Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design or related field preferred
9+ years of apparel design experience, specifically in women's dresses
Extensive knowledge of dress design, including silhouettes and dressmaking techniques
Proven ability to lead and mentor design teams
Demonstrated experience in building successful dress assortments
Strong understanding of apparel development processes from concept to production
Exceptional communication skills to influence stakeholders
Responsibilities
Lead the design vision for A&F Women's Dresses, creating assortments that resonate with customers
Drive seasonal product strategy and execution for the Dresses category
Leverage expertise in dress design to enhance product quality
Oversee the end-to-end design process in collaboration with cross-functional teams
Develop and mentor a high-performing design team
Identify growth opportunities through market analysis and customer feedback
Maintain awareness of global fashion trends while ensuring brand authenticity
Champion innovation in product design to differentiate the brand
Benefits
Collaborative work environment fostering ownership and creativity
Opportunities for mentorship and career development
Access to market analysis and trend insights
Engagement with senior leadership in presenting product strategies
Focus on innovation in design and product development
Full Job Description
Job Description:
Design Director, A&F Women's Dresses
Our Design team is the driving force behind our brand's commitment to beautiful, authentic designs and quality materials and construction. Designers manage the full design and development process, from concept to flat sketch, from initial sample to final garment. We value originality, product excellence, and a deep understanding of our customer. Our leaders inspire teams to create compelling assortments that strengthen the brand, drive business results, and deliver product that resonates with our customer. We've created a unique environment that fosters both ownership and collaboration across design teams working toward the cohesive vision of our brands.
What Will You Be Doing?
Lead the design vision and product direction for the A&F Women's Dresses business, creating assortments that reflect the brand aesthetic and resonate with our customer.
Drive seasonal product strategy and execution across the Dresses category, ensuring a balanced assortment that delivers against customer, trend, and business needs.
Leverage deep expertise in dress design, silhouette development, fabrication, fit, and construction to elevate product quality and execution.
Oversee the end-to-end design process, partnering closely with Merchandising, Technical Design, and Sourcing teams to bring product concepts to market.
Lead and develop a team of designers, fostering a high-performing, collaborative environment while providing mentorship and career development.
Identify opportunities to grow and evolve the Dresses assortment through market analysis, competitive research, trend insights, and customer feedback.
Maintain a strong understanding of the global market and emerging fashion trends while ensuring all product remains authentic to the A&F brand handwriting.
Champion innovation in product design, fabrication, construction, and outfitting to create compelling products that differentiate the brand in the marketplace.
Present seasonal concepts, product strategies, and assortment recommendations to senior leadership with confidence and clarity.
What Do You Need to Bring?
Education & Experience: Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design or related field preferred; 9+ years of apparel design experience with significant experience designing women's dresses.
Category Expertise: Extensive knowledge of women's dress design, including silhouettes, dressmaking techniques, fabrication, fit, construction, embellishment, and garment engineering.
Leadership: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop a team of design professionals.
Product Vision: Demonstrated experience building and evolving successful dresses assortments that deliver against customer and business objectives.
Technical Expertise: Strong understanding of apparel development processes from concept through production.
Trend & Market Knowledge: Deep understanding of the contemporary fashion landscape, competitive market, and emerging trends within women's dresses.
Customer Focus: Strong ability to translate customer insights into commercially successful product.
Influence: Exceptional communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence cross-functional and executive stakeholders.
Collaboration: Ability to build strong partnerships across Merchandising, Planning, Technical Design and Sourcing teams.
Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-paced environment while effectively managing multiple priorities and evolving business needs.
Passion for Product: Strong eye for fashion, trend, outfitting, and detail with a passion for creating exceptional product for the A&F customer.
About Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch is an American lifestyle retailer that focuses on casual wear. Its headquarters are in New Albany, Ohio. The company operates two other offshoot brands: Abercrombie Kids and Hollister Co. The company operates 854 stores across all brands.
