Job Description / Duties

Role: Design Director (NOC 5243)
Salary: $200,000.00 – 300,000.00 /annum and Benefits (Extended Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life Insurance) + may be eligible for bonuses and salary increases, if applicable
Hours: 45 hours/week, Full-Time, Permanent
Location of work: Aritzia Support Office (#118-611 Alexander St. Vancouver, BC, V6A 1E1)
Number of positions: 3

The Design Director works within the Creative Design Department to tell the brand story through beautiful seasonal collections that our customers will love – and race out to buy. This role develops the seasonal collection strategy and leads trend research, concept development, style design, and style development for one of Aritzia’s exclusive brands.

COLLECTION STRATEGY
To establish the seasonal point of view of the collection
• Silhouette Strategy – Establish the key silhouettes for the collection
• Structure Strategy – Establish the level of structure for the collection
• Drape Strategy – Establish the approach to drape for the collection
• Sizing Strategy – Establish the approach to sizing for the collection (e.g. alpha v. numeric)
• Fit Strategy – Establish the fit intent for the collection (e.g. oversized v. standard)

TREND
To identify upcoming trends
• Runway – Lead the discovery and presentation of runway trends
• Aspirational Marketplace – Lead the discovery and presentation of aspirational landscape trends
• Inspirational Marketplace – Lead the discovery and presentation of inspirational landscape trends
• Street-style – Lead the discovery and presentation of street-style trends
• Influencers – Lead the discovery and presentation influencer trends
• Trend Forecasters – Lead the discovery and presentation of trend forecaster trends
• Tradeshows – Lead the discovery and presentation of tradeshow trends

COLLECTION CONCEPT
To curate the seasonal cohesive concept for the collection
• Theme – Establish the seasonal theme of the collection
• Fabric Direction – Provide direction for seasonal fabric concept for the collection
• Colour Direction – Provide direction for seasonal colour concept for the collection
• Textile Design Direction – Provide direction for seasonal textile design concept for the collection
• Sustainability Direction – Provide direction for seasonal sustainability concept for the collection

STYLE DESIGN To design the core components of the styles for the collection
• Style – Lead the design of silhouettes for each style in the collection
• Functionality – Lead the design of technical features and functionality for each style in the collection
• Trim Direction – Provide direction on the design of trims and componentry for each style in the collection
• Wash Direction – Provide direction on the design of washes for each style in the collection as required

STYLE DEVELOPMENT
To ensure that each style executes on the creative design vision
• Fit Direction – Validate adequate execution of fit intent through the development process
• Construction Direction – Validate adequate execution construction through the development process
• Packaging Direction – Provide direction on the design and application of product packaging for each style in the collection
• Naming Direction – Provide direction on the naming standards for each style in the collection

Additional duties and responsibilities may be added or modified as required throughout the course of employment.

Qualifications / Required Skills

The Design Director will possess the following qualifications:

• Completion of a diploma or university degree in Fashion, Technical Design, or a related field
• 5+ years of technical design and development experience working for a fashion apparel retailer
• Previous experience with broad range of women’s fashion
• Experience working in-house at a global luxury fashion brand; experience working at a luxury brand preferred
• Demonstrated technical ability in pattern interpretation, patternmaking, grading, block development
• Well versed in points of measurement and measuring techniques
• Experience conducting and leading fit sessions
• Knowledge of and experience with fit tests/evaluation and implementation of corrections
• Extensive knowledge of garment and fabric construction, fabrications and how they translate to garment, garment performance standards and manufacturing methods
• Previous experience working with overseas factories & vendors to ensure design quality and fit intent
• Proficient working knowledge in Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent sense of style, knowledge of fashion forecasting, keen eye for global trends, colours, fabrics and details
• Excellent communication & presentation skills – written and verbal
• Proven ability to work effectively with cross functional/departmental partners and teams
• Excellent time management skills, planning and organizational skills, problem solving skills

Salary: $200,000.00 – 300,000.00 /annum and Benefits (Extended Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life Insurance) + may be eligible for bonuses and salary increases, if applicable

Contact Information

Apply Now: If you are interested in an exciting career in the fashion apparel industry, please forward your cover letter, resume and portfolio, if applicable (PDF or website link) to careers@aritzia.com. PLEASE NOTE THE JOB TITLE AND WEBSITE IN THE SUBJECT LINE.

NOTE: Only those applicants under consideration will be contacted. If you are not contacted for this position, please accept our sincere thanks and appreciation for your interest in Aritzia!

Aritzia believes in providing an inclusive workplace where all individuals have opportunity to succeed. We are committed to doing so by providing accessible employment practices. Requests for accommodation due to a disability can be made at any stage of the recruitment process and applicants are asked to make their accommodation needs known.

Employer Profile

Working at Aritzia: Aritzia’s Support Office is located on the edge of downtown Vancouver (611 Alexander St. Vancouver, BC, V6A 1E1), a city consistently recognized as one of the world’s best cities to live. Much like our boutiques, our workspace is modern and unique, and reflects our love of contemporary design. Our team consists of creative and dynamic industry professionals who love to design and promote Aritzia’s in-house brands, scope out the latest global trends, and continue learning and sharing their passion for fashion with our valued clientele – all in an environment that fosters long-term career planning and personal growth. Check us out at www.aritzia.com