Design Director Intimates

Role Summary

Free People is seeking a Design Director - Intimates to lead the creative vision & development process of design projects supporting the Free People Intimates category across different trends, sensibilities, and price points while leading and mentoring the intimate’s design team. This role oversees design direction of the seasonal and monthly assortment and works to build, improve, and elevate brand identity across all of intimates categories. 

The Free People Intimates category touches several classes including Lounge, Camis, Slips, Bodysuits Foundations, Lingerie, Bras and Undies. A successful candidate will demonstrate strong understanding and experience in Intimates categories across all classes and designs and know how to interpret different trends across different sensibilities specifically for the Intimately department though the lens of Free People’s brand DNA. The Design Director provides a strong vision for pushing fashion and innovation within new shapes, details as well as have a strong point of view on fabric, details, prints and embellishment/craft techniques for all of Intimates product.

The Free People Design Director Intimates is passionate about lingerie, fashion and trends and is all about pushing newness and product elevation to constantly bring unique designs ideas. This position will lead a robust team with a focus on setting seasonal trend direction, conducting market research, and collaborating with other departments to deliver successful monthly Intimately collections.

Role Responsibilities

• The Design Director Intimates will lead the design creation, development, and execution of own brand product appropriate for Free People customer with a focus on bringing in newness, strong fashion and trend point of view with fashion forward shapes and innovation fabrics that is appropriate for the Intimately product range.
• Demonstrate strong initiative and point of view on design/trend research and staying up to date with industry trend direction, color direction, and fabric innovations that can relate to the Free People target customer
• Identify and translates global emerging trends across concept/fabrics/prints and unique details.
• Conceptualize and lead the development of original ideas as well as creates newness and presents Seasonal Fabric Trend presentations to inspire the team to present monthly designs in key design meetings.
• Provide Leadership in the design process & creation for all of Intimates, responsible for overseeing the entire design workflow, from conceptualization to production, ensuring each collection aligns with the brand identity as well as setting overall trend direction for each delivery.
• Demonstrate the ability to recognize and accurately forecast fashion and cultural trends and understand how they relate to the Free People customer as well as align with overall business strategy and sales goals.
• Identifies areas of opportunities across Foundations and wider Intimates categories to constantly elevate and test new ideas and push the category forward.
• Partner closely with the Global Head of Desing & Textile Teams to identify opportunities in sourcing and identify key fabrications seasonally.
• Develop seasonal product with a focus on style, fit and fabric, while identifying key trends in Bra’s & Undies to push newness to go after that will continue to help build the foundations business.
• Creative Contribution to the design process could include sketching new ideas with the help of AI, procreate and/or Adobe programs (Illustrator, Photoshop), researching new trends and ideas as well as utilizing ai platforms to increase creative research (such as Midjourney, PromeAi, etc.)
• Collaborate with Design team and cross functional leadership teams to ensure outstanding design execution while meeting business objectives. Partner with Executive Leadership on seasonal inspiration, concept direction and trend. 
• Work closely with other category Design Directors to cross pollinate ideas, outfitting, assortment balance and maintain seasonal design direction. 
• Inspire and guide direct reports as well as rest of design team on Intimates to develop innovative and cohesive collections, providing feedback, direction, and mentorship to foster their growth and creativity.

Role Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design, Contour or Intimates related focus of study strongly preferred
• 15+ years minimum Design experience with a focus in Bras/Innovation and/or Intimates Design strongly preferred
• Experience managing a minimum of 8+ team members strongly preferred
• Outstanding level of taste evidenced in professional design portfolio.
• Demonstrated understanding of retail industry and ability to identify intimates product opportunities and offer innovative design solutions appropriate to the Free People customer
• Expertise in Intimates categories including Underwire/Foundation background:
  • Deep knowledge and expertise in Intimates specific materials as well as great understanding of Foundation process development timeline and execution. Full comprehension and understanding of underwire foundation construction, fit, materials and manufacturing processes
  • Experience in Research and Development with a clear understanding of future technologies and trends in Foundations and underwear.
  • Expert knowledge of bra garments construction, laces, trims and washes. When needed be able to mock full garments from patterns, inspiration or draping on a form that can be modeled in presentations.
  • Passion for prints and color, candidate must have the ability to translate and innovate new ways to express seasonal print & pattern direction that feels new and fresh to Intimates.
  • Expert-level technical knowledge of foundation construction (Underwire and soft bras, underwear)
  • Extensive knowledge of intimates manufacturing techniques and processes.
• Creative & Trend Vision: Creativity is a must! Having a strength in pushing new ideas, silhouettes, and design concepts. Exceptional knowledge of relevant culture, trends, and Intimates relative to the Free People Intimately customer.
  • Demonstrate the vision to identify trends in their early stages and understand their impact to fashion and most importantly to the Free People Brand (Understanding the translation to color, laces, prints embellishment & craft), so we can be one step ahead for the aspirational customer.
  • Demonstrate the vision to identify trends in their early stages and understand their impact to fashion intimates (while protecting the core range and volume growth), so we can be one step ahead for the aspirational customer.
  • Ability to research and report on industry trend direction, color/print direction, and fabric innovations approximately 9-12 months ahead of season.
  • Ability and desire to take a hands-on approach : creating actual mocks/ sketches, creating physical trend and fabric boards and/or new embellishment techniques and details
  • Expertise in taking aspirational ideas, focusing on the key details and making them work for a broader audience.
  • Excellent hand sketching and CAD skills in Procreate, Photoshop, Illustrator
  • Ai knowledge/experience would be a plus!
• Mentoring & Team:
  • Function as a leader, mentor and manager for the design team. Lead, inspire and guide the Intimates design team to do their best work yet. Inspire, mentor and provide guidance, feedback, and fostering a collaborative and innovative design environment within a team of creatives.
  • Advocate for the team’s creative ideas and supporting them in understanding any new knowledge (i.e. fabric knowledge, silhouette challenges, color challenges, buzz words).
  • Provide creative and trend direction and oversee the execution of design concepts, ensuring they meet project objectives and resonate with the Free People Intimately customer.
• Soft Skills:
  • Ability to articulate ideas clearly and inspire.
  • Strong sense of organizational skills as well as passionate of fast speed environment.
  • Thrive in a fast-paced environment, passion for pushing new ideas, concepts as well as responding to business objectives with creative and innovative designs to move the category forward.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate and communicate ideas clearly and inspirations to others and to interact with Designers, Buyers and other Cross Functional partners.
  • Proactive & collaborative attitude with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams is key at Free People
• Travel: Yes occasionally.
• Location: On-site/ 3-5 days a week Philadelphia, PA. Willing to relocate and reside in or within a commutable distance to Philadelphia, PA

The Perks

URBN offers comprehensive Perks & Benefits to employees. Availability and eligibility to specific benefits may be subject to your location and employment status. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, generous employee discounts, retirement savings and much more! For additional information visit www.urbn.com/work-with-us/benefits

EEO Statement

URBN celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti-harassment training to managers and employees.