Job Description / Duties

Role: Textile Designer (NOC 5243)
Salary: $70,000 - $90,000/year and Benefits (Extended Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life Insurance) + may be eligible for bonuses and salary increases, if applicable
Position: 45 hours/week, Full-time, Permanent
Location of work: Aritzia Support Office (#118-611 Alexander St. Vancouver, BC, V6A 1E1)
Number of positions: 1

The Textile Designer works within the Fabric Design team to create relevant and balanced designs that are seasonally appropriate within the product assortment. This role reports to the Director, Textiles and in their absence will be the main facilitator w/ creative apparel leads to ensure fabric development needs are met.

The Textile Designer will support, prepare and participate in all Textile Design related matters working towards main corporate checkpoints in an appropriate and efficient way. Techniques and application include printed fabrics, all over and engineered, embellishment, yard and jacquard development where necessary.

Key responsibilities of the Textile Designer will include the following:

1. TREND ANALYSIS
• Collect information for Fabric Design; initiate the best tool to communicate research aimed at fulfilling departmental print objective using Continents/Country approach
o Gather and organize external sources (art, trend services, runway, street and social media)
o Report and highlight any new or emerging trends that are important within the textile design arena, priorities directed by manager
• Keep informed on current market print commodities (in-depth information on important competitor opportunity should be provided by Merchants and internal sources (past successes) information by Purchasing team)
• Share and inform current industry depth and capabilities, be curious of relevant techniques that can move the needle within the Fabric Design Department
• Concept and Design Development (Determine how we will get there in an efficient way)
• Support and participate in analyzing the information collected (first point above) within the below creative checkpoints and cross-departmental meetings.
• Prepare and initiate necessary boards and material to presentation standards

2. CREATIVE STRATEGY
• Create brand focused working designs based on trend analysis indicating direction appropriate for season and brand and fitting into framework as direct by Fabric Design lead
• Introduce seasonally new and exciting trends and techniques that will convey ideal designs in an important and relevant way
• Participate in corporate checkpoint meetings, collaborating with manager on the best means of communication

3. APPLIED GRAPHICS CONCEPT ALLOCATION (FUNCTION)
• Sort design and color theme as developed from Creative Strategy in a more specified Brand directed assortment and include examples of technique to best convey intentions.
• Filter theme and trend information, as well as information on past successes, into defined graphic concepts, and then to allocate the concepts to approved line-plan styles.
• Organize any print development samples, where available

4. APPLIED GRAPHICS CREATION
• Work with apparel / print technical design team for specific placed artwork to garment, where necessary
• Collaborate with Design to achieve the “what” scale / placement / color of designed artwork appropriate for season and final product; work within reasonable development as indicated by business needs (Corporate print function)
• Utilize additional important print-only colors to enhance and elevate seasonal palette in a cohesive way as directed by manager
• Own, facilitate and organize reviewing artwork submits and strikes in an efficient and timely way ideally striving for above good quality (PCL / or manufacturing deadlines)
• Consider the What/When delivery timelines were necessary incorporating the most recent internal sales and the external marketplace in order to manage the line through add-ins, cancellations and changes
• Review with Fabric Design lead approved / rejected final submits and bulk approval
• Communicate across Brand teams of any significant changes (Most Important: Merchant, Design, Technical Design, Production, and Sourcing).
• Keep informed of any fabric technical restrictions, including repeat measurements, printing technique, color or lab dip reference, for fabric design artwork and flag when necessary and work with Sourcing to gather facts before final specification upload, if changes to outlook of design occur, as agreed with cross-departmental teams
• Strive to create CAD / color reduce designs within vendor requirements;
• Create color ways for seasonal new and re-ordered artwork in a timely manner
• Prepare designs for vendor production following the current specification template (where Fabric Technical Support is not available)

5. APPLIED GRAPHICS MANAGEMENT
• Comment and update specifications with final approval from manager
• Maintain and update development status of seasonal prints on specification folder
• Track and organize artwork development in timely manner clearly communicating to necessary departments
• Strive for 7/10+ accuracy of original artwork to execution, color matching and hand feel

6. DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT
• Onboard, train, evaluate and motivate Junior Textile and Print and Pattern Designers
• Track and manage workflow for your team and ensure seasonal deadlines are met by maintaining the applicable areas of the Priority Checklist
• Participate in departmental and cross-departmental meetings, as appropriate

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

Qualifications / Required Skills

The Textile Designer will possess the following qualifications:

• Completion of a diploma or university degree in Fashion, Textile and/or Pattern Design
• 3 – 5 years of women’s apparel textile/print & pattern design experience working for a fashion apparel retailer
• Previous experience with broad range of women’s fashion
• Advanced understanding of the applied graphic process and fashion cycles
• Proficient working knowledge in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong layout and typography skills, with a great attention to detail
• Understands and stays current on trends and cultural influences
• 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

Additional Information

Salary: $70,000 - $90,000/year and Benefits (Extended Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life Insurance) + may be eligible for bonuses and salary increases, if applicable

Contact Information

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.

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!

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