Design trend-led knitwear collections for some of the world's biggest licensed brands across high street and online retail. This is a hybrid role, based in Leicester.
THE COMPANY
Our client is one of Europe's largest suppliers of licensed apparel and accessories, partnering with leading high street and online retailers across the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
THE ROLE
As Licensed Knitwear Designer, you will design and develop commercial, trend-led knitwear collections across womenswear, menswear, childrenswear and babywear. Working within an established specialist team, you will combine technical expertise with creative design, translating licensed artwork and seasonal trends into commercially successful knitted products.
Key responsibilities:
- Research seasonal trends, colours, yarns, silhouettes and market developments to create fresh knitwear concepts.
- Design and develop commercial knitwear collections across multiple apparel categories.
- Adapt and manipulate licensed graphics and character artwork for knitted production, maintaining brand integrity and technical suitability.
- Apply technical knowledge of stitch structures, yarns, gauges, knitting techniques and machine capabilities.
- Create mood boards, design concepts, CADs and customer presentations.
- Present seasonal ranges and creative concepts to customers, explaining design direction and commercial opportunities.
- Work closely with factories and suppliers on technical development, sampling and production approvals.
- Manage designs from initial concept through to sampling and pre-production approval, collaborating with account managers and internal teams.
- Manage multiple customer briefs and seasonal deadlines, ensuring designs are commercially viable and production-ready.
THE PERSON
You should have proven experience in knitwear design at Midweight or Senior level, with a strong portfolio demonstrating technical knitwear expertise, creativity and commercially successful collections across one or more apparel categories.
A thorough understanding of knitwear construction, stitch structures, yarns, gauges and manufacturing processes is essential. You should confidently translate creative concepts and graphics into technically achievable knitted products, with excellent Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop skills.
Experience working with licensed brands, character artwork or graphic-led knitwear would be highly advantageous. You should have strong trend awareness, commercial understanding and experience working with factories and suppliers throughout product development. Confident presenting to customers and managing multiple briefs, you will be a collaborative, proactive knitwear specialist with a genuine passion for the product.
WHAT TO EXPECT
- Searchlight only advertises active roles
- Your details will be sent directly to the Consultant who is handling this role
- We aim to respond to candidates within 14 days.
If this role isn’t quite right, but you would like us to have your CV on file, please send it to sroffice@searchlight.global.
Searchlight strives to promote equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
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