Designer, Fashion Design​/ Tailoring

Designer / Product Development – Handbags, Backpacks & Small Leather Goods Position Summary

The Designer / Product Development role is responsible for supporting the development of seasonal handbag, backpack and small leather goods collections from concept through production. This position partners closely with the Design Director and cross-functional teams to create innovative, commercially viable products while ensuring all development milestones and deadlines are met. Responsibilities include researching and identifying seasonal trends, developing new product concepts, improving existing designs, creating presentation boards, preparing sales materials, developing colorways and material stories, and merchandising product assortments across multiple brands.

Experience designing handbags, backpacks, wallets, crossbody bags, totes, travel accessories and small leather goods is preferred.

This role manages the product development process by communicating daily with overseas factories, preparing detailed tech packs, sending sourcing and development communications, tracking sample progress, maintaining accurate PLM records, and ensuring development calendars remain on schedule. The Designer / Product Development professional reviews pre-production samples for quality, construction, functionality and accuracy; communicates approvals and revisions to factories; prepares samples, materials and hardware standards for milestone meetings;

submits seasonal licensing approvals; and collaborates closely with Design, Production, Sales and Licensing teams to ensure successful execution from concept through production.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or a related field and 3–5 years of experience in handbag, backpack and/or small leather goods design and product development. Candidates should possess strong creative and technical skills, an excellent eye for color, materials, hardware, trend and construction details, and be proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; experience with a PLM system is a plus.

Success in this role requires exceptional organisation, time management, problem-solving abilities and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accurate documentation, meeting deadlines, communicating proactively and ensuring all development materials, factory communications and product information are complete and accurate.

• Develop seasonal handbag, backpack, and small leather goods collections from concept through production.
• Research and identify seasonal trends, silhouettes, colors, materials, trims, hardware, and construction techniques.
• Create new product designs and improve existing product assortments.
• Partner with the Design Director to merchandise product assortments by brand.
• Develop colorways, material combinations, print artwork, and graphic applications as needed.
• Create presentation boards, line sheets, and sales materials featuring new product concepts.
• Communicate daily with overseas factories regarding product development, sample status, revisions, and estimated completion dates.
• Send sourcing and development communications to overseas partners.
• Prepare detailed tech packs for assigned accounts.
• Review pre-production (PPS) samples to ensure all design, construction, hardware, material, and functionality requirements have been met; communicate approvals and revisions to factories.
• Maintain accurate style information and development updates within the PLM system.
• Finalize adopted styles in PLM for Production.
• Submit seasonal approval packages to licensors.
• Partner closely with Design, Production, Sales, and Licensing teams throughout the development process.
• Track sample progress and proactively follow…