Footwear and Bag Designer

Role: Footwear and Bag Designer

Department: Design

Contract: Full-Time, Fixed Term (9 months)

Location: Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1QJ

Working Arrangements: Hybrid Working (3 days per week office based)

Who are we?

For over 30 years, we’ve travelled, we’ve laughed, we’ve grown. We believe life is for living and more fun with those we love. Our purpose is to bring positivity to our customers lives through the clothes we make, the things we do and the values we have.

We are Made for Life. Trusted quality. Sustainably sourced. Proud to be a B Corp™.

**Equality and inclusion isn’t an aspiration but the standard. **We promote and drive equality within our workforce to ignite an inclusive foundation for us all to build and truly connect with our customers, colleagues, and communities alike. You play a key part in creating an environment free of prejudice, racism, sexism, harassment, bullying and any other form of marginalisation in our workplaces.

Role Summary

We are looking for a Leather goods Designer, working across footwear, bags and belts. This role will be following the Senior Designer's creative direction to design, source and develop footwear and bag ranges reflecting the brand, key trends and customer expectations. You will need to be able to drive newness and innovation on your areas, whilst following brand DNA.

Strong technical knowledge within shoes and bags is essential.

You will produce complete design packs, specs where needed, product developing with buyer and briefing suppliers. Working with initial trend research through to developments, then on to confirmed samples and approvals working with the buying team, you will work closely to ensure the range is new and on brand. This role will report directly into the Senior Designer.

Role Responsibilities

• To design exclusive footwear and bags with a high level of detail, quality and range attributes across Women’s and Men’s
• Driving newness, keeping on top of relevant current and future trends for your areas, identify new shapes and deliver commercial products that fit the FatFace brand
• To work in conjunction with the Senior Designer and Buyer to design an entire footwear and bag range considering brand handwriting and DNA and option plan
• Must be fully competent in creating design packs, CADs and artworks to achieve high quality first samples within the critical path timing
• Create detailed sketches, technical drawings, and digital renderings of footwear designs, considering factors such as comfort, functionality, durability, and trend. Ensure that designs meet the brand's quality standards and manufacturing feasibility
• Conduct market research to identify what the latest trends are and always having a strong commercial awareness of key competitors
• Continually reviewing the range with your buyer to ensure choice and newness is offered. As well as ensuring to potentialise on best sellers and identify any missed opportunities
• Design and product develop ranges with the Buyer based on sales and trend information. Work closely in your design and buying team to identify key brand trends and present: material, colour, theme, silhouette and detail fit for the season
• Liaising with suppliers on product, design detail and fabrics
• Present ranges to team and Senior team each season, ensuring you present your product vision for your area, identify the key trends and backing the product you feel strongly for
• Adapt and improve your designs based on feedback by buying and management, and react to current trade across the business
• To develop an awareness of what is/ isn’t selling and to build this information into future plans
• Responsible for the range review meeting and 1st sample review identifying any gaps
• Support Senior Designer in research themes and directions for Design Presentation, contributing to mood, and trends happening
• Align self to companies social and environmental mission and champion any actions that you can directly impact at all times’

Skills and Experience

• Degree or equivalent in Design based subject
• At least 3+ years’ experience working for a relevant brand at Design level
• Strong technical knowledge within shoes and bags is essential
• Expert knowledge of Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign
• Experience working with cross -functional teams, like designers, buying and merchandisers, account managers and suppliers
• Excellent organisational and time management skills while maintaining attention to detail
• Strong research skills
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple deadlines and cope with heavy workloads
• Excellent communication and presentation skills

Role Competencies

• Strong eye for trends and understanding of the FatFace brand
• Be organised, a self – starter and able to prioritise own workload
• Strong technical knowledge within shoes and bags is essential
• Ability to convey designs starting with paper to 3D design
• Good Knowledge of Factory processes and be able to articulate yourself clearly and confidently when communicating and briefing our suppliers
• Creative and able to convey vision of Fat Face Brand
• Comprehensive understanding of customer profile, product range & competitors
• Demonstrate knowledge of trend within the marketplace
• Be resilient in working at pace, adapting to change and open to constructive feedback
• You should thrive and be able to organise and prioritise own workload
• Work well within a collaborative, team focused environment, meeting tight deadlines and sticking to critical path
• Presents key trends and product information to the appropriate teams
• Undertakes research trips, buying suitable samples for use in range development

Key Contacts and Relationships

Internal:

• Product team – Design, Buying and Merchandising

External:

• Suppliers

Accountable Resources

Represents the brand image and handwriting – impacting on a wide area of customer facing brand collateral and seasonal communications. The visual proposition of these assets can strongly effect sales, plus both brand integrity and customer brand loyalty.

FatFace Benefits

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Perkbox our online platform to use from day one (this includes amazing online discounts, home workouts, wellbeing content, popular brand discounts etc.)
• THRIVE – Our learning management system- access from day one with 1000’s of pieces of learning
• Dental Insurance (employee funded)
• Pension scheme
• EAP support around the clock- UNUM/Retail Trust/ Fashion Textiles Support
• Critical illness/Death in service for Salaried staff
• Sick pay allowances
• O2 phone discount
• Eye Tests/contributions to glasses
• Sabbatical leave in line with service
• Enhanced Family Friendly policies i.e. Maternity Leave
• Refer a friend scheme