Centric Brands

Designs and markets licensed apparel brands

Assistant Designer - Creative Design

Industrial DesignPosted on Nov 10

Full-timeShanghai, ChinaNo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design is required.
1–2 years of experience in apparel, accessory, or textile design is required.
High taste level and a history in high-end fashion brands and products are required.
A strong eye for color and a meticulous eye for detail, handfeel, tension, and construction are required.
Strong organizational skills and communication skills are required.
The ability to multitask and meet deadlines, with meticulous attention to detail and creativity, is required.
Creativity, technical capability, merchandising sensibility, and the ability to sketch are required.
Strong textile knowledge, including knits, wovens, and print design, is required.
Extensive knowledge of garment construction, pattern making, silhouettes, colorways, sewing techniques, fabrication, and trim, as well as familiarity with manufacturing, is required.
High proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe products, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), computer-aided design (CAD), and Mac computers is required.

Responsibilities

Assist in seasonal design development from concept to delivery by creating and executing original, trend-appropriate concepts that meet market needs and drive sales, while ensuring timely execution.
Assist in building collections that include knit cold-weather accessories, printed scarves, hats, and leather gloves for licensed and private-label brands.
Research and identify trend directions, perform competitive analysis, source and review fabrics and design concepts, and prepare presentation boards, mock-ups, color-ups, and inspirational photos for meetings.
Execute development of the initial seasonal design category in the context of the larger assortment and cost structure.
Develop expertise in brand codes, limitations, and design language, including what can be approved by the brand.
Assist in designing seasonal collections according to style plans, sales needs, and emerging trends, and ensure timely execution of the product development calendar.
Visit or call vendors in real time to address design-related questions or concerns.
Create Illustrator sketches; prepare specification sheets and line sheets; maintain accurate product development logs, line sheets, specification sheets, and NuORDER; maintain designs in the Product Lifecycle Management system and shared drives; and coordinate required SMS photography based on the submitted assortment.
Select and review raw materials and trims before sending them to the New York office.
Support counter-sourcing for styles entering bulk production, provide necessary comments, and identify issues before sending items to the New York office.
Ensure lab dips are approved before sending them to the New York office for Senior Designer review, maintaining consistency with color standards and licensor directives where appropriate.
Review prints and graphics where appropriate and provide comments before sending them to the New York office for Senior Designer sign-off.
Review proto, SMS, and PP samples before sending them to the New York office and provide fit comments for Senior Designer sign-off.
Manage SHO keep-set samples and their tracking list, maintaining the library for seasonal sample approvals and carryover styles.
Coordinate follow-up with internal partners and external vendors, including technical design, production, and vendors.
Manage SHO interoffice communication and coordinate among Merchandising, Design Operations, Product Development, and Production.
Build collaborative relationships with vendors and internal partners.

About Us

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets, and sells high-quality products in the kids, men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, beauty, and entertainment categories. The Company’s portfolio includes licenses for more than 100 iconic brands, including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Spyder, and Under Armour in the kid’s category; Joe’s Jeans, Buffalo, and Hervé Léger in the M E N’s and women’s apparel category; Kate Spade, Michael Kors, All Saints, Frye, Timberland, and Jessica Simpson in the accessories category; and in the entertainment category, Disney, Marvel, Nickelodeon, and Warner Brothers among many others. The Company also owns and operates brands such as Zac Posen, Hudson, Robert Graham, Avirex, and Taste Beauty and operates a joint venture brand, Favorite Daughter, with Sara and Erin Foster. The Company’s products are sold primarily in North America through leading mass-market retailers, specialty, and department stores, and online. Centric Brands LLC has unparalleled expertise in product design, development and sourcing, retail and digital commerce, marketing, and brand building. The Company is headquartered in New York City, with U.S. offices in Los Angeles and Greensboro, and international offices in London, Toronto, and Montreal and Asia. The company entered Asia in 2022 and has opened offices in more than 10 countries and cities.

Specific Responsibilities Would Include

DESCRIPTIONThe Soft Accessories Assistant Designer assists in the execution of the seasonal design development process, from concept to delivery, by creating and executing original, trend-appropriate design concepts that meet market needs and drive sales, ensuring the timely execution of each stage in the process. The Assistant Designer is responsible for assisting in building out collections inclusive of knit cold weather accessories, printed scarves, hats and leather gloves for licensed and private label brands.ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIESStrategy & Innovation Research and identify trend directions; perform competitive analysis; source and review fabrics, design concepts, presentation boards for meetings, mock-ups, color-ups, inspirational photosExecute development of initial seasonal design category in context of larger assortment and cost structureBecome expert in brand code/ limitation/ design language, knows ins and outs of what can be approved by the brandOperations & ResultsAssist in the design of seasonal collections according to style plans, sales needs and emerging trends; ensure timely execution of product development calendar; being able to visit or call vendor in real time for any design related questions or concernsCreate Illustrator sketches; execute specification sheets and line sheets; ensure accuracy of product development logs, line sheets, spec sheets and Nuorder; ensure maintenance of designs in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system and shared drives; coordinate SMS photography needed based on assortment submitted for the lineSelect and review raw materials and trims before sending to NYO; ensure maintenance of fabric and trim logsSupport counter sourcing efforts on any styles going into bulk production before sending to NYO, provide any comments needed and catch issues before sending Ensure approval of lab dips before sending to NYO for review by Senior Designer and ensure consistency with color standards and licensor directives, where appropriate; review prints and graphics where appropriate and advise comments before sending to NYO for sign off by Senior Designer; review all samples (proto, SMS and PP) ahead of sending to NYO and advise fit comments for sign off by Senior DesignerManage SHO keep set samples w/ tracking list- keeping library for seasonal sample approval process as well as all carryover styles.Customers & RelationshipsCoordinate follow-up with internal partners and external vendors, including technical design, production and vendors; manage SHO interoffice communication including coordination between Merchandising, Design Ops, Product Development and Production Build collaborative relationships with vendors and internal partnersContribute positively to team dynamic and manage up where necessary

Our Best Fit Candidate Would Have

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONSHigh taste level with a history in high end fashion brands and product. Great eye for color and meticulous eye for detail, handfeel, tension and construction.Superior organizational skills and excellent communication skills; team orientedAbility to multi-task and meet deadlines; highly detail oriented, meticulous and creativeCreativity, technical capability and sensibility for merchandising; ability to sketchStrong textile knowledge including knits, wovens and print designExtensive knowledge of garment construction, pattern making, silhouettes, color ways, sewing techniques, fabrication and trim; strong familiarity with manufacturingBachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design1-2 years experience in apparel, accessory or textile designHighly proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe products, PLM, CAD and Mac computers

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About the Company

Centric Brands

Designs and markets licensed apparel brands

Centric Brands coordinates design, development, sourcing, marketing, and distribution for a broad lineup of apparel, accessories, beauty, and entertainment products. It operates end-to-end from product creation to retail and digital commerce, offering licensed and owned brands across kids, men’s, and women’s categories through mass retailers, specialty stores, department stores, and online. The company differentiates itself with a large catalog of licensed names (e.g., Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Kate Spade, Disney, Marvel) plus owned labels and joint ventures, supported by global sourcing and brand-building expertise. Its goal is to help partners grow by delivering comprehensive brand-building and distribution capabilities while ensuring high-quality products and positive social impact in communities where it works.

Company size: 1,001-5,000
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: New York City, New York
Founded: 2018

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