Leading the creative direction and product development for knits and sweaters while designing casual bottoms, denim, and outerwear is the core of this role. The position involves translating trends, customer insights, and brand strategy into commercially relevant product concepts. It suits a strategic leader with hands-on design expertise, partnering with various teams to deliver cohesive, high-quality sportswear collections.
Responsibilities
Establish seasonal strategy and creative direction across knits, sweaters, casual bottoms, denim, and outerwear in alignment with brand strategy, customer needs, business priorities, and financial objectives
Lead the knits and sweaters category while maintaining hands-on design ownership of bottoms, denim, and outerwear, defining category architecture, key items, color direction, yarns, gauges, washes, trims, and finishing details
Design and develop seasonal products from concept through final sample approval, including silhouettes, fits, proportions, construction, and styling; lead balanced assortments across core, seasonal, and fashion-focused products
Set and uphold standards for fit, handfeel, fabrication, quality, and construction; review and approve concepts, sketches, yarns, colors, lab dips, strike-offs, prototypes, and samples
Create and present design concepts that support cohesive seasonal product stories and a complete sportswear assortment
Partner with merchandising and planning to balance creative direction with assortment needs, pricing, margin, volume, and customer expectations
Lead vendor and cross-functional reviews, resolving issues related to design, fit, feasibility, costing, quality, and delivery; provide clear, actionable sample comments
Use market information, customer feedback, product performance, and post-season learnings to inform future category direction
Lead seasonal roadmapping, concept development, line reviews, quality reviews, pass-off meetings, and final approvals, with clear milestones and sign-off requirements
Manage multiple categories and timelines while prioritizing knits and sweaters; track open decisions, critical path items, and risks, escalating early when quality, cost, timing, or execution may be affected
Align product direction with merchandising and planning on assortment, pricing, volume, margin, and performance
Collaborate with sourcing, production, and vendors on feasibility, costing, lead times, and quality; work with technical design/quality teams to resolve fit, construction, and performance issues
Communicate design direction and decisions clearly; represent assigned categories in cross-functional meetings and build accountable partner relationships
Provide direction, prioritization, and category leadership for knits and sweaters; set clear expectations for deliverables, deadlines, and decision-making
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Coach and develop team members through regular product reviews and hands-on guidance; give timely, behavior-based feedback and promote collaboration and accountability
Balance creative ambition with cost, margin, quality, and delivery constraints; maintain accurate product and approval documentation
Support long-range category planning, vendor and assortment reviews; use performance data and post-season learnings to improve future decisions
Lead knits and sweaters with a clear creative and commercial point of view while maintaining strong hands-on design ownership of bottoms, denim, and outerwear
Make timely, clearly communicated decisions; hold teams and partners accountable to deliverables, deadlines, and quality standards
Address risks and unresolved decisions early and create alignment across categories for a cohesive sportswear assortment
Model preparation, sound judgment, collaboration, and high standards of product execution
Requirements
Bachelor's degree in fashion design, product development, merchandising, textiles, or a related field preferred
Significant experience in apparel design or product development, with demonstrated expertise in knits and sweaters and strong design experience in bottoms, denim, outerwear, or related categories
Strong understanding of apparel construction, fabrications, fit, quality, costing, and production processes
Experience leading a category while managing hands-on design responsibilities across multiple product areas; proven ability to manage multiple deadlines, priorities, and stakeholders simultaneously
Strong communication, presentation, organization, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
Ability to travel for vendor meetings, market research, product reviews, and development activities as required
Ability to sit and work at a computer keyboard for extended periods, and to stoop, kneel, bend, and reach daily
Able to lift and move up to 25 pounds occasionally; must utilize visual acuity, speech/hearing, and hand-eye coordination to operate a computer and office equipment
Benefits
Healthcare (medical, dental, vision)
Retirement savings (401k with company match)
Income protection (life, accident, disability insurance)
Paid time off (sick, vacation, bereavement, jury duty, holidays)
Wellbeing program
Commuter benefits
Adoption assistance
Education assistance
Legal services
Employee merchandise discounts
Meeting-Free Fridays (encouraged)
Summer Fridays (from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Holiday Early Departure (close out early the business day before a company-observed holiday)
Important Details
Schedule: 40 hours per week, as work dictates
About the Company
Tailored Brands is a leading omnichannel specialty retailer of menswear, including suits, formalwear and a broad selection of business casual offerings. The company aims to help its customers love the way they look and feel for their most important moments by delivering personalized products and services through a convenient network of stores and e-commerce sites. The company's brands include Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Moores and K&G Fashion. At Tailored Brands, the company values differences and works to make it a more diverse, equitable and inclusive place to work.
We are Tailored Brands – a leading omnichannel retailer.
Headquarters
530 7th Ave, 7th Floor, New York, NY, United States, 10018
