We're partnering with a fast-growing Manchester-based brand to appoint a Menswear Knitwear Designer. This role is for a trend lead, strong Designer who can balance innovation with commercial clarity, with the ability to own the knit category from concept through to signed-off samples.
You will be part of a tight knit team, they are looking for someone confident with strong presentation skills, a strong technical understanding of knitwear, yarns and sustainability.
Main responsibilities will include:
Leading the end-to-end design process across knitwear.
Building a balanced knitwear range (core, fashion, statement) with good/better/best architecture.
Translating trend and cultural insight into relevant colour, yarn, stitch, and silhouette stories for the brand's customer.
Developing knit blocks and fits; running fittings with Technical to lock standards and consistency across sizes.
Creating precise tech packs, stitch diagrams, and artwork to drive accurate, on-time sampling.
Briefing mills on yarn choices (cotton, merino, cashmere blends, recycled fibres) and finishes; troubleshooting handle, pilling, and shrinkage.
Presenting concepts, trends and designs with clear storytelling.
Monitoring relevant competitor market and performance as well as aspirational Designers.
Person specification:
A portfolio demonstrating contemporary menswear and / or boyswear knitwear across gauges, stitches, and proven bestsellers.
Strong yarn/fabric knowledge and construction understanding, with practical awareness of cost drivers.
Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop and PLM.
Fit-focused with sharp eye for proportion and detail; comfortable leading fit sessions and solving issues.
Collaborative communicator who thrives in cross-functional teams and moves fast without losing precision.
Commercial yet curious-able to turn references into product that sells while pushing the category forward.
