Freelance Senior Knitwear Designer

About Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger, which was acquired by PVH Corp. in 2010, is a global apparel and retail company with more than 16,000 associates worldwide. With the support of strong global consumer recognition, Tommy Hilfiger has built an extensive distribution network in over 90 countries and more than 1,400 retail stores throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and the Asia Pacific region. Global retail sales of the Tommy Hilfiger brand were $9.2 billion in 2019

Founded in 1985, Tommy Hilfiger delivers premium styling, quality and value to consumers worldwide with a brand portfolio that includes TOMMY HILFIGER and TOMMY JEANS.

Tommy Hilfiger is one of the world?s most recognized premium designer lifestyle groups and is recognized for celebrating the essence of ?classic American cool? style, featuring preppy with a twist designs.

Its focus is designing and marketing high-quality men?s tailored clothing and sportswear, women?s collection apparel and sportswear, kidswear, denim collections, underwear (including robes, sleepwear and loungewear), footwear and accessories. Through select licensees, Tommy Hilfiger offers complementary lifestyle products such as eyewear, watches, fragrance, swimwear, socks, small leather goods, home goods and luggage.

The Team

The Tommy Hilfiger Womenswear division is one of the main business drivers within Tommy Hilfiger Europe. Based in the Amsterdam European HQ, the team is split into 4 sub teams: Design, Production, Sourcing & Development, Buying & Planning and Merchandising & Sales

These 4 teams work together in an informal setting to create superbly styled and high-end quality products for the European consumer base. Tommy Hilfiger Womenswear presents 4 collections per year (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter).

The Position

The Senior Designer for Knitwear is part of the Tommy Hilfiger Womenswear team and is responsible for designing and executing seasonal collections.

The Senior Designer has a strong understanding of the product they are responsible for and works closely with another Senior Designer, Design Director, VP WSW, and Assistant designer as well as Product Development team handling that same category. The Senior Designer will also partner with other members of the Design Team to create a cohesive collection that is aligned across product groups with clear story telling reflecting seasonal concept ideas. The Senior Designer will collaborate with the print and pattern team to ensure the print and design work lends itself to knitwear techniques and executions.

The Senior Designer has a strong understanding of the Knitwear Category and a high level of yarn knowledge, with experience across all product including sweaters, cardigan, dresses and pants/skirts. The Senior Knitwear Designer needs to have a good understanding of trends, shape/silhouette, knit constructions and yarn content and how these can be interpreted into brand right product.

The key objective is to ensure creative commercial product is designed and developed for the Womenswear division, in line with the Tommy Hilfiger brand identity.

Key Responsibilities:

   Researching and identifying trends that work within the Tommy Hilfiger brand strategy, translating these into product in line with the seasonal concept direction

   Strong understanding of flat-knit product is a must, with a keen eye for details and attention to the functionality of the product

   High level yarn knowledge of content and yarn counts, plus a strong technical understanding of fits and knitted constructions

   Translate trends into commercial collections together with the Design Director

   Focus on updates to commercial core product whilst also adding newness, novelty and innovation

   Working to the Divisional Calendar to meet deadlines

   Be able to work to a commercial Range Plan each season, collaborating with the Merchandising team on best seller management, Essential product and seasonal newness

   Preparing all sketches (2D & 3D) for divisional digital presentations and to focus on the follow up of each style

   Prepare all selected and confirmed styles to be digitalized, with garment worksheets and PLM completed to a high standard for sending to joint venture and buying offices globally

   Working closely and communicating daily on challenges and changes that arise during the development of styles. Partner with the Product Developer to ensure a smooth work flow each season

   Understanding and sourcing qualities, trims and knitted details that fit in the Tommy Hilfiger aesthetic

   Work closely with the Design Team to align design aesthetics, seasonal details and creative big ideas

   Work closely with Tech and Product Development teams on garment fittings, based on block systems and new seasonal complex styles. Ensure all styles are to the highest possible standard and help find solutions to any problems that may come up during the fitting process

   Responsible to follow up on selected sourcing and yarns each season with the Product Developer. Supports and partners with the Product Developer to execute each style, making sure that the Tommy Hilfiger DNA is seen in every garment

   Work well in a team environment, utilizing strong communication skills.

The Ideal Candidate:

   5-6 years of experience in Fashion Design with 2 full years of experience in Knitwear

   Graduated at a degree level or equivalent

   Excellent computer skills (Illustrator/Photoshop) & hand-drawn skills

   Business English fluency (both written and verbal)

   Ability to translate trends into a commercial collection with a contemporary handwriting

   Is able to work in a highly productive, sometime hectic environment with a hands-on mentality

   Ability to travel within Europe for supplier visits

For creative projects:

Please include an up to date portfolio with your application. We would love to see your aesthetic as well how you commercially design to understand why this is THE role for you!

PVH Europe and our brands, TOMMY HILFIGER and CALVIN KLEIN, are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community of associates with a strong sense of belonging. We believe we are bettered by all forms of diversity, and take pride in working with top talent from every walk of life and corner of the world. In the spirit of inclusivity, qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, ethnicity, ability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation.