Urban Outfitters - Established MW Designer, Jersey & Knitwear

Urban Outfitters; City of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fashion retailer is seeking an Established Designer in London to develop innovative Jersey & Knit collections for the UK & EU markets. Applicants should have expertise in menswear, previous management experience, and a strong portfolio. This full-time role includes international travel for inspiration and development, along with promoting sustainability and commerciality in designs.

Benefits

Flexible start and finish times

Bring your dog to work

Employee Assistance program

Free gym and wellness room

Private Medical Insurance

Up to 40% employee discount

Paid volunteering day

Season ticket loan

Continued learning support

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of Urban Outfitters as a trend maker.
• Previous management experience required.
• Proven track record of delivering in-season product.
• Need to be experienced with a global supply base.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative jersey and knit range.
• Design product exceeding customer expectations.
• Work with buying and planning teams.
• Communicate effectively with suppliers.
• Travel internationally for range development.

Skills

Trend awareness

Design creativity

Expertise in menswear - Jersey and Knit

Communication skills

Hand-drawing skills

Proficient in CAD – Illustrator/Photoshop/InDesign

Ability to manage internal relationships

Tools

CAD software

Clo & AI understanding

Job description

Urban Outfitters started out as a single boutique in 1970s Philadelphia with creativity and uniqueness at its core. 50 years on, and over 60 stores across Europe later, we’ve become a destination for emerging design, unexpected styling, One-Of-A-Kind vintage and homeware that makes you want to hit the share button.

We speak to a social community of over 10 million forward-thinking individuals, bringing together a nostalgia for the past with an enthusiasm to shape the future. The UO community are culturally aware, they shape the music scene, they live a digitally native life and they wear style trends before anyone else. At our core, we empower our customers and staff to express themselves, unapologetically, living life in a way that's truly authentic to them.

We are always excited to bring new talent into the room, especially if you share our values:

Our Values

• Progressive – we move with the mood
• Creative – we champion limitless minds
• Inclusive – we open our platforms to all communities
• Responsible – we work to reduce our impact on the environment
• Compassionate – we care for each other beyond the 9 to 5

Sound like you, why not join us?

Role Summary

As an Established Designer you will design innovative trend forward Jersey & Knit collections that balance creativity and commerciality across the UK & EU market.

From first sketch to final fit, you’ll bring ideas to life! Working closely with buying, planning and garment tech, you will develop product from concept to production. Supporting global travel for inspiration and development – all whilst aligning with our business strategy and building strong relationships across our international supplier base.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Responsible for successful development of an innovative, yet commercial jersey and knit range, that meets the business requirements across the UK and EU, for stores and online
• Designing product which exceeds the customers’ expectations of the brand, whilst displaying an awareness of sustainability, price architecture, margins & selling prices
• Working with the buying and planning teams to range build and produce collections that reflect core sensibilities and emerging messages, whilst ensuring commerciality remains. An understanding of option count and ranging is essential
• Demonstrates exceptional sourcing skills and can communicate effectively with UK, EU & International supplier base
• Compulsory international travel for both range development & inspirational shopping
• Working with the technical department fitting samples to production
• Working with the Clo designer to create patterns from initial sketch
• Working closely with the design HOD (Head of Department) and design team on colour palettes and trends for the coming seasons
• Whilst Urban Outfitters prides itself on its individuality and self-led trend direction, a level of knowledge and understanding of ‘high’ fashion trends, ‘underground street styles’ and wider ‘cultural movements’, must be shown and reported
• Actively seeking weekly trade figures & utilising knowledge to impact design decisions for UK & EU alike

What You’ll Need

• A solid understanding of Urban Outfitters as a trend maker and leader with the know- how to take it to the next level
• Previous management experience and have the ability to lead and develop team members
• Expertise in menswear- Jersey and Knit
• Directional and aspirational portfolio whilst demonstrating an ability to intemperate this ‘blue-sky’ thinking into a well-rounded, commercial range, relevant to the current market-place
• Precision and accuracy must be shown from concept stage through to specs and final designs
• A love, passion and drive for chosen field
• Individuality, creativity and style
• Proven track record of delivering in season product
• Proven ability of managing internal relationships and communicationsAbility to perform under pressure
• Excellent commercial acumen with the ability to identify new opportunities with exceptional communication and presentation skills at all levels
• Hand‑drawing is a must‑have skill
• Proficient CAD – Illustrator/Photoshop/InDesign skills
• Base‑level understanding of Clo & AI
• Need to be experienced working with a global supply base and be willing/open to global travel
• A confident communicator; demonstrate exceptional organisational skills to manage workload and time‑pressures effectively

The Perks

• Work‑life balance: Flexible start and finish times
• Bring your dog to work
• Wellbeing: Employees Assistance program to support with mental, physical and financial health
• Fully equipped free gym and on‑site wellness room in Brick Lane and 50% discount of external gym memberships
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee Discount: Up to 40% off at all URBN Brands
• Community: One paid day to either volunteer or fundraise for a charity of your choice
• Travel: Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan
• Continued Development: We offer structured support within the business alongside continued learning and development

Equal Opportunity Statement

URBN is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, marital status, religion, race, or disability. We base all our employment decisions on merit, job requirements and business needs.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

Industries

Retail, Retail Apparel and Fashion, and Consumer Services

Location

London, England, United Kingdom