Job Description
The Role: Assistant Designer - Mens
The Location: Havant, Hampshire (hybrid – 3 days per week office-based)
The Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Looking for the next adventure? Named in The Sunday Times 2023 Best Places to Work now is a great time to join our journey and build your career.
Who are we?
For over 30 years, we’ve travelled, we’ve laughed, we’ve grown. We believe life is for living and more fun with those we love. Our purpose is to bring style and positivity to our customers lives through the clothes we make, the things we do and the values we have.
We are Made for Life. Considered style. Trusted quality. Sustainably sourced. Proud to be a B CorpTM.
Equality and inclusion isn’t an aspiration but the standard. We promote and drive equality within our workforce to ignite an inclusive foundation for us all to build from and truly connect with our customers, colleagues, and communities alike. You play a key part in creating an environment free from prejudice, racism, sexism, harassment, bullying and any other form of marginalisation in our workplaces.
Role Summary
Infuse personality and energy into our menswear collections! Support the designer in crafting a stylish, commercial range that aligns with our brand strategy. Bring innovative designs to life while mastering the essence of menswear. Assist in every step of the design process and make your mark on every well-crafted piece!
Role Responsibilities
- Assist in gathering information on seasonal menswear trends through research, competitor analysis, and reviews of past performance, ensuring alignment with the Fat Face brand.
- Contribute to the department’s product strategy by providing competitor and product insights tailored to menswear.
- Stay updated on supplier and market activities, including the latest trends, techniques, and washes relevant to menswear, ensuring Fat Face products remain current.
- Generate and develop design ideas that align with the menswear design direction and departmental product strategy.
- Create comprehensive design packs, ensuring accuracy and timely completion in line with the critical path. Collaborate with the buying team for first-time sampling success.
- Track and manage relevant proto samples from suppliers to ensure timely availability for selection meetings.
- Participate in fit sessions to ensure the menswear design signature is accurately interpreted during the development stage, maintaining brand consistency.
- Supervise, train, and develop the design assistant, monitoring their performance against the training program and identifying areas for improvement.
- Manage design samples, boards, and information for meetings, ensuring all requirements are met.
- Provide feedback on current menswear trends and styling information, making informed design suggestions while understanding the critical path implications.
- Stay informed about department and product sales performance and trading activities, incorporating this feedback into the design process.
- Enhance personal development through store visits, competitor analysis, shows, and supplier interactions. Increase awareness of other company functions and activities.
- Deputise for the Designer as needed, ensuring continuity in the menswear design process.
- Align yourself with the company's social and environmental mission and champion any actions that you can directly impact at all times
Skills and Experience
- Design experience required.
- Previous experience in garments essential
- Degree or equivalent in design-based subject
- Presentation skills
- Use of computerised design system – Photoshop, Illustrator
- Good communication and influencing skills.
- Good planning and organisation skills
- Supervisory and task delegation
Role Competencies
- Good understanding of customer profile, product range and competitors
- Brand and market awareness
- Up to date with changing trends and able to translate into commercial designs.
- Knowledge of critical path and product life cycle
- An understanding of the supply chain for product and fabric sourcing and development
- Understanding of garment construction
- A team player who is happy to support across wider design team when necessary.
- Passion for product and design
Other Benefits Include
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Perkbox our online platform to use from day one (this includes amazing online discounts, home workouts, wellbeing content, popular brand discounts e.c.t)
- THRIVE – Our learning management system- access from day one with 1000’s of pieces of learning.
- Dental Insurance (employee funded)
- Pension scheme
- EAP support around the clock- UNUM/Retail Trust/ Fashion Textiles Support
- Critical illness/Death in service for Salaried staff
- Sick pay allowances
- O2 phone discount
- Eye Tests/contributions to glasses
- Sabbatical leave in line with service
- Enhanced Family Friendly polices i.e. Maternity Leave
- Refer a friend scheme.