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About the Role
Lead the creative vision across Menswear, Womenswear and Kidswear, weaving storytelling and marketing into every decision from first sketch to final campaign. Set seasonal direction, shape a monthly drop strategy, and lead a design team of around fifteen toward one clear, ambitious point of view, while protecting the brand's established quality, comfort, and craftsmanship. Bring an instinctive read on effortless style, informed by heritage and future trends, and lead through your team by nurturing commercial expression and building a proud studio culture. Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Development, Sourcing, Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, Ecommerce, and Retail at a senior leadership level, representing design and product at the executive table.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design team, seasonal direction and monthly drop strategy, guiding a team of around fifteen toward a unified creative vision.
- Set seasonal themes, colour palettes, fabric direction and silhouette evolution for every drop.
- Build an aspirational top layer while elevating specific categories and perfecting the everyday.
- Track emerging European and global trends, adapting them intelligently and authentically for the North American customer.
- Shape cohesive concepts that support storytelling and outfit building across the full assortment.
- Balance newness with functional ease, performance and commercial focus.
- Use consumer insight and sales data to sharpen creative direction, pairing instinct with evidence.
- Lead multi-category design with close attention to proportion, fit, construction and lifestyle use.
- Partner with Buying to build design-led, commercially sound assortments.
- Lead fabric direction, partnering with international mills and vendor partners.
- Oversee fit sessions, sampling and development alongside the technical design team.
- Maintain calendar discipline, ensuring accuracy and alignment from concept through final sample.
- Own the design budget and margin targets in partnership with Merchandising and Sourcing, balancing ambition with commercial reality.
- Champion responsible and sustainable material choices, and support the brand's craftsmanship and ethical sourcing commitments, including relationships with owned or specialist manufacturing partners.
- Work closely with Buying, Sourcing, Technical Design, Product Development and Production teams.
- Communicate design intent clearly through seasonal briefs, sketches, tech packs, mood boards and design presentations.
- Partner with Marketing to reflect storytelling in seasonal themes and capsules, engaging the target audience meaningfully.
- Present seasonal vision and product strategy to executive leadership, translating creative direction into commercial confidence at the highest level.
- Support business objectives through informed product decision making and design leadership.
- Guide brand collaborations and capsule partnerships, ensuring they extend the brand's story rather than dilute it.
- Mentor and guide the design team with clear vision, structure and creative leadership.
- Provide seasonal briefings, constructive feedback and ongoing skill development.
- Build a talent pipeline and succession plan within the design function, developing the next generation of design leaders.
- Foster a collaborative studio culture defined by curiosity, accountability, calm problem-solving and cross-functional partnership.
Requirements
- Educated to degree level or above in Fashion Design.
- 12+ years of experience in fashion design operating at VP or equivalent level, spearheading retailers or brands.
- Proven ability to drive modern, commercially successful multi-category collections and capsules.
- Skilled in identifying European and global trends and translating them for the North American market.
- Elevated fashion eye, with expertise in capturing key trends and leading fabric direction.
- Experience working with global mills and vendors, including artisan manufacturing partnerships.
- Strong understanding of garment construction, fit and technical development.
- Commercial fluency, including budget ownership, margin management and cost negotiation.
- Experience navigating cross-border sourcing and supply chain considerations relevant to the Canadian and US markets.
- Excellent communication, presentation and organisational skills, including comfort presenting to senior executive audiences.
- Demonstrated experience leading, nurturing and inspiring design teams in a fast-paced environment.
Skills
- Fashion Design
- Creative Direction
- Seasonal Planning
- Product Development
- Trend Identification
- Fabric Direction
- Garment Construction
- Fit and Technical Development
- Commercial Acumen
- Budget Management
- Margin Management
- Cost Negotiation
- Cross-border Sourcing
- Supply Chain Management
- Communication
- Presentation
- Organizational Skills
- Team Leadership
- Mentoring
- Team Development
- Collaborative Culture Building
Location
- Toronto, Canada
Work Type
- Hybrid
- On Site
Experience Level
- VP or equivalent level
Education Level
- Degree level or above in Fashion Design
Salary/Compensations
- Competitive salary aligned with experience
Benefits
- Healthcare
- Relocation assistance
About the Company
- A fashion brand with real emotional equity, trusted with the everyday moments of the people who love it.
- Leading a search to write the next chapter for a fashion brand ready to sharpen its edge.
- A brand that already commands deep affection.