Freelance Sr. Denim Designer

Freelance Senior Denim DesignerThe Senior Designer, Denim is responsible for establishing and executing all design strategies for Mens, Womens, and Kids denim for our NA Retail channel. The Senior Designer is also responsible for ensuring the product line is brought to market in a timely and profitable manner, while also developing growth business and product strategy for Retail. Responsibilities: Reporting to SVP of Men’s/Boys and VP of Women’s/Girls Working on fabric R+D alongside PD team, aligning/comping EU fabric trends within cost parameters, with a focus on sustainability (from a fabric + LID wash standpoint) Working closely with PD team on seasonal allocation, fabric direction, wash development, and wash comments across the multi-gender denim assortment Managing wash comments from proto to bulk approval, multiple seasons at once Help to build wash range across mens/womens/kids, aligning and leveraging fabric, seasonally Managing Denim category big picture, from product to marketing, collaborating with the merchant and graphic teams Manage all aspects of design from sketch to tech pack creation, spec hand-off, and maintaining PLM systems Organize and maintain design development including wash library, trims, fabric worksheets, line list, etc. Attend garment fittings and assist technical designers Work with the trim department to develop, review and approve all trims aligning with EU trends when needed Revise and update information in tech packs and communicate changes/updates to PD for seamless factory communication Work cross-functionally with merchant teams, communicating and problem-solving from fabric, trim, and wash standpoint Identify seasonal fashion direction, conduct competitive market research, across genders Portion of design work entails operational approach, executing re-engineered EU designs for the NA market in our Company Stores Create seasonal presentation boards highlighting fabric, wash, and silhouette direction Developing artwork with the CAD team as needed. Working with International and European teams on global denim directives Qualifications: BA, Fashion Design 7+ years of experience in denim design, wash/fabric expertise Strong experience with denim, a must Strong product development experience Experience in Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop CS, MS Excel, and MS Office Suite 3D design experience, a plus Experience working with overseas factories, agents, and fabric/trim vendors Advanced fabrication and technique application knowledge Vertical experience a plus Strong communication skills, both written and oral Ability to work cross-functionally, building strong relationships between various departments Strong eye for trends and abreast on current industry news/developments Flexibility with respect to timelines and deliverables Ability to travel, if needed