Assistant Designer

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Assistant Designer to join the Karl Lagerfeld Paris Sportswear team, with a focus on the woven category. This role will support the design and development of seasonal woven product that balances commercial viability with elevated, brand-right fashion. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career designer looking to develop their technical and creative skills within a fast-paced wholesale fashion environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Woven Design team throughout the seasonal design and product development process, from initial concept through production.
• Complete design packages, including technical sketches, tech packs, line sheets, and other development materials.
• Prepare and maintain detailed tech packs and ensure design information remains accurate and up to date throughout development.
• Assist with the development of seasonal woven styles, including tops, blouses, shirts, dresses, skirts, pants, and other sportswear categories.
• Submit, track, and organize artwork, strike-offs, lab dips, trims, fabric approvals, and other development materials.
• Research seasonal trends, silhouettes, fabrics, trims, colors, and details relevant to the Karl Lagerfeld Paris brand aesthetic.
• Assist in sourcing and organizing woven fabrics, trims, and seasonal inspiration.
• Organize and maintain design development materials, including artwork, fabric worksheets, finalized tech packs, line lists, and sample information.
• Communicate with overseas factories and cross-functional partners to support timely and accurate product development.
• Manage assigned responsibilities against the Time and Action Calendar to ensure seasonal deadlines are met.
• Prepare presentation materials and support seasonal design reviews and line presentations.
• Maintain fabric and trim libraries and assist with sample tracking, organization, and preparation.

Who You Are

• A collaborative team player who enjoys supporting a fast-paced design team.
• Highly detail-oriented with strong organizational and follow-through skills.
• Eager to learn and develop both creative and technical design skills.
• Knowledgeable about or interested in contemporary women’s sportswear and woven product.
• A creative thinker with an eye for trend, color, fabrication, silhouette, and detail.
• A strong communicator who can effectively collaborate with design leadership, cross-functional partners, and overseas teams.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or a related field preferred.
• Approximately 1 year of apparel design experience, with woven category experience strongly preferred.
• Recent fashion design graduates with strong, relevant internship experience will also be considered.
• Understanding of woven fabrics, garment construction, fit, and apparel development preferred.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience creating technical sketches and assisting with tech packs preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Location

• New York City, Midtown Manhattan – Fashion District (On-Site)

Department

• Design – Karl Lagerfeld Paris Sportswear

Reports To

• VP of Design

Compensation

• Competitive hourly compensation
• The pay range for this position is $24.04–$31.25/hour ($50,000–$65,000 annually) (non-exempt).