Footwear Designer
About the job
- At least 2 years of footwear design experience in fashion, lifestyle, or athletic categories.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and familiarity with 3D tools.
- A strong portfolio showing range across casual, fashion, and/or performance footwear.
- Deep knowledge of footwear construction, lasts, materials, and manufacturing processes.
- Experience working with overseas factories and a clear understanding of costing and production timelines.
- Strong hand-sketching skills and the ability to present ideas and take direction.
- Design men's and women's footwear across multiple brands.
- Contribute throughout the production process, from initial concept through final sample approval, aligning with brand DNA and merchandising direction.
- Create detailed tech packs including material callouts, colorways, construction notes, and measurements.
- Own the process from first proto through TOP approval, ensuring consistency and alignment with brand standards.
- Document feedback clearly and issue detailed, production-ready corrections to factories.
- Ensure timely sample turnaround by anticipating production risks and communicating daily with factories.
- Partner cross-functionally with Design and Production to balance aesthetic intent with manufacturability and cost efficiency.
- Manage multiple projects against the seasonal calendar and keep deliverables on track.
- Maintain organized, up-to-date technical files to support seamless development-to-bulk transitions.
About the company
DNAM Brands designs, manufactures, and distributes apparel and accessories for men, women, and children, including private-label programs and a broad portfolio of licensed brands. It runs in-house design, product development, sampling, and production, plus licensing program management, with a global logistics network that handles inventory, shipping, and delivery to retailers and consumers. Its vertical integration and its mix of over 20 licenses, along with 15 international distributors and a direct-to-consumer arm, help it control quality and speed from concept to delivery. Its goal is to connect fashion labels to a worldwide retail network through end-to-end brand building, manufacturing, and distribution that supports scalable growth and consistent quality.
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
- DNAM updated its site on May 3, 2026, signaling active commercial operations.
- July 2026 postings show continued product development and e-commerce investment.
- Von Dutch Ranch launch momentum supports near-term merchandising and wholesale sell-in.
What critics are saying
- Inactive July 2026 roles suggest hiring instability and slower execution across e-commerce teams.
- A 2013 DNAM licensing fight with Lindsay Lohan shows license-friction and royalty exposure.
- Fashion licensing is fragile; losing Von Dutch or Ed Hardy would cut leverage quickly.
What makes DNAM Brands unique
- DNAM Brands runs design, manufacturing, sampling, and distribution in-house across three continents.
- It controls over 20 licenses, including Von Dutch, Ed Hardy, and Kendall + Kylie.
- Its private-label plus licensing model reaches wholesale, DTC, and international distributors.
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