Design Director – Knit Tops & Bottoms, Juniors Apparel

GOLDEN TOUCH IMPORTS INC.•New York, NY

About The Position

The Design Director – Knit Tops & Bottoms is responsible for leading the design and development of seasonal product that drives growth while maintaining the brand’s aesthetic and identity. This role oversees the design process from initial concept through development and production, ensuring that collections align with customer needs, market trends, and commercial objectives. The Design Director will manage a team of designers and partner closely with merchandising, production, and overseas teams to build compelling assortments across both house labels and private label accounts. The ideal candidate brings strong design leadership, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of the junior apparel market, with the ability to translate trends into commercially successful product.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in apparel design and/or product development
Junior apparel experience required
Minimum of 5 years of experience managing a design team ranging from Senior Designers to Design Assistants
Strong background partnering with merchandising teams to develop commercially successful assortments
Extensive knowledge of fabrics, trims, and garment construction, particularly in knit tops and bottoms
Deep understanding of the women’s junior apparel market
Proven ability to manage product from concept through production
Strong merchandising sensibility with a commercial design perspective
Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to influence and collaborate across departments
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Ability to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced environment
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
Experience presenting to executive leadership
Portfolio required

Nice To Haves

Walmart experience a plus

Responsibilities

Partner with the Creative Director and other Design Directors to develop seasonal concepts, color palettes, and key item strategies each season
Lead product development from concept through sampling and into production while maintaining the brand’s design aesthetic
Build compelling assortments that balance innovation, risk-taking, and commercially viable product offerings
Maintain line plans across house labels and private label accounts including Macy’s, Meijer, Ross, Belk, and Walmart
Collaborate with the Merchandising Director to align assortments with SKU plans, sales goals, and customer needs
Develop product presentations for internal reviews and sales appointments
Interpret seasonal fashion direction and translate industry trends into commercially successful designs
Consistently shop the market and analyze the competitive landscape to identify product opportunities
Ensure design deliverables adhere to seasonal timelines and time and action calendars
Create and oversee tech packs, flat sketches, and design documentation using Adobe Illustrator
Oversee key design meetings including fit reviews, spec pass-offs, sample development reviews, and tear-down sessions
Coordinate with overseas offices to ensure accurate, timely sample development
Manage and mentor a team of Designers, Associate Designers, and Graphic Designers throughout the design and development process
Provide direction on sketches, tech packs, construction details, and design approvals
Foster a collaborative, creative, and high-performing team environment
Guide the team through changing priorities while maintaining productivity and quality standards
Support professional development and growth of design team members
Inspire innovative thinking and new product ideas across the design organization
Partner with Merchandising to ensure assortments reflect concept direction, styling needs, and SKU plans
Work closely with the Technical Design team to guide fit corrections and sample approvals
Address production challenges and make design decisions to maintain product integrity
Collaborate with fabric and trim teams on sourcing, development, and price engineering
Build strong relationships with cross-functional partners including merchandising, production, technical design, and overseas teams