Menswear Designer

Margaret Howell is a contemporary British clothing designer who has worked successfully in men's and women's clothing for over five decades. Today, Margaret Howell clothes are sold worldwide with 12 own shops in Europe, over 100 outlets in Japan and an established online business.

We are seeking a highly organized and driven individual to design and develop our premium menswear collections that align with the brand's ethos and captures the vision of the Design Director. This individual will execute the design critical path to develop collections for all menswear multi-category products, whilst timely delivering high quality and competitively priced product, and meeting sustainability expectations.

When applying for this role, please make sure to upload your Portfolio under Additional Files, or include the link to the Portfolio under Cover Letter.

Location

Head office, W1/Remote

Hours

28 hours per week. We welcome applications from candidates seeking a flexible schedule of either four or five days per week.

Key Responsibilities

1. Develop a seasonal design concept for the Mainline and MHL men's collections across all product areas (wovens, knit, jersey and denim), presenting research to Design Director and Merchandising teams that considers the commercial and design aspirations of the brand.
2. Following the critical path, manage the design process from initial conception through to final sealing stage. Create, check and amend specs and technical drawings, undertaking fittings, and selecting all component parts. Present collections at review meetings, communicating key concepts, with price and product awareness.
3. Identify key seasonal colour and thematic direction for mens collections, with commercial awareness of previous allocation and sell through.
4. Collaborate with design and merchandising teams to ensure cohesive seasonal collections with suitable crossover of fabric and colour at appropriate price points.
5. Source and develop seasonal fabric and yarns, meeting expected criteria on price, quality, MOQ, traceability and preferred fibre targets to meet business needs. Collaborate closely with Development team in order to meet seasonal deadlines.
6. Visit factories and trade fairs abroad and in the UK to progress design development and ensure creation of quality and well-fitting garments.
7. Work towards the Company's sustainability targets with particular design focus on preferred raw materials targets and circular design, and keeping a working understanding of ethical sourcing and responsible purchasing practices.
8. Liaise with Japanese design team, briefing on the UK collection range plan and design concept and working collaboratively to develop and approve product for successful adoption in their market.
9. Collaborate with marketing, sales and VM departments to ensure the design concept is extended to these activities to maximize sales and understanding of the brand, producing seasonal product design notes, and delivering staff training as required.
10. Support in the promotion of the menswear ranges, ensuring concept and brand image cohesion for marketing activities and photoshoots, with involvement in styling, casting and shoots, and by creating seasonal mood boards and collection notes.
11. Continually develop external network to help inform Company collaborations, creative consultants and appropriate product suppliers.
12. Analyse sales history to inform the development of the collection both in terms of pricing and product selection; working to find the balance of carry over styles versus new designs in order to take greater accountability for the success of the range plan.
13. Review samples and edit post collection for archiving, to inform future collections.

Role Requirements

1. Minimum 5 years' previous experience in menswear design, with a strong focus on the premium high-end market.
2. A keen eye for detail and a strong understanding of menswear aesthetics and market positioning.
3. Strong technical knowledge: understanding of garment fit, construction and finishing, yarn and fabric suitability, with experience across knitwear and wovens.
4. Proficient in using different systems including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, other relevant design software, and Microsoft Office.
5. Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally with design, merchandising, and development teams.
6. Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
7. Interest in sustainable and ethical fashion practices, and driven to meet targets.
8. Accomplished at working within a budget, understanding costings and price sensitivity.
9. Detail-oriented mindset, with a deep understanding of high-level quality standards and brand integrity.

Rewards

• A competitive salary.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays, increasing to 6 weeks with service.
• Generous clothing allowance.
• Significant staff discount.
• Life insurance.
• Contributory pension and salary exchange scheme.
• Personal development grant.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Birthday day off.
• Volunteering day off.
• Paid IVF Leave available for all employees, supporting both partners through their fertility journey.

Applications will be considered as they are received. Candidates will be shortlisted based on how their skills and experience match our requirements as set out above.

We actively implement blind recruitment practices to eliminate bias and ensure a fair evaluation of candidates based on their skills, experience, and qualifications. We believe in creating a level playing field for all applicants, and our initiatives reflect our dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.