Design and Development Assistant - Luxury RTW

Design and Development Assistant- Luxury RTW

About the Role

Women’s luxury brand is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented Design and Development Assistant to support the development of luxury contemporary apparel collections. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys both the creative and operational sides of product development and thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Working closely with the Head of Design & Development, company leadership, and cross-functional partners, the Design Assistant will help bring each collection to life from initial concept through development, sampling, and production readiness.

Responsibilities

Design Support

• Assist with the development of seasonal collections across knitwear, cut-and-sew, wovens, and accessories.
• Prepare and maintain design boards, mood boards, inspiration presentations, color palettes, style boards, line sheets, and assortment overviews.
• Create sketches and update design detail pages, using AI tools when appropriate.
• Help prepare presentations for internal reviews, sales meetings, and merchandising needs.
• Organize seasonal artwork, trims, graphics, and reference materials.

Product Development

• Organize and maintain fabric, yarn, trim, and color swatch libraries.
• Source fabrics, yarns, trims, and development materials from domestic and international vendors.
• Request and track development submissions, including lab dips, strike-offs, knit-downs, and fabric samples.
• Place and track development purchase orders for fabrics, yarns, and trims.
• Follow up with mills, factories, and vendors on sample status and development timelines.
• Support seasonal development calendars and track prototypes, fit samples, pre-production samples, salesman samples, and approvals.
• Prepare sample packages and coordinate incoming and outgoing shipments.

Technical & Organizational Support

• Assist with creating and updating tech packs, including revised sketches as needed.
• Maintain accurate bills of materials, product specifications, and seasonal trackers.
• Keep style files organized and current throughout the development cycle.
• Support fit sessions by preparing samples, taking notes, and updating revisions.
• Track styles, fabrics, colors, trims, approvals, and delivery milestones.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Communicate regularly with mills, factories, and vendors regarding development progress.
• Partner with Production, Technical Design, E-Commerce, and Operations teams as needed.
• Help troubleshoot development issues while preserving design intent.
• Support special projects and brand collaborations as the business grows.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience in apparel design, product development, or a related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or a related discipline preferred.
• Strong understanding of garment construction and apparel development.
• Experience with tech packs, apparel specifications, and bills of materials.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Excellent organizational, project management, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and shifting deadlines with strong attention to detail.
• ERP or PLM experience is a plus, but not required.
• A positive, hands-on attitude and willingness to contribute wherever needed.