Job Details
Sugartown Worldwide LLC
King of Prussia, PA - Home Office
Pennsylvania**Job Description**
The Assistant Fashion Designer, Knit Dresses is responsible to create original designs of Lilly Pulitzer merchandise and assist with all stages of design development. The objectives and product strategies are to develop innovative designs that delight the customer, have high retail sell through and contribute to the profitable growth of the Company.
This position is responsible primarily to assist with silhouette and artwork development, organization, communication, design boards and fashion illustrations. The eight primary responsibilities of the Assistant Fashion Designer, Knit Dresses are as follows:
* understand the Lilly Pulitzer customer, lifestyle, and positioning in the marketplace;
* create original silhouette and artwork designs that increase full price net sales, have high full price retail sell through and contribute to the profitable growth of the company;
* assist with design boards, fashion illustrations and any other documents and exhibits deemed necessary;
* maintain styles each season in Centric PLM
* initiate trim sourcing and development;
* participate in Woven Dress trend research
* perform other duties as required by design; and,
* maintain all activities consistent with the product development calendar.
The eight primary responsibilities are discussed below.
**Understand the Lilly Pulitzer** **Customer and Positioning in the Marketplace.**
* Lilly Pulitzer is a lifestyle, branded marketing company in the apparel, accessories and footwear business serving the needs of the affluent customer at ease. The companys brand positioning is Lillys Resort Chic. Key competitive advantages for Lilly Pulitzer are prints, authentic resort, optimism and multigenerational. These create the emotional connection of the customer to the brand.
* Know and appreciate the Lilly Pulitzer customer. This includes understanding the taste, fashion and lifestyle preferences and characteristics of the customer. The adult customer has a broad age range in three life stages. Recognize why the customer purchases Lilly Pulitzer merchandise instead of competing products. Translate this into products that delight the customer and sell effectively.
* Visit first hand locations where the Lilly Pulitzer customer lives the lifestyle and shops for Lilly Pulitzer merchandise.
* Spend sufficient time in retail stores and on-line to understand the customer, merchandise and marketplace. Visit Lilly Pulitzer stores; understand what is selling at retail and competitive trends. Additionally, review the Lilly Pulitzer website and direct customer feedback.
**Create Original and Innovative Knit Dress Fashion Designs that Delight the Lilly Pulitzer** **Customer, Increase Full Price Net Sales, Have High Full Price Retail Sell Through and Contribute to the Profitable Growth of the Company.**
* Assist with the design & development of silhouettes and artwork, as directed by the Senior Fashion Designer, Knit Dresses, and Fashion Design Manager, Dresses and Woven Tops and Sample Room Supervisor.
* Develop innovative knit dress designs appropriate for Lilly Pulitzer that are successful at retail.
* Merchandise that contributes to the profitable growth of the company is merchandise that meets margin goals and has high sell retail sell through to grow the business.
* Build on and protect established core product, applying subtle design updates as needed. Reference top-performing styles for fit and attributes that resonate with the consumer.
* Assist with the development of artwork, embroidery, appliqu and embellishments on a seasonal basis.
* Assist the Senior Fashion Designer in respect to the interface with Product Development, Technical Design and the Sample Room. This is for prototype samples, initial fit samples, sales samples and final production specifications. Provide clear technical diagrams and descriptions to Technical Design and Sample Room to understand Fashion Designs intent for the style.
* Review samples at all stages. Communicate any changes and corrections to be made and ensure any updates are accurately reflected in Centric PLM, the Master Boards and any other related documents, as necessary.
**Assist with Design Boards, Fashion Illustrations and Any Other Documents and Exhibits Deemed Necessary.**
* Assist with developing and updating design boards and presentation materials as necessary throughout the season to reflect all current editing of the line; from the initial design meetings through on-sale, until the final line is presented on sale.
* Illustrate flats and prepare Computer Aided Designs for presentations.
* Assist with the preparation of certain material required for presenting the assigned segment of the line for SMS meetings and on-sale. This includes the line sheets, presented in the recommended way to show the line, and some sales collateral material.
**Maintain Styles Each Season in Centric PLM**
* Every style in the line assortment needs to be entered and maintained in Centric PLM.
* Each style in the line needs to have a proper Bill of Materials created and passed off to Technical Design and Product Development each season.
* After seasonal Review meetings, Centric PLM, and Boards need to be updated accordingly.
**Initiate Trim Sourcing and Development.**
* Understand the importance of trim to increase the value of Lilly Pulitzer product.
* Work closely with the Color, Fabric and Trim team to research and develop trim that is brand right and cost effective. Utilize and source existing trim where possible.
* Understand trim applications appropriate for each style and work with Product Development to achieve the vision of the product in a cost-effective manner.
**Participate in Knit Dress Trend Research.**
* Shop the market and review seasonal runways for new innovative ideas and details.
* Conduct market research related to fashion trends. This includes fabrics, color, silhouettes, and trims.
* Understand trends and how to relate them to the Lilly customer.
* Assist with developing and contributing to seasonal trend reports.
**Perform Other Duties as may be Required by Design.**
* Maintain supplies as needed, this can be done in partnership with the Woven Dress Team.
* Assist in fit comment follow-up with Product Development and Technical Design with complete details for executing quality garments.
* Organize samples, information, and files for efficient management of the department. Maintain organization of the design closet so that garments and trim submits are well catalogued.
* Communicate daily & build relationships with team members as appropriate to inspire an open communication flow with attention to details to achieve superior products.
* Perform other duties as may be required.
**Maintain All Activities Consistent with the Product Development Calendar.**
* Operate within company product development calendar to meet outlined goals and deadlines. Ensure design boards are accurate prior to major development meetings and Final Price Approval.
**SKILLS REQUIRED TO PERFORM SUCCESSFULLY:**
* The taste level and fashion sense to understand the Lilly Pulitzer customer and to design fashion merchandise which appeals to the Lilly customer.
* Genuine excitement for the Lilly Pulitzer concept. The Assistant Fashion Designer, Knit Dresses must share the vision for the merchandise, consistent with the positioning in the marketplace. The Associate Fashion Designer, Knit Dresses needs to understand and appreciate the brand and the customer.
* A fashion point of view and attitude which are appropriate for Lilly Pulitzer.
* Proficient skills in silhouette, artwork and trim development.
* An understanding of how print, patterns and color translate into dresses.
* Proficiency in Computer Aided Design, Centric PLM, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe XD is required. The Assistant F