Associate Design Director - Activewear

Our client, an apparel company, is looking for an Associate Design Director for Activewear to join their team in NYC!

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Design Director to establish and execute the creative vision, seasonal direction, and product strategy across activewear categories.
• Lead the design and development process from concept through production, ensuring products align with brand objectives, consumer needs, and market trends.
• Oversee seasonal assortments, driving innovation in silhouette, fabrication, color, print, and construction while maintaining commercial viability.
• Conduct in-depth trend, competitive, consumer, and market research to identify emerging opportunities and inform product direction.
• Collaborate closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, Sourcing, and Production teams to ensure successful execution of seasonal collections.
• Present seasonal concepts, product strategies, and collection reviews to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
• Guide the development of technical packages, CADs, color palettes, and product specifications to ensure design integrity throughout the development process.
• Manage multiple categories and projects simultaneously, ensuring adherence to seasonal calendars, milestones, and business objectives.
• Mentor, develop, and inspire design team members, fostering creativity, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Partner with overseas vendors and factories throughout the development process, providing direction and resolving design-related issues to achieve quality and performance standards.
• Drive innovation in performance fabrics, garment construction, fit, and functional details to enhance product performance and consumer experience.
• Support long-term brand growth initiatives by identifying white-space opportunities and recommending new product concepts and category expansions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Textile Design, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• 7–10+ years of activewear design experience, with demonstrated success designing performance and lifestyle active apparel.
• Proven leadership experience managing projects, influencing cross-functional teams, and mentoring designers.
• Strong understanding of activewear construction, fit, performance fabrics, garment engineering, and technical product development.
• Expertise in trend forecasting, color direction, fabric innovation, and consumer-driven product creation.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and PLM systems.
• Strong knowledge of the apparel development lifecycle, including sourcing, costing, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to balance creative vision with business objectives and commercial product strategies.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and storytelling skills with experience presenting to senior leadership.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience collaborating with domestic and international teams, vendors, and factory partners.
• Passion for fitness, wellness, and the activewear market, with a deep understanding of industry trends and consumer behavior.