Technical Designer

Overview

Essense of Australia is an international bridal wholesaler with key offices based in Lenexa, Kansas, Perth, Australia, and Zug, Switzerland. Our organization also operates in the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, and New Zealand. We have been a global leader in bridal fashion for over 20 years and our designs are currently sold in nearly 1,000 stores worldwide. With innovative designs and a strong customer service approach, Essense of Australia is a dynamic company that rewards excellence, drive, and collaboration. 

The Role 

Every gown that reaches a bride starts with the details—fit, construction, fabric, and quality—getting them right. If you have a sharp eye for garment construction, enjoy solving technical problems, and thrive working with international design and factory teams, we want to meet you. 

As a Garment Technician on the US Collections team, you'll deliver accurate garment fit, construction, fabric, and quality assessments for our collections, ensuring every style is manufactured to design and company standards. You'll liaise daily with our Design Development and Sampling teams, as well as international factories, providing fit recommendations, technical direction, and hands-on quality expertise across the garment life cycle.  

Internally, this role is known as a Garment Technician. 

This role requires international travel to factory locations, (up to 4 times per year) estimated at approximately 10% of working time.  

*This role works onsite Monday – Friday*  

Responsibilities

What You'll Do 

• Lead the detailed on-body review of garments throughout the approval process, confirming that requested design changes have been correctly represented. 

• Develop technical packages, including specs, fit comments, pattern correction sketches, grading rules, and fabric and trim requirements. 

• Conduct technical inspections of sample garments and communicate clear, detailed instructions to manufacturers and other stakeholders. 

• Analyze style instructions and sampling comments to independently determine and communicate technical construction and fabrication decisions. 

• Provide technical knowledge and support throughout the garment life cycle to ensure garment quality and consumer satisfaction. 

• Travel internationally to factory locations (up to 4 times per year) to execute technical development and quality control checks on new collections. 

• Partner with international Product Operations and factory teams to finalize samples and technical packages for production. 

• Review bulk production runs to confirm quality, construction, and fabric standards are met before shipment. 

• Guide the Alterations team in sample research and development and process complex gown changes with clear factory instruction. 

• Lead Showroom Mannequin presentation, owning accurate visual representation of gowns for selling events. 

• Support photoshoots as assigned and verify sample accuracy ahead of Line Reviews and other events. 

• Communicate with factories on technical and production matters and manage and document samples and the product line. 

• Contribute technical knowledge to process improvements, quality control inspections, and reporting. 

• Monitor and maintain fit, construction, and workmanship standards, ensuring consistency across all factories. 

• Analyze, negotiate, and maintain factory costings. 

Qualifications

What We Are Looking For 

• Bachelor's degree in Apparel, Fashion, or a related field required. 

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in technical design or equivalent required. 

• Extensive understanding of garment construction, including sewing, pattern making, and grading, with the ability to create and amend garment specs to achieve the “perfect fit”. 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey quality standards and expectations to offshore manufacturers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams. 

• Ability to weigh technical data, garment construction knowledge, and fabrication expertise to make sound, well-balanced decisions independently. 

• Strong working knowledge of garment sampling and production workflows. 

• Strong customer service orientation, with a patient, professional demeanor even under pressure. 

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively via email and video call with international manufacturers, suppliers, and company offices. 

• Strong time management skills, with the discipline to consistently meet company deadlines 

• Familiarity with PLM software preferred (Centric). 

• Excellent numerical skills and attention to detail, with strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel. 

• Ability to develop and analyze garment pricing. 

• Detail-oriented and process-driven, with a strong work ethic and consistently positive attitude 

• High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator. 

• Flexibility to assist with tasks outside of standard work hours. 

• Ability to travel internationally to factory locations, as needed. 

• Willingness to learn and thoughtfully apply AI and other emerging tools to enhance efficiency, problem-solving, and process improvement.  

• Ability to regularly lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds. On occasion, may be required to lift and/or carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.  

• Required to reach above head height to work on samples.  

• At times, required to stand for extended periods and to lift dresses on and off mannequins and models. 

What We Offer 

Essense of Australia is a company with heart. We value creativity, innovation, and dedication, and we’re looking for someone who shares our passion for delivering exceptional bridal fashion to brides and partners alike. In return for your skills, we offer you the opportunity to join an international industry leader and be part of a creative and collaborative culture that empowers its people, promotes teamwork, and embraces sustainability. We recognize and reward excellence, innovation, and loyalty. As such, we provide competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package. If you have the skills, spark, and drive to help us further our growth, please go to https://www.essensedesigns.com/careers/ and follow the prompts to submit your cover letter addressing the above criteria along with a resume and salary expectations. 

Join Essense of Australia and be part of a passionate team dedicated to helping brides around the world find their dream wedding gowns. If you're ready to make an impact and drive success in a global bridal fashion powerhouse, apply now and let's shape the future of bridal together!