fashion design office.
• Well versed in influencer fashion with an eye for the latest trend inspiration.
• Experience creating tech packs and liaising with factories is an advantage.
• Highly organised, proactive, and able to take the initiative. 
• Professional and effective time-management skills.   
• Highly proficient use of Adobe CS including advanced Illustrator skills.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and work to multiple deadlines. 
• Flexible working approach, diligent, team player able to adapt to the needs of the team. 

Salary & Benefits:

• Salary: c£23-25k in line with experience.
• 28 days holiday (excluding Christmas).
• Employee pension contribution of 5%.
• Free annual eye tests.
• Summer and winter team events.
• Internal intranet and external product discounts.