Sportswear Apparel Designer

Apparel Designer - Lifestyle & Sportswear (Contract)

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a talented Apparel Designer to support a seasonal product initiative within a global lifestyle and sportswear organization. This contract opportunity is ideal for a creative designer who can bring fresh perspectives, translate cultural and consumer insights into product concepts, and execute apparel designs from initial ideation through production.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in cut-and-sew apparel design, understands lifestyle-driven sportswear, and has experience creating technical packages while collaborating with cross-functional partners including product development, materials, merchandising, and manufacturing teams.

What You'll Do

• Develop innovative apparel concepts aligned with seasonal creative direction and consumer trends
• Design and refine lifestyle-focused apparel collections across categories including men's and women's apparel
• Create and maintain detailed technical packs (tech packs) to communicate design intent, construction details, measurements, and specifications to manufacturing partners
• Revise existing seasonal designs while introducing fresh creative ideas and new approaches
• Support the full product creation process from concept development through prototyping, refinement, and final execution
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product management, merchandising, materials, technical development, sourcing, and external partners
• Explore new materials, trims, silhouettes, graphics, and construction techniques to elevate product innovation
• Create compelling design presentations and communicate design rationale to internal stakeholders
• Maintain creative intent while balancing product timelines, operational requirements, and production considerations

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in apparel design, specifically cut-and-sew apparel development
• Bachelor's degree in Apparel Design, Fashion Design, or related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Strong portfolio demonstrating a range of design styles, categories, and lifestyle-focused sportswear work
• Experience designing apparel collections from concept through production
• Proven experience creating technical packages/tech packs and partnering with manufacturers
• Strong understanding of apparel construction, materials, trims, color, and fit
• Ability to sketch, illustrate, and communicate concepts through both analog and digital design methods
• Proficiency with Adobe Illustrator and other digital design tools
• Strong presentation skills with the ability to explain creative concepts and design decisions

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing lifestyle apparel for both men's and women's categories
• Background in sportswear, streetwear, fashion, or consumer lifestyle brands
• Experience with color and materials design
• Experience designing apparel graphics and accessories
• Knowledge of youth culture, sport culture, fashion trends, and emerging consumer communities
• Experience supporting collaborations, partnerships, or limited-edition collections
• Experience with 3D apparel design tools such as CLO 3D or similar platforms

Portfolio Requirements

Candidates must provide a portfolio showcasing:

• A broad range of apparel design work and creative styles
• Lifestyle-focused sportswear or fashion apparel
• Cut-and-sew garment design experience
• Material, color, and construction knowledge
• Product development examples from concept through execution

Contract Details

• Contract length: Approximately 21 weeks
• Start date: ASAP
• Location: Local candidates preferred
• Collaborative role working alongside experienced apparel designers on seasonal product initiatives
  

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