Fashion Designer

JOB TITLE: Fashion Designer

FUNCTIONAL AREA: Apparel Ethnic

REPORTS TO: Category Head

Position's Objective: Drive creative excellence by leading concept evolution, trend analysis, and design development, ensuring seamless collaboration with cross-functional teams. Spearhead efficient sampling, range development, and sourcing initiatives to deliver innovative, market-responsive fashion products.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Concept Evolution & Trend Analysis:
• To create concepts / Mood boards/ trend boards.
• Visit exhibitions, museums and events related to Fashion, Art and Design fairs/ Markets to keep up-to-date on the latest fabrics/ silhouettes and garment trends.
• Analysing trends in fabrics, colours and shapes- Through research/ internet/ in store surveys/ runways/ fashion weeks subscribing to channels/ magazines etc.
• Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, demography, competition and competitors.
• To educate the store staff about the product and creating presentations for the same.

Design Development :

• To Communicate with Category Heads and team and with MRH or both in order to discuss design requirements.
• Liaising closely with Sales, buying and Production teams on an ongoing basis to ensure the item suits the customer, market and price points
• Creating artworks / sketches by hand or on computers- Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or textiles, and write specifications such as techniques, colour schemes, construction, material types, accessory requirements and specific measurements required
• Analyse sell thru reports to identify hits and misses.
• Adapting existing designs for mass production
• Initial costing of the product.
• Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.

Sampling & Range Development:

• Planning and developing ranges
• Direct and coordinate with Pattern Masters involved in drawing and cutting patterns
• Develop range - overseeing sampling/ construction of samples or finished garment. Select materials and production friendly techniques to be used for products.
• Coordination with the vendors at different stages of sampling
• Cluster visits for product development for specific crafts
• Regular and Timely visits to vendors to check on samples under construction.
• Purchase competition samples for technique and design inspiration
• Review samples on models to secure good fits.
• Putting together range for product review meetings
• Managing and facilitating the sampling team for smoot flow of design process.
• Developing innovative process to aid the development of products.
• Editing and restyling the production Samples according to the challenges being faced by the production tem.
• Fast chase and plugin samples.

Sourcing :

• Sourcing suppliers for sampling keeping in view their viability for the production.
• Record new and potential material ideas
• Sourcing, selecting and buying fabrics, trims, fastenings and embellishments.
• Sourcing and developing prints and colourways
• Sourcing and developing Embroideries.

JOB SPECIFICATION: (QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE)

• Years of Functional Experience: 3 - 6 years of work experience as a Designer in a Retail or Apparel manufacturing Industry or Craft sector
• Degree/Diploma: B. Design/ Masters in Design/ Diploma NIFT/ NID

Knowledge & Skills:

• Fabindia Product Knowledge
• Visualising
• Ability to generate fresh ideas
• Creativity and Aesthetics
• Eye for Colour, Texture and Pattern
• Range creation with technical knowledge
• Pattern Cutting, Grading, Fits and Garment Construction for Fashion Designers
• Commercial acumen
• Negotiation Skills