Director of Design, Eliza J Dresses

Director of Design

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

Department: Eliza J Dresses

Reports To: President

About G-III Apparel Group:

G-III excels at bringing excitement and confidence to customers through the fashion we create. We are global experts in design, sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and marketing, which enables us to fuel the growth of a substantial portfolio of brands. With more than 30 licensed and owned brands, including some of the most sought-after names in global fashion, our success is driven by our team’s entrepreneurial spirit and our deep relationships across the industry.

Position Summary:

We are seeking an experienced and creative Director of Design to lead the development of compelling, commercially successful seasonal collections for Eliza J Dresses. This role will be responsible for defining and executing the creative direction, overseeing the full design lifecycle from initial concept through production, and ensuring each collection reflects the Eliza J brand identity while supporting business objectives.

The Director of Design will serve as both a creative leader and strategic partner, mentoring design talent, collaborating across departments, and translating seasonal trends into cohesive dress collections that balance creativity, fabrication, fit, and commercial relevance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and execute the seasonal design vision for Eliza J Dresses in alignment with brand identity, customer needs, and market positioning.
• Research current and emerging fashion trends and forecast their evolution within the Eliza J brand identity.
• Apply findings from research, including blogs, magazines, stores, street style, vintage exploration, and competitive market analysis, to develop seasonally relevant and cohesive collections.
• Build assortments that are well balanced across silhouette, fabrication, color, print, and overall merchandising strategy.
• Oversee the end-to-end design process from seasonal concept and initial sketching through final sample and production.
• Communicate seasonal concepts and design intent to overseas factories and request preliminary treatments, mock-ups, and development samples.
• Generate and oversee technical packages with clear silhouette, garment construction, fabrication, trim, and design information for overseas factories.
• Review prototypes, conduct fittings, and communicate design adjustments to overseas factories through photographs, specification notes, and diagram sketches.
• Evaluate collection development and sketch, revise, or refabricate styles as needed to support seasonal objectives, line plans, and SKU counts.
• Partner with mills, suppliers, and factories to source materials and develop innovative fabrics, trims, prints, and treatments.
• Ensure designs translate into high-quality garments that meet established fit, fabrication, construction, and brand standards.
• Partner closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, Production, Sales, and other cross-functional teams to ensure alignment between creative vision and commercial strategy.
• Support seasonal introductions and collection presentations in partnership with the Merchandising team.
• Present seasonal concepts and collections to senior leadership and incorporate feedback into final assortments.
• Follow garments through production with Production Managers, ensuring correct development and color allocation are applied to each body.
• Field merchandising requests and respond to evolving business needs throughout the season.
• Uphold design consistency across the collection to strengthen the overall Eliza J brand identity.
• Lead, coach, and develop members of the Design team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and creative excellence.
• Manage design resources and budgets while supporting established financial objectives.
• Continuously explore new design techniques, materials, fabrications, and opportunities for product innovation.

Who You Are:

• A visionary creative leader with extensive knowledge of women’s dresses and a balance of artistry and business acumen.
• A strategic thinker with a strong pulse on the women’s fashion market and the ability to translate trends into commercially relevant product.
• A mentor who empowers design teams through guidance, collaboration, and clear creative direction.
• A collaborative leader who builds strong partnerships acros…