Senior Designer - Technical Performance Apparel

About the role

A premium activewear brand is looking for a Senior Designer to own its creative vision and seasonal design direction, taking technical performance apparel from research and concept through to production-ready CADs. The role is hands-on, from fabric selection and sketches to final CADs, samples and wear testing, and works in partnership with Technical Developers who handle fit sessions and factory communication. It is a hybrid London role.

Key responsibilities

• Set the seasonal design direction, turning research, customer insight and sales performance into a commercially relevant range.
• Design across the performance apparel collection, from initial sketches to detailed CADs and developer handover.
• Source performance fabrics, trims and materials, assessing aesthetics, construction possibilities and sustainability.
• Contribute to fit sessions and review pre-production and shipment samples; run the wear-testing programme and interpret feedback.
• Keep range plans and deadlines on track, direct the Product Assistant on CAD updates and travel to fabric shows or factories when needed.

Required profile

• At least eight years' product design experience, including a minimum of two years in sportswear or performance apparel.
• Detailed knowledge of performance fabrics and garment construction.
• Commercial judgement, attention to proportion and finish, and the organisation to manage seasonal workloads.
• Collaborative approach and confidence to own creative decisions and work through product challenges with developers.
• Seamless manufacturing experience is useful but not essential; an active interest in sport is an advantage.

Required skills

• Expert Adobe Illustrator skills and the ability to produce precise CADs.
• A portfolio showing technical apparel design and the ability to develop a cohesive range from concept to final CAD.

To apply, candidates should send their CV and portfolio, including examples of technical sportswear or performance apparel work.