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KnitWell Group

KnitWell Group

Operates multiple apparel brands nationwide

Art Director

Full-Time
No salary listed
Senior
Bachelor's
Fort Myers, FL, USA
In Person

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree or equivalent education and work history is required.
  • At least 5 years of on-set photo art direction experience is required.
  • At least 3 years of experience in a creative management role is required.
  • A strong portfolio demonstrating on-set art direction, mood boarding, and creative concept development through execution is required.
  • Ability to develop and execute omnichannel campaigns is required.
  • Ability to develop and adhere to strict brand style guides, design systems, and pattern libraries is required.
  • Experience managing multiple complex creative projects and adapting to changing business needs is required.
  • Experience concepting and designing with a hands-on approach is required.
  • Working understanding of CSS, HTML5, and JavaScript, along with knowledge of best practices and the development process, is required.
  • Experience designing and leading typography and using Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, with the ability to work within Figma to create a collaborative workflow, is required.
  • Experience with multichannel campaign development is required.
  • Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment with a variety of people and personalities is required.
  • Strong relationship-building skills, the ability to coach other designers, and a record of successful cross-team collaboration are required.
  • A deep understanding of the creative landscape and new digital technologies is required.
Responsibilities
  • Manage the creative process from concept to completion for assigned seasonal campaigns, working with creative leaders to develop concepts, align on shoot execution, and manage assets according to brand standards.
  • Develop seasonal marketing concepts, initial creative visuals, and campaign photography for all sales channels.
  • Lead, develop, and execute photography and video assets that meet brand objectives and maintain brand integrity across all channels.
  • Translate marketing objectives into clear creative strategies in partnership with the creative leader.
  • Lead and manage brand and campaign photo retouching and cataloging.
  • Partner with the copy team to align copy and art and deliver product and brand stories; create an asset roadmap to guide the team in building go-to-market creative after asset delivery.
  • Ensure brand individuality and standards are maintained across all marketing channels.
  • Leverage customer data to drive decisions in partnership with customer analytics and marketing.
  • Adhere to production schedules, PLC timelines, and deliverables while helping manage the team's priorities and time.
  • Stay current on fashion, style, design, popular culture, and social trends in the competitive landscape.
  • Share best practices with design team members to foster strong design skills and creative practices.
  • Plan and direct photo shoots, including pre- and post-production, and partner with producers to identify talent and vendors and develop a brand-appropriate model roster.
  • Develop graphics and layouts for marketing channels and collateral as needed.
Desired Qualifications
  • Vertical retail, fashion, luxury, or beauty industry experience is strongly preferred.
  • Curiosity about and willingness to learn the women's intimate apparel landscape, the WHBM brand, and the needs of existing and potential customers.

About the company

KnitWell Group unites several well-known women’s fashion brands—Ann Taylor, Chico’s, Lane Bryant, LOFT, Soma, Talbots, and White House Black Market—into a large specialty apparel company in the United States with around $6 billion in annual sales. Its products are women’s clothing and accessories sold under these brands through stores and online, spanning a mix of styles and sizes across its portfolio. The company differentiates itself by operating a broad brand family rather than a single label, offering multiple price tiers and fit options through its brands to serve a wide range of customers, and leveraging both mall-based and e-commerce channels for omnichannel shopping. KnitWell Group’s goal is to provide accessible, brand-led fashion across its network of labels and stores, growing its market share in the specialty apparel segment.

Company Size

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Company Stage

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Total Funding

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Headquarters

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Founded

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • KnitWell added Sarah Evans as CHRO on March 24, 2026, sharpening retention and culture execution.
  • The company still serves 21 million customers, giving it a large cross-brand loyalty base.
  • June 2026 board additions and ongoing lease non-renewals show active portfolio optimization, not disorder.

What critics are saying

  • Selective 2026 closures at LOFT, Ann Taylor, Chico's, and Talbots signal shrinking store productivity.
  • Revelio Labs showed KnitWell headcount down 2.2% in 2026, implying operating leverage pressure.
  • If mall traffic weakens further, Sycamore could force deeper cuts and brand consolidation by 2027.

What makes KnitWell Group unique

  • Sycamore-backed KnitWell runs eight women’s brands across 3,000 stores, spanning ages and price points.
  • Lizanne Kindler, Boston Fed chair in 2026, gives KnitWell unusual merchant discipline and network access.
  • Jessica Sibley joined the board June 23, 2026, strengthening brand, media, and customer-growth expertise.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Hybrid Work Options

Remote Work Options

Company News

PR Newswire
Jun 23rd, 2026
TIME CEO Jessica Sibley joins KnitWell Group board of directors

KnitWell Group has appointed Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME, to its board of directors. Sibley brings over two decades of experience in brand transformation and growth across global media organisations. As TIME's CEO since 2022, Sibley has led the 103-year-old brand's evolution into a diversified global enterprise spanning journalism, digital media, live events and television production. She previously served as chief operating officer and chief revenue officer at Forbes, and held senior roles at The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. KnitWell Group operates eight American apparel brands including Ann Taylor, Chico's, LOFT and Talbots, serving over 21 million customers. The company is backed by private equity firm Sycamore Partners.

PR Newswire
Mar 24th, 2026
Sarah Evans named chief human resources officer at KnitWell Group

KnitWell Group, a specialty retail apparel company with eight American brands, has appointed Sarah Evans as chief human resources officer. Evans will lead human resources across KnitWell's portfolio, which includes Ann Taylor, Chico's, Lane Bryant, LOFT and Talbots, whilst overseeing corporate communications, belonging and philanthropy. Evans brings extensive experience from large, multi-channel businesses. Most recently, she served as chief human resources officer at Ocean Spray, leading global human resources and corporate communications. Previously, she held senior HR roles at Terminix and Walmart, supporting workforces ranging from 4,000 to over two million employees worldwide. KnitWell Group serves more than 21 million customers nationwide and operates as one of the largest speciality apparel companies in the United States.

First for Women
Mar 8th, 2025
See Ann Taylor's New Look: A Rebrand That's Still Classic, Chic and Made for Women of All Generations

Then, in 2015, Ann Inc. was acquired by Ascena Retail Group for $2.16 billion.