VP Design - Contemporary Women's - New York

Location: New York

Category: Multi-Category Women’s Apparel - Denim, Sweaters and Elevated Fashion

Customer: Major National Retailer | Private Label

We are partnering with an established apparel business seeking a Vice President Design to lead the creative vision and product strategy for a major private-label retail customer.

This is a senior design leadership role for a commercially minded creative executive with broad apparel experience, strong expertise across denim, sweaters and elevated fashion, and a track record of developing successful product for major national retailers.

The successful candidate will act as the senior design partner to the customer, leading seasonal direction, product innovation and category growth while managing and developing a high-performing design organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creative vision and seasonal design strategy across multiple private-label apparel categories.
• Drive product direction and innovation across denim, sweaters, elevated fashion and other strategic growth areas.
• Serve as the senior design partner to the customer, presenting seasonal concepts, trend direction and long-term product strategies.
• Translate emerging fashion, consumer and marketplace trends into commercially successful assortments.
• Partner with Account Management, Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, Sourcing and global teams to deliver product from concept through commercialization.
• Drive innovation across silhouettes, fabrics, color, print, trim, washes and garment development while balancing creativity, cost and profitability.
• Identify opportunities to expand categories and grow the customer’s private-label business through new concepts and product initiatives.
• Build, mentor and develop the design team while strengthening collaboration with global sourcing and manufacturing partners.

Candidate Profile

• 15+ years of progressive apparel design experience, including leadership within a private-label business.
• Proven experience leading design for a major national retailer across multiple apparel categories.
• Strong expertise in denim, sweaters, elevated fashion and contemporary product development.
• Exceptional creative vision combined with strong commercial awareness and an understanding of what drives retail performance.
• Strong knowledge of product development, garment construction, fabrication, sourcing and manufacturing.
• Track record of building senior-level customer relationships and influencing strategic product decisions.
• Experienced in building, mentoring and leading high-performing creative teams.
• Excellent presentation, communication and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced customer-led environment.

This is an opportunity to lead the creative direction of a significant private-label apparel business, shaping product strategy, driving innovation and supporting long-term customer growth.