Apparel Designer, Consumer Athletic Brand
Location: New York, NY
Compensation: $85K+, depending on experience
In-Office Policy: Hybrid (3 - 4 days per week in office)
My client, a fast-growing direct-to-consumer athletic brand based in New York City, is hiring an Apparel Designer to help define the next generation of performance lifestyle apparel. The brand is at an exciting inflection point—building on a strong foundation in activewear while expanding into new categories and deepening its connection with a passionate, active community.
This role is ideal for a designer who understands that the best athletic apparel works as hard as the people who wear it. The team is seeking someone who's equally comfortable designing technical performance gear and elevated everyday pieces—someone who can balance function, fit, and style while keeping the brand's voice clear and consistent. You'll work directly with the founder and a lean, collaborative team to design, develop, and bring products to life from concept through production
What You’ll Do
Lead apparel design from concept to production, including sketching, tech packs, fabric selection, fit sessions, and sample reviews
Develop seasonal collections that merge technical performance with lifestyle aesthetics, ensuring every piece solves a real problem for the customer
Conduct market research and trend analysis to identify opportunities and stay ahead of shifts in activewear, athleisure, and men's lifestyle
Partner with manufacturers and vendors to source innovative fabrics, trims, and construction methods that meet quality, performance, and cost targets
Build and maintain detailed tech packs and spec sheets, ensuring accuracy and consistency throughout the development process
Manage fit sessions and wear testing to ensure products meet functional requirements and brand standards
Collaborate with merchandising, product development, and marketing teams to ensure collections align with brand vision and business goals
Stay connected to the customer: understand how they move, what they need, and how the product shows up in their lives
Who You Are
4–6 years of apparel design experience, ideally in activewear, athleisure, or performance menswear
Strong technical design skills: proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, experienced in building tech packs, and knowledgeable about garment construction
You understand fit, fabric, and function—and know how to balance all three without compromise
Experience working with overseas manufacturers and managing production timelines from development through delivery
Organized and proactive: you can juggle multiple styles in development, keep everything on track, and move quickly when needed
You thrive in a fast-moving startup environment where you'll wear multiple hats and solve problems on the fly
Taste-driven and detail-obsessed: you have a sharp design eye and a high bar for quality and craftsmanship
You're excited by scrappy, all-hands-on-deck teams and take pride in doing work that matters
While not a must-have, ideally you have a personal connection to the world of athletics, fitness, or an active lifestyle—you understand the customer because you are the customer