Menswear Designer

Position: Junior Designer - Menswear
Role Overview
As Junior Designer - Menswear at French Connection you will develop and work to produce designs in CAD format that delivers the key trends with FC handwriting. You will constantly liaise with the wider team and suppliers to ensure inspiration and design direction is followed through to the product. With your finger on the pulse, you will constantly source inspiration, developing these sources appropriately into designs for the perfect French Connection shapes and styles.
Experience:
• Minimum of 2-4 years’ experience in the fashion industry
• Have Computer experience with Excel, Outlook, Illustrator and InDesign
• An understanding of the design product development life cycle
• Someone who works well in a team environment with good people skills
• Works quickly & well in a pressured and fast-paced environment
• Manage own workload and able to priorities.
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Main Responsibilities:
Fittings and Samples
• Attend sample fit sessions: Reviewing fit samples with senior management and Technologist as they come back from suppliers, to ensure they meet the design spec, proactively resolving any issues
• Work alongside Head Merchandiser and flag any issues that could affect price or delivery
• Sample management and approvals for all protos, SMS, pre-production, shipping and photo samples
Researching and Developing Trends
• Review the Critical Path on a regular basis to priorities work correctly
• Building and sharing inspiration boards with country offices to source new ideas
• Product development and quality control in partnership with suppliers to ensuring products (prototypes) meet quality standards during product development
• Trend forecasting and sample shop – have a strong appetite & ability to anticipate the latest trends, fabric, print & imagery
Product Responsibility
• Ensure specific style information on the PLM system and tech packs is up to date at all times
• Generate CADs, create and update tech pack with Illustrator and Excel
• Create and update the seasonal collection overview
• With the support from senior management, develop each season ensuring that we deliver key trends within a balanced range in order to exceed customer expectations
• Colour research and Pantone matching
• Data input for product details and lead times for all styles and maintaining records on SharePoint.
• Style code allocation
• Sourcing and developing new fabric/yarn/wash/trims etc. to collate information for sourcing packs
• Interpreting trends and developing product without infringing copyright, design rights or trademarks
• Set up season by data inputting all information into AS400 across all divisions.
Key knowledge / performance indicators
• Demonstrating outstanding understanding French Connections market position and competitors
• Demonstrating your awareness of current sales performance, including best and worst sellers
• Taking responsibility for improving your own performance – setting and achieving objectives
• High levels of self-awareness and understanding of other’s needs, including your impact on others
• Take on tasks and mini projects as required by the team
• Complete DHL sending out when needed
• Provide administrative support to the wider team by sharing responsibility for all ranges
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About you
• Resilient Thriving through change and inspiring your team to do the same. Open to feedback, having the ability to see the bigger picture. Tenacious problem solving, creative and logical thinker under pressure
• Positive Contagious passion and positivity, showing care for others and the brand
• Brave Having the courage to say what you think and challenge where needed
• Professional Having and open approach and being able to hold your hands up if you make a mistake and help others to feel safe to do the same
• Strong communicator clear, concise and compelling communication. Sharing and listening openly
• Collaborative Supporting collaborative activity, contributing beyond your own department. Have the ability to build strong and productive relationships.
• Great multitasker Having a strong ability balancing long term and short-term priorities.