Fashion Designer cum Merchandiser

Role: Fashion Designer cum Merchandiser

Department: Design & Development

Location: Chennai

Experience: 6–8 Years of relevant experience

Industry: Apparel / Fashion / Men's Wear

Job Summary

We are looking for a creative and detail-oriented Fashion Designer cum Merchandiser to

lead apparel design and product development while managing merchandising activities from

concept to production. The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in men's wear,

trend forecasting, garment construction, supplier coordination, and product execution. This

role requires close collaboration with Design, Sourcing, Merchandising, and Production

teams to ensure timely delivery of commercially successful collections.

Key Responsibilities

Fashion Design & Product Development

• Design and develop seasonal collections aligned with the brand's identity, market
  
  

trends, and business objectives.

• Conduct market research, trend forecasting, competitor analysis, and consumer
  
  

insights to develop innovative product concepts.

• Create mood boards, color palettes, silhouettes, and seasonal product stories.
• Develop detailed technical sketches, specifications, and tech packs for production.
• Coordinate sample development and oversee fittings, ensuring necessary design and
  
  

fit corrections are implemented.

• Ensure all products meet quality, aesthetic, and commercial standards.
  
  

Merchandising & Product Coordination

• Manage product development timelines from concept through sample approval.
• Coordinate with fabric, trim, accessory, and garment suppliers for timely
  
  

development.

• Monitor merchandising activities including costing support, sample tracking, and
  
  

approvals.

• Work closely with sourcing and production teams to ensure product feasibility and
  
  

timely execution.

• Follow up on development milestones and resolve issues related to product
  
  

execution.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with Design, Sourcing, Merchandising, Quality, and Production teams for
  
  

seamless execution.

• Maintain effective communication with vendors and internal stakeholders throughout
  
  

the product development cycle.

• Ensure all design documents and product information are accurately maintained.
  
  

Creative & Documentation

• Prepare professional presentations for seasonal collections and product reviews.
• Develop product descriptions, design notes, and merchandising documentation.
• Maintain organized records of styles, samples, approvals, and development status.
  
  

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of fashion design principles and men's wear product
  
  

development.

• Excellent knowledge of garment construction, pattern understanding, fabrics, trims,
  
  

washes, and manufacturing processes.

• Strong aesthetic sense with the ability to translate market trends into commercially
  
  

viable products.

• Good understanding of merchandising processes and product lifecycle management.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English.
• Strong organizational, coordination, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects within deadlines.
  
  

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor's Degree/Diploma in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Fashion Technology,
  
  

or a related discipline from NIFT or Pearl Academy.

Experience

• 6–8 years of experience in Fashion Design and Merchandising.
• Prior experience in Men's Wear/Apparel is highly preferred.
  
  

Technical Skills

• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop
• Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Knowledge of PLM/ERP systems will be an added advantage.
  
  

Skills: apparel,design,merchandising,fashion design