About YouYou are a hands-on, highly creative designer with a strong aesthetic sensibility and a clear understanding of how to translate a brand's identity and founder's vision into compelling, commercially relevant collections. You thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and can confidently manage multiple collections simultaneously without compromising quality or attention to detail. You bring decisiveness to fittings, clarity to factory communications, and a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to cross-functional partnerships. You are comfortable incorporating AI tools into your creative process while maintaining a discerning eye for design, quality, and brand consistency.
About the RoleThe Design Consultant will lead the end-to-end design and development of GWYN's four annual collections, managing overlapping seasonal calendars from initial concept through production approval. Working closely with the founder, creative leadership, and cross-functional partners, you will translate the brand's vision into cohesive, elevated collections that balance creativity, commercial appeal, and technical execution.
This role requires a hands-on designer who can move seamlessly between creative development and technical execution, drive decisions, maintain timelines, and oversee the day-to-day priorities of a Design Assistant.
Key Responsibilities- Lead the design and development of four annual collections, managing overlapping timelines from seasonal research and concept development through fittings and final production approval.
- Research seasonal trends and inspiration, developing moodboards, sketches, and design concepts for review with the founder and creative leadership.
- Own the development of detailed tech packs, coordinate material requests, and maintain direct communication with factories throughout the development process.
- Oversee the selection and approval of fabrics, colors, prints, trims, and hardware, including lab dips, strike-offs, and other material submissions.
- Lead weekly fittings with fit models, evaluating and approving garment fit, construction, materials, and design details from initial prototypes through top-of-production (TOP) samples.
- Facilitate prototype reviews with the founder and partner closely with Technical Design and Production to communicate feedback, resolve development challenges, and ensure timely execution.
- Oversee seasonal linesheets and collaborate with Merchandising on collection reviews, product presentations, and sales training.
- Partner with Creative and Ecommerce teams to provide accurate product fit and construction details and review campaign and ecommerce imagery, including AI-generated content, for accuracy and brand alignment.
- Provide direction and oversight to a Design Assistant, ensuring seamless coordination of daily design activities, deliverables, and development timelines.
Qualifications & Experience- 5+ years of experience in women's ready-to-wear design, with demonstrated ownership of full collections from concept through production.
- Strong technical understanding of garment construction, fit, fabrication, and product development.
- Proven experience creating detailed tech packs, collaborating directly with factories, preferably italian, and managing the sample development process.
- Extensive experience leading fit sessions with fit models and evaluating garments from initial prototypes through TOP approval.
- Strong illustration, sketching, and presentation skills, with proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple collections and competing priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Experience providing direction to junior design team members and collaborating effectively across creative and operational functions.
- Familiarity with AI-powered creative tools and the ability to critically evaluate AI-generated imagery for product accuracy and brand consistency.
- Experience within luxury or contemporary fashion brands is preferred.
FAQ- Compensation: Fees are set per project and depend on scope, timeline, experience, knowledge and skills.
