Senior Menswear Shape Designer
Location: Camden Town
Company: HTL Fashion (a proud member of the Li & Fung family)
About LF Fashion:
HTL Fashion, part of the global powerhouse Li & Fung, stands at the forefront of the fashion and apparel industry. With over 115 years of supply chain and product expertise, we are a trusted leader in design, development, and sourcing of consumer goods worldwide. Our seamless "As One" collaborative approach integrates every facet of the retail market—from initial concept to quality-controlled delivery—ensuring innovation, efficiency, and commercial success.
The Role:
We are seeking an experienced Senior Menswear Shape Designer to join our dynamic design team. You will be instrumental in crafting innovative, commercially viable menswear collections that resonate with high-street fashion brands and mass-market consumers. From concept development through to production, you will oversee the entire design process and cultivate strong relationships both internally and with global stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities:
Range Creation
- Lead the development of cutting-edge and commercially appealing menswear ranges in line with client briefs and market research insights.
- Maintain a sharp commercial awareness of evolving fashion trends to keep our product offerings fresh and market-relevant.
Collaboration with Stakeholders
- Communicate daily with suppliers, production teams in the Far East, account managers, and buyers to ensure designs meet expectations and project timelines.
- Build and sustain strong collaborative relationships to support client needs and drive business growth.
Design Translation
- Convert creative concepts into commercially viable designs suitable for mass production.
- Prepare comprehensive design sheets, technical specifications, and artwork for factories to facilitate accurate sample development.
Customer Engagement
- Present design concepts confidently during face-to-face meetings with clients and buyers, securing alignment and approval.
- Travel to Far East production sites and other key locations to nurture supplier relationships and oversee sample progress.
Trend Research and Forecasting
- Conduct targeted shopping trips across the UK and internationally to identify trends and source samples strategically to optimize business sample budgets.
- Utilize trend prediction skills to keep our design process innovative and ahead of the competition.
Relationship Management & Mentorship
- Develop and maintain strong partnerships with suppliers, encouraging innovative product development.
- Play an active role in recruiting placement students and mentoring junior designers, fostering a culture of learning and professional growth.
Candidate Profile:
Essential Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or a related field.
Design & Technical Skills:
- Strong creative flair and an excellent eye for color and silhouette to conceptualize designs that captivate the target menswear market.
- Solid understanding of production construction techniques within the textile and apparel industry, ensuring manufacturable designs.
- Expertise in design software including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Freehand, and Shima Apex for visualization and presentation.
- Proficiency in generating detailed technical specifications, design sheets, and supporting product development processes from concept through production.
Commercial Awareness & Trend Expertise:
- In-depth knowledge of retail market dynamics and customer preferences.
- Ability to analyze and predict emerging trends to keep collections competitive and relevant.
- Experience managing larger customer accounts and taking accountability for commercial outcomes.
Communication & Organizational Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for multi-level presentations and team collaboration.
- Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects under tight deadlines with a systematic and structured approach.
Personal Attributes:
- Creative thinker with a passion for innovation and setting market trends.
- Proactive, self-motivated, and driven to improve processes and design direction.
- Collaborative team player who also performs effectively independently.
- Committed mentor enthusiastic about guiding junior designers and fostering talent development.
- Adaptable and resilient, thriving in a fast-paced workplace while maintaining a meticulous attention to detail.
Why Work with LF Fashion?
- Join a globally recognized leader in fashion supply chain and design innovation.
- Work within a collaborative, diverse, and forward-thinking team environment.
- Influence high-street menswear collections that reach consumers worldwide.
- Access to global resources, cutting-edge tools, and opportunities for career growth.
Ready to Shape the Future of Menswear?
If you are a visionary designer with a strong commercial mindset and a passion for menswear, we invite you to apply and join LF Fashion’s journey to redefine fashion innovation.
Apply Now: Upload your CV & portfolio
Job Type: Full-time
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London NW1
