Menswear Designer

Job description

We are PASSIONATE. We are AMBITIOUS. We are COMMITTED. We are AYBL. Ranked the number one fastest-growing private company in The Sunday Times 100 2022, AYBL has quickly become one of the most iconic women’s activewear brands worldwide since launching in the UK in 2018. With a mission to unite women through their love for fitness , we are dedicated to providing high quality, affordable activewear which seamlessly combines comfort, confidence and style. From this, our ethos “AYBL to believe, AYBL to achieve” was born. Built on ambition, we only strive to be the very best. This means we want people who are equally ambitious, know when to take risks and consider themselves the best in their field. As a brand, we pride ourselves on diversity and inclusion. That means all opportunities are equal opportunities. We value skills, we value individuality and above all, we value passion. Therefore, we will not tolerate discrimination of any sort. The opportunities right now are limitless. We are looking to hire genuine people who demonstrate authenticity and a unique way of thinking. As we grow, you’ll grow too. Main Purpose of the Role AYBL are seeking an exceptionally talented and driven Menswear Designer to support and strengthen our product offering through the creation of innovative, high-quality products. This role will play a key part in shaping the future direction of our menswear categories, ensuring every product aligns with AYBL’s brand image and customer expectations across shape, fit, fabric, colour and trend direction. In this role, you will work closely with our Menswear Designer to take ownership of the design and development process from initial concept through to booking, combining technical understanding with strong commercial awareness and excellent organisation to deliver product that inspires and elevates the AYBL menswear offering. Key Responsibilities Contribute to the creative direction of AYBL’s menswear categories, taking ownership of the design process from concept creation through to booking. Design and develop innovative products across multiple menswear categories, ensuring all designs meet both functional and aesthetic requirements. Collaborate with the Womenswear Designers to ensure clear consistency across ranges. Consistently research, analyse and stay up to date with current and emerging trends in fabrics, colours, silhouettes and design features through comparison shopping, industry awareness and analysis of existing AYBL product. Create inspiring mood boards, sketches, CADs, patterns and graphic designs that align with AYBL’s brand image and customer needs. Present seasonal concepts and designs at CAD sign-off meetings to Directors, the Senior Designer and wider cross-functional teams. Prepare presentation materials, range boards and supporting documents ahead of sign-off and review meetings. Produce detailed and accurate tech packs, providing clear guidance to overseas suppliers on construction, fabrication, fit and key details to ensure a high sampling hit rate. Work closely with the Garment Technologist team, attending fit sessions and confidently communicating design comments and amendments to refine fit and function. Record and circulate fit session comments, meeting notes and agreed actions, following up to ensure deadlines are met. Create, maintain and update monthly launch range plans, clearly communicating upcoming menswear launches to the wider business. Support the Junior Designers to maintain accurate sample progress trackers, monitoring development across current design seasons and supporting timely delivery against critical paths. Log, label and track incoming and outgoing samples, maintaining an organised sample room and seasonal archive. Maintain accurate product information on internal systems (e.g. PLM or shared trackers), including style numbers, colourways, costings and supplier details. Manage day-to-day supplier correspondence, keeping clear records of communications, approvals and amendments. Request and organise fabric swatches, trims and lab dips, keeping libraries up to date and easy to access for the team. Keep design files, CADs and asset folders well organised, correctly named and stored in line with team processes. Support the wider Design Team with any additional duties as required by your manager. Person Specification Minimum 3 years’ experience in a similar role Degree in Fashion Design or similar Knowledge and understanding of pattern cutting, grading and garment construction Ability to CAD and a competent user of Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) Confident user of Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, particularly Excel/Sheets for trackers and range plans Previous experience communicating with overseas suppliers Excellent written English and verbal communication skills Strong creative skills and understanding of brand guidelines Strong attention to detail and accuracy in record keeping Driven work ethic, taking ownership of your work and role Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines Ability to take constructive feedback on designs Passionate about making a difference Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks at once Experience using PLM systems would be advantageous Perks 💰 Discretionary yearly bonus 🏖️ 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays + your birthday off 🏠 Flexible working 💻 35 working hours per week with 1 hour lunch break 🛍️ 50% staff discount across AYBL Group 🍸 Social events 💸 Pension scheme 🚗 Free on-site parking 🏋️ Free gym membership 💳 £100 gift card upon joining 💚Employee wellbeing support Location Our home is located in Redditch, South Birmingham, with easy access routes to the M5/M42, a 20-minute walk to the train station, as well as many bus routes. Not forgetting Arrow Valley Lake which is a stone’s throw away and a beautiful spot to get those steps in or enjoy your lunch with a view. We're also excited to be moving to a new home in Solihull soon, so it's important you're able to travel there as well as to Redditch.