Designer, Men's Wovens
About us:
vineyard vines is a highly successful, privately held, American clothing and accessory retailer founded in 1998 on Martha's Vineyard by brothers, Shep & Ian Murray. With Shep & Ian still at the helm today, vineyard vines has experienced exponential year over year growth and now operates over 120 retail locations including an outlet division, a successful e-commerce business, domestic distribution center, and expanding corporate headquarters. In addition, vineyard vines is carried in major department stores such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdales as well as numerous specialty boutiques across the US.vineyard vines was founded on a state of mind that Every day should feel this good. You don't need to be on a beach, by the ocean or on vacation to have Every day should feel this good moments. It's a state of mind that we all experience, and one where everyone is invited. At vineyard vines, we don't just live an #EDSFTG life away from our desks—we bring it to work with us, too. In our stores, at our Harbor Drive headquarters or working remotely, our company culture is fun, encouraging and welcoming to all. We work hard and play harder, and we never take ourselves too seriously. And while we have many company goals, our number one priority is making vineyard vines a great place to work for all employees. Our team is our family, and we'd never have grown to where we are today without them. We're committed to building an inclusive team across all channels, departments and stores within our community. We hope you'll join us and see what the smiling pink whale is all about.
Overview:
We are looking for a talented, creative and highly organized Designer, Men's Wovens to join our team. This role will have direct ownership of the design and development of key categories within Men's Wovens, with a particular focus on Men's Tops and Bottoms, from initial concept through final production. The Designer will translate the vineyard vines brand aesthetic into compelling, commercial product while balancing creativity, functionality, quality and market relevance. This individual will independently develop seasonal design concepts, build cohesive product stories, and partner closely with Merchandising, Product Development and Technical Design to bring product to life. The ideal candidate has strong product expertise, a high level of taste, excellent technical skills and the ability to confidently manage multiple categories and projects within a fast-paced environment. This person should be proactive, solutions-oriented and comfortable taking ownership while collaborating closely with the broader Design team and Director.
Key Responsibilities:- Own the design and development of Men's Tops and Bottoms through the full product life cycle, from concept and initial sketch through final product and delivery
- Develop original, innovative and commercially relevant designs that align with the vineyard vines brand aesthetic and seasonal direction
- Translate seasonal trends, customer insights and market opportunities into compelling product concepts, silhouettes, details, fabrics, washes, colors and prints
- See the collection as a whole and create cohesive, elevated product stories within the seasonal assortment
- Partner with the Director of Design to establish seasonal design direction and ensure consistency across the Men's Wovens collection
- Independently sketch and develop designs through hand sketching, Illustrator and CADCreate detailed CADs and renderings incorporating patterns, prints, color, fabrications and construction details
- Own design handoffs, technical packages and BOMs in PLM, ensuring accuracy and completeness through each stage of development
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Development, Technical Design and Merchandising to ensure design intent, fit, construction, quality and commercial objectives are achieved
- Attend and actively participate in weekly fittings; evaluate product and make informed design decisions and revisions
- Research and present seasonal trends, fabrics, washes, silhouettes, construction techniques and competitive market activity
- Develop and maintain seasonal design boards and present concepts and product stories to senior leadership
- Manage design deliverables and adhere to seasonal calendars and key deadlines
- Proactively identify opportunities to improve product, processes and design development practices
- Maintain strong awareness of the competitive landscape and identify opportunities to differentiate the Men's Wovens assortment
- Communicate design intent clearly and confidently across cross-functional teams and throughout the product development process
- Provide mentorship, guidance and day-to-day support to Associate Designers as appropriate
Qualifications:- 4+ years of professional experience in Men's Wovens, with strong expertise in bottoms, denim and tops design
- Demonstrated experience independently owning categories or product classifications from concept through production
- Strong knowledge of woven, bottoms and outerwear construction, functionality and fabrication
- Strong understanding of fit, proportion, construction, washes, trims and garment details
- Excellent creativity, high taste level and a strong understanding of the vineyard vines aesthetic
- Innate knowledge of fashion, trends and the competitive market, with the ability to translate trends into commercially relevant product
- Strong ability to balance creative vision with commercial needs and customer relevance
- Excellent flat sketching and CAD skills; advanced Illustrator and Photoshop skills required
- Experience working in PLM and creating detailed technical packages and BOMsStrong computer skills, including Microsoft Excel and web-based PLM systems
- Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills
- Ability to confidently present design concepts and product stories to senior leadership
- Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to independently manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Highly collaborative, proactive and solutions-oriented approach
- Ability to exercise sound independent judgment while working within established brand direction
- Positive, entrepreneurial attitude and willingness to take initiative
- Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design or related field
- Every day will feel this good because: We have a fun-spirited entrepreneurial culture filled with truly "good" people
- We offer a generous employee discount so you can rep our lifestyle on-and-off the boat
- We offer a competitive salary package, 401-K, commuter benefits, and paid-family leave, health savings, flex spending accounts, life & disability insurance
- We have an onsite gym as well as health & financial wellness programs to keep you active
- We offer 2 summer Fridays to take off in addition to a competitive vacation policy & holiday calendar
Job Summary
Requisition Number: DESIG004474Job Category: Manager
Schedule: Full-Time
