Head Of Design - Textiles - Bedroom & Bathroom​/Brand

HEAD OF DESIGN - PREMIUM TEXTILES BEDDING AND BATHROOM

MANCHESTER - HEAD OFFICES

Our client is a very successful and well established premium Textiles brand selling into UK and European retailers. They are now looking to recruit a HOME TEXTILES HEAD OF DESIGN

(bedding / Bathroom ) to join their growing business. Candidates must have a strong background of working in Premium brand Textiles in Bedding / Bathroom and be hands on in their current role.

• Working with retailers such as John Lewis, Harrods, and many more
• This is a hand on role and managing a small team
• Working closely with the Head of Product/ directors to ensure efficient bulk production of products
• To build a relevant, growing and profitable home textile business portfolio into all targeted trade channels, in existing & new categories/geographies
• Sourcing fabrics and techniques through supplier visits overseas and global trade fairs
• Dressing trade shows and showrooms in the UK and abroad,
• Assisting the Marketing team by providing information on the inspiration behind designs and collections to create product copy
• Assisting the Product Development team by providing CADs of packaging requirements such as insert cards and care labels
• Creating exciting bedding and bathroom designs and colourways in CAD form
• Presenting confidently to customers and internal stakeholders
• Working closely with key customers on exclusive designs to their brief and their timetable
• Working on own brand portfolio from.
• Working on designs for both the UK and varied export markets
• Following design trends and adapting them to our product areas, in order to generate compelling trend resources
• Briefing suppliers in detail to allow them to produce samples to their exact specification.
• Managing the development of samples from key suppliers
• Adhering to the business’ critical path for each project
• Approval of factory submissions from strike offs/lab dips through to full samples
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of new design and production techniques and textile technology

• Strong CAD skills specifically in AVA, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
• Excellent drawing skills and a flair for using colour creatively
• Excellent presentation skills: creating strong visual presentation material and the ability to speak confidently about design concepts.
• Ability to manage a busy workload, strong organisational skills are a must as is the ability to juggle competing demands within the role
• The ability to work to deadlines is essential
• Strong interpersonal skills for dealing with everyone from overseas suppliers through to key customers
• Diligent and organized approach to maintaining records of approvals and developments
• Passion for textiles and a desire to keep learning about this exciting product area
• Commercial acumen with ability to understand pricing architecture for target business.
• Previous experience in a commercial environment, preferably Retail or Brands.
• Willingness to undertake global travel.
• Experience of planning and dressing trade fairs is an advantage
• Experience of using Microsoft Office programs
• Educated to degree level
• Minimum 6 years’ experience in home textiles with experience in PREMIUM home textiles bedlinen bathroom
• Be hands on within the business and role