Full-Time
Associate Designer
Bags
Posted on 10/3/2025
Hot Topic
5,001-10,000 employees
Retailer of music-inspired fashion and collectibles
Compensation Overview
$60k - $70k/yr
City of Industry, CA, USA
Hybrid
Hybrid schedule requiring in-office work three days a week.
 UI/UX & Design (1) |
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- College degree in design or related field preferred
- 2-4 years of bag design experience, preferably in a corporate/team environment
- Licensing experience preferred but not required
- Passion and knowledge of pop culture and the licenses that Hot Topic, Box Lunch and Her Universe
- Basic technical knowledge of bag design and construction – embellishments a plus
- Flat (CAD) sketching skills – Adobe Illustrator – required
- Team player – ability to adapt to a fast paced, ever-changing environment
- Highly organized, strong time management skills and excellent communication skills – both written and verbal
- Strong computer skills including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Outlook
- Meets deadlines, prioritizes appropriately, copes well with change and maintains composure under pressure
- Responsible for conceptualizing, developing and creating bags for licensed and non licensed product under the direction of the Sr. Designer.
- Work closely with the buying, product development, art and technical design team throughout the development process to ensure the highest level of quality and integrity.
- Assist design team with following the product through its full development process – helping to review and approve designs, revisions and submissions.
- Assist design team in sketching technical drawings/CADs, maintain design records, creating style numbers & line sheets for submissions.
- Maintain lineplan layouts by updating collections as completed.
- Assists with various design projects assigned by the Sr. Designer and Director of PD and communicates effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve alignment on projects.
- Creates trend/moodboards, research & identifies new and emerging trends especially in Pop Culture and shops the market for inspiration.
- Maintain organized fabric and sample materials library.
- Maintain an active role in weekly meetings by taking notes and following up as needed.
- Assist with opening sample shipments when needed.
- Licensing experience preferred but not required
Hot Topic sells music and pop culture–inspired fashion and accessories to teens and young adults through online and physical stores. Their products include clothing, accessories, and collectibles like exclusive Funko Pop! figures, refreshed frequently with new arrivals and limited items. Customers shop online or in stores and can choose direct delivery or free in-store pickup; exclusive items and limited releases drive appeal. What sets Hot Topic apart is its focus on exclusive, trend-driven items tied to music and media, delivered through both online and brick-and-mortar channels. The goal is to serve a young, fashionable audience with fan-focused products while growing direct sales across channels.
Company Size
5,001-10,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
null
Founded
1989
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Crunchyroll Ani-May 2026 partnership launches exclusive anime merch nationwide.
- Xochitl Gomez as Social Collision Chief Style Officer debuts punk collections spring 2024.
- Thrilljoy exclusive deal distributes premium collectibles to stores in 2026.
What critics are saying
- Shein and Temu undercut band T-shirts with 80% lower prices via TikTok.
- Sacramento store closure accelerates mall lease terminations nationwide by 2027.
- Crunchyroll direct store diverts anime merch sales from Hot Topic within 6 months.
What makes Hot Topic unique
- Hot Topic specializes in counterculture apparel for alternative music, anime, and gaming fans.
- Targets teens and young adults with licensed band T-shirts driving 40% of historical revenue.
- Operates 600+ mall stores plus BoxLunch and Her Universe subdivisions since 1989.
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Benefits
Hybrid Work Options
Flexible Work Hours
Company News
Hot Topic is closing Sacramento-area clothing store with 'final sale.'
Chicago (February 11, 2025) - - AllCampus, a leader in education benefit management, today announced a new partnership with Hot Topic Inc., the leading retail destination for music, entertainment, and pop culture merchandise.
Walgreens Boots Alliance and Sycamore Partners are reportedly discussing a deal that would see Walgreens sold to the private equity firm.A deal could be completed early next year, although the talks could fall apart first, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday (Dec. 10), citing unnamed sources.Reached by PYMNTS, a Walgreens spokesperson said the company does not comment on rumors or speculation about its business.Sycamore Partners declined to comment on the report.Walgreens, which operates more than 12,000 stores in the United States, Latin America and Europe, has been under pressure because of its acquisition of Alliance Boots and challenges facing the pharmacy business, according to the report.The firm’s shares have been heading downward for nearly a decade, and its market value has fallen from over $100 billion in 2015 to about $7.5 billion today, the report said.Sycamore Partners specializes in retail and consumer investments, per the report. One of its major deals was its $7 billion acquisition of Staples in 2017. Its current investments include clothing brands Hot Topic, Ann Taylor and Chico’s.Walgreens and other retail pharmacies face challenges to their traditional business models as consumer preferences turn to digital solutions and telehealth services, PYMNTS reported in October.A challenging consumer spending environment served as a main theme during Walgreens’ fourth-quarter earnings call Oct. 15.“The consumer may get stronger, but you wouldn’t count on it right now,” Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Tim Wentworth said during the call. “We’ve been realistic about the consumer.”The company’s footprint optimization program includes the closure of about 1,200 underperforming Walgreens stores in the next three years, with around 500 expected in the second half of fiscal 2025
Through an exclusive partnership with retail industry giants, Hot Topic and BoxLunch, Thrilljoy will launch its premium series of upscale, fan-first collectibles to select stores nationwide.
Hot Topic has unveiled a new addition to their Funko POP!