✨ AI Summary
The Assistant Manager - Menswear Design will research fashion trends, develop seasonal concepts, and design commercially relevant accessory ranges for men, including bags, wallets, caps, and sunglasses. This role involves creating detailed product specifications, selecting materials, and collaborating with buying, merchandising, and sourcing teams throughout the product development lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree or diploma in Fashion Design or a related field, with a minimum of 5 years of experience in menswear accessories design, preferably in fashion retail or a fast-fashion environment.
Requirements
Bachelor's degree or diploma in Fashion Design, Accessory Design, Product Design or a related discipline. Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in men's accessories design, preferably within fashion retail or a fast-fashion environment. Strong understanding of men's fashion, accessories, materials, trims, hardware, construction and manufacturing processes. Experience developing commercially successful products for a fashion-conscious customer. Experience working with international suppliers and product-development teams is preferred.
Description
Key Responsibilities
- Research global and regional fashion trends, competitor activity, runway influences, street style, social media and emerging accessory trends.
- Develop seasonal concepts, mood boards, colour palettes, materials, prints, graphics and product directions for men's accessories.
- Design commercially relevant accessory ranges that reflect the Splash brand identity and appeal to the target customer.
- Create detailed product sketches, specifications and tech packs for supplier development.
- Select appropriate materials, trims, hardware, finishes and colourways while considering target costs and commercial viability.
- Work closely with Buying and Merchandising to build balanced seasonal ranges across product categories and price points.
- Partner with suppliers and sourcing teams throughout product development, from initial concept and sampling through final approval.
- Review prototypes, samples, materials and finishes and provide clear design comments and corrections.
- Ensure consistency of design language, branding, colours, materials and product details across the collection.
- Use sales performance, customer preferences and previous-season insights to improve future collections.
- Conduct regular competitor and market analysis across relevant international and regional fashion brands.
- Manage multiple seasonal developments simultaneously while meeting critical-path and product-development deadlines.
- Support presentations of seasonal ranges, concepts and key product stories to internal stakeholders.
- Collaborate with apparel design teams where required to ensure accessories complement the overall men's seasonal collection.
Product Categories
Bags, wallets, belts, caps and hats, socks, sunglasses, fashion jewellery and other seasonal men's accessories.