Catalyst Creative Group:
MEN'S SENIOR APPAREL DESIGNER – SMU & PRIVATE LABEL Job in Irvine, California

A TREND-LEADER IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY

Catalyst Creative Group, based in Irvine, CA, is a leading force in Men's apparel Design and Manufacturing. Alongside crafting our brands and licenses (Ezekiel, Party Pants, Dockers), we excel in private-label apparel design and manufacturing. Our core mission is to provide solutions that elevate our customers' brands, products, margins, and sell-through performance. Trusted by top brands and retailers across America, such as Nordstrom, Levi's, Target, Tilly's, Buckle, Kohls's, Walmart, Bootbarn, etc, our exceptional trend forecasting, and apparel products have been instrumental in helping our clients expand their market share.

Our success is driven by our dedicated team of "A Players." These individuals embody passion, positivity, sound judgment, strong initiative, and a sense of ownership, driving our company's achievements and ensuring our customers receive unparalleled service and quality. If these traits sound like you, we’d love to chat with you about this opportunity to join our fast growing company!

POSITION TITLE

MEN'S SENIOR APPAREL DESIGNER – SMU & PRIVATE LABEL

LOCATION INFORMATION

Irvine, CA - This position cannot be done remotely.

BENEFITS

Full-Time, Regular Employees receive two weeks’ paid vacation, one week's paid sick leave, and ten paid holidays (8 days + 2 floating). Employees may elect to participate in our health care plan (health, dental, or vision) with 100% of the employees’ costs paid by Catalyst (dependents may also join the plan with their premium paid by the employee). Catalyst offers a 401k match, Health Savings Accounts and reduced Friday hours during the summer months.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This key position will work directly with internal Design and Sales teams and with Accounts. This position is responsible for designing seasonal fashion collections consisting of Men’s tops, bottoms, and swimwear. This position requires a strong understanding of garment constructions, fabric bases, and general design details. The ideal candidate will possess a strategic and commercial mindset and have an excellent awareness of fashion and color trends.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As SENIOR APPAREL DESIGNER – SMU & PRIVATE LABEL, you will lead the design efforts for our private label seasonal collection and SMU. Your primary duties include:

Design/Trend/Intel:

-Stay updated on current fashion trends, consumer preferences, and market demands to guide design choices and provide informed customer recommendations.

-Spearhead the creation and execution of product presentations, including samples, market intelligence, trend analysis, and assortment recommendations.

-Provide guidance, mentorship, and management to junior designers, fostering their growth and development while leading them to develop effective product assortments that meet the diverse needs of our mass and private label customers, including all SMU requests.

-Collaborate with the SMS/Branded team to align seasonal collections with future customer needs.

Customers:

-Bring organized research and proposals to design workshops with customers to generate new ideas and opportunities to drive growth.

-Build strong relationships with private label and SMU clients, serving as a trusted advisor and creative partner.

-Represent the company during customer visits, collaborating with team members to address client needs and foster strong relationships. This will require periodic travel.

Execution:

-Maintain adherence to internal and customer calendar dates, ensuring timely delivery of product presentations and meeting customer needs.

-Manage multiple projects simultaneously, adhering to strict timelines and budget constraints.

-Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution of private label and SMU design initiatives.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED:

-A minimum of 5 years of experience in the apparel design industry preferably in Young Men’s fashion, surf/skate, streetwear, and lifestyle industry

-Having experience in graphic design will add to the candidate’s suitability

-Extensive knowledge of Illustrator, Photoshop, and In-Design

-This position requires a strong understanding of garment constructions, fabric bases, and general construction details

-Comprehensive understanding of design process, solid flat sketching skills and excellent design and color sense

-Team player and works well in a fast-paced environment

-Detail Oriented and organized

-Strong Oral and written communication skills at all levels