Senior Knitwear Designer
- Posted 22 December 2025
- Salary £35000 - £45000 per annum
- LocationManchester
- Job type Full Time
- Discipline Design , Apparel Design
- Reference5619_1766397547
- Job FunctionPermanent
Job description
We're partnering with a leading, design-led fashion business to recruit a Senior Knitwear Designer to drive the womenswear knitwear category. This is a high-impact role with full creative ownership, shaping knit direction from initial concept through to signed-off samples, delivering product that is both trend-right and commercially strong.
Based in Manchester, you'll join a collaborative, close-knit design team and play a key role in defining seasonal knitwear strategy. You'll bring confidence in presentation, a strong technical grounding, and the ability to balance creativity with commercial decision-making.
This role offers hybrid working.
Main responsibilities will include:
Owning end-to-end knitwear design across seasonal and in-season drops, from research and concept development through to SMS, specs, and pre-production.
Defining cohesive colour, yarn, and stitch stories by translating trend, street, and social insights into wearable, commercial product.
Creating detailed, accurate tech packs and artwork to drive first-time-right sampling and speed to market.
Leading fit sessions in partnership with Technical, refining blocks, measurements, and constructions to achieve consistent, flattering fits.
Briefing, collaborating, and problem-solving with mills and factories to deliver quality, cost-effective product.
Confidently presenting concepts and full ranges to Buying, supported by clear storytelling, rationale, and data-led insights.
Monitoring competitor activity, trading performance, and sell-through to inform future drops and continuous improvement.
Person specification:
A strong portfolio showcasing womenswear knitwear across gauges, stitches, textures, and proven commercial bestsellers.
Proven experience designing womenswear knitwear, ideally at Senior or equivalent level.
Excellent yarn, fabric, and knit construction knowledge, with a practical understanding of cost drivers, margins, and commercial levers.
Highly proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with experience using PLM systems.
Commercially aware, proactive, and comfortable taking ownership of a key category within a fast-paced fashion business.
