Head of Womenswear

Overview

We are seeking a highly creative and commercially minded Head of Womenswear to lead the development of innovative, high‑performance product for the Craghoppers brand.

• Collaborate with the buying and product teams to ensure products meet strategic direction and price targets.
• Create concepts, fashion sketch ideas, shape silhouettes, and explore fabric and trim choices that push the collection forward.
• Research trends, references, and cultural shifts to keep the collection directional, relevant, and commercially aware ensuring product aligns with the brand’s strategy.
• Excellent understanding of the market, key trends and our competitors offering.
• Create working designs to establish handwriting for each season ensuring performance and function is considered.
• Work closely with relevant areas of the business to identify and meet customer requirements.
• Work within Branding guidelines ensuring product is synonymous with Craghoppers identity yet maintains a creative and directional flair.
• Colour & Pattern:
  • Trend‑led commercial seasonal colour palettes are created that are relevant to our market.
  • Your knowledge of colour trends is always fresh and you keep the team updated on your research.
  • Responsible for buying colour standards & creating palettes in PLM.
  • Generate print and graphic direction and artwork where required.
• Design Development:
  • Drive the creative process from research through to final design: mood boards, sketches, colour stories, silhouettes, CADs, and refinement for all categories across womenswear (outerwear, midlayers, jersey, legwear and accessories).
  • Work alongside a skilled technical and product development team who will evolve your ideas into fully functional product using CLO 3D design software.
  • Work in CLO 3D to ensure designs are coloured up ready for development.
  • Create and maintain seasonal range plans in illustrator and PLM.
  • Work with Buying team to select and develop new fabrics where appropriate.
  • Communicate clearly with Buying and Product Development to ensure changes are clear through development cycle.
• Strategy:
  • Bring clarity and inspiration to presentations, communicating your vision with confidence.
  • Ensure strategy reviews are prepared to a high standard.
  • Collaborate with menswear designer ensuring men's and women’s products are consistent across the ranges.
  • Collections are presented confidently at internal and external meetings.
  • Corporate calendar deadlines are adhered to.
  • Mentor design assistants, contributing to a strong creative culture.
• Branding and Accessories:
  • New artwork is designed and developed in line with the brand’s plans and themes.
  • Handwriting is kept consistent.

• Design qualification to degree level.
• Brand awareness and product relevance.
• 7+ years experience relevant experience in Design at a Senior level for a branded company designing across multiple category areas with significant outerwear experience.
• Experience range planning, with sales analysis and managing SKU count.
• Technical spec building, strong graphic skills, technical knowledge of clothing, people management, presentation skills.
• A refined fashion handwriting and strong eye for shape, proportion and detail.
• Strong sketching, illustration and CAD abilities.
• Confident, collaborative, and comfortable working with product developers and technical specialists.
• Portfolio demonstrating contemporary fashion design with strong outerwear pieces.
• Computer literate, full understanding of Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, CAD software and Excel, Centric PLM or relevant alternative, CLO 3D Design.

• Profit Share Bonus:
  Enjoy a discretionary bonus based on the company's success.
• Future‑Proof Pension:
  Secure your retirement with our comprehensive pension plan.
• Annual Leave: 25 days starting annual leave entitlement.
• Loyalty Rewards:
  Earn an extra day off for every 3 years of service, up to 2 additional days.
• Buy More Leave:
  Buy up to an additional 3 days of annual leave every year.
• Continual development:
  Comprehensive training and development, including bitesize learning, apprenticeship courses and ongoing opportunities to grow your career.
• Exclusive Discounts:
  Get special discounts across all our…