Free People Designer - Wovens

Job Title

Free People Designer - Wovens

Overview

The Free People Designer - Wovens contributes to the overall trend and direction for designs each season for Free People apparel woven product categories. The Designer actively participates in designing seasonal collections, supervises/mentors team members to ensure that designs and resulting product are cohesive and appropriate for the Free People customer.

Responsibilities

• Recognize and accurately forecast fashion and cultural trends and understand how they relate to the Free People customer.
• Respond to business objectives with creative, innovative, and cost-effective design solutions.
• Understand the Free People customer and provide woven designs to surprise and delight with strong integrity the brand position and aesthetics.
• Research, Ideate and Design seasonal collections with flexibility across a variety of Woven apparel categories in collaboration with Design Leadership and partners within Design, Merchandising & Production.
• Motivate, lead, develop and coach. Provide feedback and performance evaluation to direct reports in accordance with URBN guidelines with the goal of developing and promoting staff internally. Delegate and direct the daily activities of the assistants and junior team members, providing direction and leadership to the team.
• Develop and present creative ideas that express Free People’s point of view in the market without being too obscure.

Skills

• Excellent communication skills to communicate ideas and inspirations to others and to interact with Designers, Buyers and other Cross Functional partners.
• Ability to research and report on industry trend direction, color direction, and fabric innovations approximately 9-12 months ahead of season.
• Expertise in taking aspirational ideas, focusing on the key details and make them work for a broader audience.
• Creative Vision: Demonstrate the vision to identify trends in their early stages and understand their impact to fashion, so we can be one step ahead for the aspirational customer.
• Effectively use Adobe Illustrator for the CADing of design work and presentations.

Qualifications

• Ability to articulate ideas clearly and inspire.
• Extensive knowledge of fabric treatments as well as wash and dye techniques
• Ability to clearly communicate to overseas vendors.
• Extensive knowledge of manufacturing techniques and processes
• Relocation to or current residence in or within commuting distance to Philadelphia, PA
• Ability to hand sketch and communicate design ideas via computer program.
• Expert-level technical knowledge of Woven apparel construction.
• Expert-level knowledge of fabric and trims as well as strong relationships with resources

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design or related field preferred.

Location

On-site Philadelphia, PA

Travel

Some travel may be required.

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Urban Outfitters, Inc. celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment.