JOB TITLE: Fashion Designer

FUNCTIONAL AREA: Apparel Ethnic

REPORTS TO: Category Head

Position's Objective: Drive creative excellence by leading concept evolution, trend analysis, and design development, ensuring seamless collaboration with cross-functional teams. Spearhead efficient sampling, range development, and sourcing initiatives to deliver innovative, market-responsive fashion products.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Concept Evolution & Trend Analysis:
To create concepts / Mood boards/ trend boards.
Visit exhibitions, museums and events related to Fashion, Art and Design fairs/ Markets to keep up-to-date on the latest fabrics/ silhouettes and garment trends.
Analysing trends in fabrics, colours and shapes- Through research/ internet/ in store surveys/ runways/ fashion weeks subscribing to channels/ magazines etc.
Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, demography, competition and competitors.
To educate the store staff about the product and creating presentations for the same.

Design Development :

To Communicate with Category Heads and team and with MRH or both in order to discuss design requirements.
Liaising closely with Sales, buying and Production teams on an ongoing basis to ensure the item suits the customer, market and price points
Creating artworks / sketches by hand or on computers- Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or textiles, and write specifications such as techniques, colour schemes, construction, material types, accessory requirements and specific measurements required
Analyse sell thru reports to identify hits and misses.
Adapting existing designs for mass production
Initial costing of the product.
Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.

Sampling & Range Development:

Planning and developing ranges
Direct and coordinate with Pattern Masters involved in drawing and cutting patterns
Develop range - overseeing sampling/ construction of samples or finished garment. Select materials and production friendly techniques to be used for products.
Coordination with the vendors at different stages of sampling
Cluster visits for product development for specific crafts
Regular and Timely visits to vendors to check on samples under construction.
Purchase competition samples for technique and design inspiration
Review samples on models to secure good fits.
Putting together range for product review meetings
Managing and facilitating the sampling team for smoot flow of design process.
Developing innovative process to aid the development of products.
Editing and restyling the production Samples according to the challenges being faced by the production tem.
Fast chase and plugin samples.

Sourcing :

Sourcing suppliers for sampling keeping in view their viability for the production.
Record new and potential material ideas
Sourcing, selecting and buying fabrics, trims, fastenings and embellishments.
Sourcing and developing prints and colourways
Sourcing and developing Embroideries.

JOB SPECIFICATION: (QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE)

Years of Functional Experience: 3 - 6 years of work experience as a Designer in a Retail or Apparel manufacturing Industry or Craft sector
Degree/Diploma: B. Design/ Masters in Design/ Diploma NIFT/ NID

Knowledge & Skills:

Fabindia Product Knowledge
Visualising
Ability to generate fresh ideas
Creativity and Aesthetics
Eye for Colour, Texture and Pattern
Range creation with technical knowledge
Pattern Cutting, Grading, Fits and Garment Construction for Fashion Designers
Commercial acumen
Negotiation Skills