Tai Apparel
Apparel Associate Designer
Tai Apparel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55400
TITLE:
ASSOCIATE DESIGNER
DETAILS:
MINNEAPOLIS, MNABOUT TAI APPAREL:Apparel manufacturer with US Sales and Design team based domestically and overseasSpecialize in knit and woven apparelUS Sales and Design team located in Minneapolis and LAUS Design and Sourcing team based in China driving a fast fashion speed to market business modelDesign team specializes in trend, fabric, technical spec/fit, sketches, fit approvals, CADs, graphics, art separations and art strike offs.SUMMARY OF POSITION:Support the product design by delivering ongoing CAD & product development to meet internal and external needs. Work alongside domestic and international design partners to manage tight deadlines and art turnarounds.Work alongside and support all needs of the designer and senior designer. Assist with AI + realist sketches, deck creation, and contribute to overall creative vision and bringing product to life.SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES:Passionate about the apparel industry & artPossesses a strong design aesthetic and eye for fashionAbility to deliver under tight deadlines and manage multiple departments needs at once.Has deep understanding of specific business needs and provides insight and ideas on how to create incremental business within each category.Knowledgeable in fashion and trendProficient on Mac platformsProficient on Adobe AI & PhotoshopQuick and eager to learnDriven to innovate and executeSelf-motivated with a collaborative attitudePositive, Drama-freeOperates well within feedback culture and strives to develop in rolePassionate about developing & driving product assortments that make sense and will sell thru to the customerHas design degree and/or 2-6 years experience in the fashion industryAbility to lead and manage assistant design / office management teamTECHNICAL ABILITY:CADProficient in Adobe Photoshop and IllustratorKnowledge of fabrics, washes/treatments and silhouettesWill be trained in PLM on the jobUnderstands garment construction and can help train assistant designer below with the knowledge they have.Can easily assess strike off submits, lab dips, fabric swatches and understand what is needed to be approved or not.RESPONSIBILITIES:Work alongside team to learn internal product design and development process.Assist in the MNPLS office 2-3 days a week as needed by Sr Designer; tasks include: sample management, fittings, color approvals, art approvals, fabric approvals, sample organization and shipping to buyersCan easily anticipate the next step in the design process (I.e. work with senior designer closely enough to understand life cycle of product). Always be one step ahead of what will be coming next.Maintain strong attention to detail and review presentations thoroughly before sending to senior designer and/or sales team.Collaborate, strategize + develop deck presentations.Task examples includes: realist sketches, color fill, layer fill, graphic placement, art boards.Develop and design trend right and compelling product to fit the needs and white space opportunities of the retailers we serve. Contribute ideas as a thought leader- speak up to senior designer when needed and give constructive feedback about why garments may or may not be workable. Feel empowered to challenge and question everything as we are working through best processes.Always solution focused - if a challenge arises, the ability to trouble shoot is a necessary function of the associate designer.Cross shares information across all departments effectively and clearly.Deliver CAD sketches + color + art + print & pattern fills under tight deadlines.Create shells in PLM as well as set up styles for Tech handovers.Understand PLM process as well as graphic applications and placements.Understand retailer private label brands and deliver aesthetic that fits within the brand DNA.Provide trend direction input when appropriate (example: making silhouette direction recommendations when necessary).Able to coach and develop the assistant design team on other design team members on key skills, such as CAD development.Regularly comp shopping + contributing thought-provoking ideas to the design team. Always staying ahead of the trend curve.Maintain flexible working hours that account for calls across various time zones.STRATEGY FOCUSED :Research and provide trend insight from the market to architect a product strategy/assortment.Identify key item/white space/emerging trends with regards to silhouettes, fabric, color, techniques and trims to ensure product is consistently relevant and evolving with the market through trend shopping, online research (WGSN), etc.Ability to translate pre-peak trends to mid-tier/mass retailersConstantly brainstorming newness, in partnership with design.Regularly pull art inspiration for graphic artists.DEVELOP :Develop product, in partnership with development designer based on market trends/retailer needs & white space.Comp Shop the market, online, Instagram, WGSN - finding inspiration everywhereSample Handoff (ideal woven/dress experience)Co-create sample requests/needs/ideas for upcoming meetings, ensuring samples tie back to presentations.Partner with overseas designer and US development designersThought leadership with regards to developing elevated product a retailer can afford given IMU goals.Identify fabric backups and cost options.Partner with technical designers on new silhouettes/technical packets for sample development and/or potential bulk buys.Manage sample ETA's vs due datesDevelop CAD presentations for upcoming meetings.Create PresentationsTrend Pages & InspirationSilhouette, color/print and pattern/graphic directionPartner with Design Assistant to assign style numbers for all new silhouettes.Direct/guide Designers on filling CADs.Provide FeedbackPartner with Art Team to drive graphic requestsPartner with Trend Team to create compelling trend boardsPRESENTATION:Assist Designer in organizing, prepare, pack apparel line for upcoming meeting. Time management skillsAssist Designer/Merchandiser in presenting apparel concept and product lines (via CADS & samples) to various retailersPOST MEETING:Assist sales with follow up meeting/narrowed CAD decks for retailersCommunicate design meeting follow-up/ changes to internal and external groups (US design, overseas team, sales, merchants, TD team, as needed)Own design/art follow-ups post retailer meetings.Responsible for prioritizing needs for design team in partnership with sales team to ensure prompt response.Help drive urgent/one off chase requestsPRODUCTIONAssist with the following, as necessary:Preferred and Back-Up Fabric recommendationsFit sessions & comments (in partnership with the TD Team)Approval process alongside DesignNEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTPartner with Sales Team to drive new/incremental business opportunitiesSimultaneously manage current accounts while ensuring focus on what is going to drive the most business.MISCFlexible work hours due to conference calls overseas, teams chats.Positive attitude and always looking to work smarter, not harderBe open to new ways of doing things - different - better - more efficient
ASSOCIATE DESIGNER
DETAILS:
MINNEAPOLIS, MNABOUT TAI APPAREL:Apparel manufacturer with US Sales and Design team based domestically and overseasSpecialize in knit and woven apparelUS Sales and Design team located in Minneapolis and LAUS Design and Sourcing team based in China driving a fast fashion speed to market business modelDesign team specializes in trend, fabric, technical spec/fit, sketches, fit approvals, CADs, graphics, art separations and art strike offs.SUMMARY OF POSITION:Support the product design by delivering ongoing CAD & product development to meet internal and external needs. Work alongside domestic and international design partners to manage tight deadlines and art turnarounds.Work alongside and support all needs of the designer and senior designer. Assist with AI + realist sketches, deck creation, and contribute to overall creative vision and bringing product to life.SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES:Passionate about the apparel industry & artPossesses a strong design aesthetic and eye for fashionAbility to deliver under tight deadlines and manage multiple departments needs at once.Has deep understanding of specific business needs and provides insight and ideas on how to create incremental business within each category.Knowledgeable in fashion and trendProficient on Mac platformsProficient on Adobe AI & PhotoshopQuick and eager to learnDriven to innovate and executeSelf-motivated with a collaborative attitudePositive, Drama-freeOperates well within feedback culture and strives to develop in rolePassionate about developing & driving product assortments that make sense and will sell thru to the customerHas design degree and/or 2-6 years experience in the fashion industryAbility to lead and manage assistant design / office management teamTECHNICAL ABILITY:CADProficient in Adobe Photoshop and IllustratorKnowledge of fabrics, washes/treatments and silhouettesWill be trained in PLM on the jobUnderstands garment construction and can help train assistant designer below with the knowledge they have.Can easily assess strike off submits, lab dips, fabric swatches and understand what is needed to be approved or not.RESPONSIBILITIES:Work alongside team to learn internal product design and development process.Assist in the MNPLS office 2-3 days a week as needed by Sr Designer; tasks include: sample management, fittings, color approvals, art approvals, fabric approvals, sample organization and shipping to buyersCan easily anticipate the next step in the design process (I.e. work with senior designer closely enough to understand life cycle of product). Always be one step ahead of what will be coming next.Maintain strong attention to detail and review presentations thoroughly before sending to senior designer and/or sales team.Collaborate, strategize + develop deck presentations.Task examples includes: realist sketches, color fill, layer fill, graphic placement, art boards.Develop and design trend right and compelling product to fit the needs and white space opportunities of the retailers we serve. Contribute ideas as a thought leader- speak up to senior designer when needed and give constructive feedback about why garments may or may not be workable. Feel empowered to challenge and question everything as we are working through best processes.Always solution focused - if a challenge arises, the ability to trouble shoot is a necessary function of the associate designer.Cross shares information across all departments effectively and clearly.Deliver CAD sketches + color + art + print & pattern fills under tight deadlines.Create shells in PLM as well as set up styles for Tech handovers.Understand PLM process as well as graphic applications and placements.Understand retailer private label brands and deliver aesthetic that fits within the brand DNA.Provide trend direction input when appropriate (example: making silhouette direction recommendations when necessary).Able to coach and develop the assistant design team on other design team members on key skills, such as CAD development.Regularly comp shopping + contributing thought-provoking ideas to the design team. Always staying ahead of the trend curve.Maintain flexible working hours that account for calls across various time zones.STRATEGY FOCUSED :Research and provide trend insight from the market to architect a product strategy/assortment.Identify key item/white space/emerging trends with regards to silhouettes, fabric, color, techniques and trims to ensure product is consistently relevant and evolving with the market through trend shopping, online research (WGSN), etc.Ability to translate pre-peak trends to mid-tier/mass retailersConstantly brainstorming newness, in partnership with design.Regularly pull art inspiration for graphic artists.DEVELOP :Develop product, in partnership with development designer based on market trends/retailer needs & white space.Comp Shop the market, online, Instagram, WGSN - finding inspiration everywhereSample Handoff (ideal woven/dress experience)Co-create sample requests/needs/ideas for upcoming meetings, ensuring samples tie back to presentations.Partner with overseas designer and US development designersThought leadership with regards to developing elevated product a retailer can afford given IMU goals.Identify fabric backups and cost options.Partner with technical designers on new silhouettes/technical packets for sample development and/or potential bulk buys.Manage sample ETA's vs due datesDevelop CAD presentations for upcoming meetings.Create PresentationsTrend Pages & InspirationSilhouette, color/print and pattern/graphic directionPartner with Design Assistant to assign style numbers for all new silhouettes.Direct/guide Designers on filling CADs.Provide FeedbackPartner with Art Team to drive graphic requestsPartner with Trend Team to create compelling trend boardsPRESENTATION:Assist Designer in organizing, prepare, pack apparel line for upcoming meeting. Time management skillsAssist Designer/Merchandiser in presenting apparel concept and product lines (via CADS & samples) to various retailersPOST MEETING:Assist sales with follow up meeting/narrowed CAD decks for retailersCommunicate design meeting follow-up/ changes to internal and external groups (US design, overseas team, sales, merchants, TD team, as needed)Own design/art follow-ups post retailer meetings.Responsible for prioritizing needs for design team in partnership with sales team to ensure prompt response.Help drive urgent/one off chase requestsPRODUCTIONAssist with the following, as necessary:Preferred and Back-Up Fabric recommendationsFit sessions & comments (in partnership with the TD Team)Approval process alongside DesignNEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTPartner with Sales Team to drive new/incremental business opportunitiesSimultaneously manage current accounts while ensuring focus on what is going to drive the most business.MISCFlexible work hours due to conference calls overseas, teams chats.Positive attitude and always looking to work smarter, not harderBe open to new ways of doing things - different - better - more efficient