Senior Designer - Women's Denim

Our Story

At Madewell, we believe that great style starts with great design. Since 2006, we’ve been creating premium denim and foundational wardrobe pieces for men and women that balance quality, authenticity, and versatility. From iconic jeans perfected by denim experts to the essential tee, the most versatile shoe, and the timeless leather bag—if it’s Madewell, it’s made well.

Our dedication to Diversity, Equity, Belonging & Sustainability has been celebrated with industry recognition, reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive and sustainable workplace.

The Role Purpose:

The Sr. Designer of Women’s 5-Pocket Denim leads seasonal product design execution of the Women’s 5-Pocket Denim program to achieve overall creative and business objectives. This role is responsible for driving fit, silhouette, fabric, wash, and detail development across the core and fashion 5-pocket assortment—including missy, curvy, and plus fits—while supporting the Sr. Design Director in delivering a cohesive, brand-right collection each season. Operating on a six-month cycle, this person will manage two seasonal calendars simultaneously (e.g., Fall and Holiday) across core washes and any new five-pocket fits. The core 5-pocket assortment sets the tone for the Madewell brand and carries the longest on-site and in-store life, making authentic, compelling wash and fit execution central to this role. The Sr. Designer will mentor a small team of junior designers and collaborate cross-functionally to uphold Madewell’s design integrity from concept through production.

• Lead seasonal design of the Women’s 5-Pocket Denim assortment across missy, curvy, and plus fits, developing styles with a clear point of view on fit, silhouette, fabric, wash, and branding details; oversee core 5-pocket styles as well as any new five-pocket fits introduced to the line.

• Collaborate with Merchandising, Production, and Technical Design to achieve product execution and maintain design integrity from first proto through adoption.

• Research seasonal trends, themes, color, raw materials, and styling to inform assortment direction; maintain a strong awareness of what competitors are doing in 5-pocket denim; identify new silhouettes, fabrics, washes, and unique details including embroidery, print, stripe, yarn dye, and garment dye treatments; build and maintain whisker pattern and wash libraries to support consistent core execution.

• Create design cards for first protos, including measurements and construction details (typically 3x1 construction); conduct fittings and approve lab dips and fabric/denim submits; develop and counter source fabric and trim with production and suppliers; manage BOMs and product data in PLM; partner closely with Merchandising to track deliveries and maintain up-to-date line sheets, incorporating any in-season updates.

• Manage and mentor a small team of junior designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing creative environment; travel domestically and internationally on a seasonal basis as needed.

Qualifications:

Required:

• 8 years of apparel design experience with a focus on Women’s denim, including 5-pocket development, wash, and fabric.

• Working knowledge of garment construction, denim fabrication, fit development, and wash/finishing techniques; experience working in PLM and creating BOMs.

• Strong illustration and presentation skills; proficiency in Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Word, and Excel; ability to hand illustrate to convey proportion and shape.

• Demonstrated ability to manage, coach, and develop junior team members; exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple seasonal calendars simultaneously; strong communication and written skills with excellent follow-through.

• Proven ability to research and apply market and fashion trend information with a deep, specific knowledge of the 5-pocket denim competitive landscape; demonstrated ability to work independently and deliver within seasonal roadmap and deadline requirements.

Preferred:

• Deep appreciation for and understanding of the Madewell brand aesthetic, its customer, and the role of 5-pocket denim within the broader assortment.

• Experience working across both vintage-inspired and contemporary denim reference points, with a clear point of view on wash, treatment, and color; BA in Fashion Design or related field a plus.

We welcome you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes. Our passion is scouting life-long learners who are driven by curiosity, and who feel connected to our brands and share our desire to make an impact. We’re always seeking bright new talent who leverage their unique experiences to discover, grow and evolve with our teams.

Benefits Perks

• Health & Well-being - Eligible associates and family members receive medical, dental, prescription and vision insurance, family planning (fertility, adoption & surrogacy support), fitness discounts, medical travel and more.

• Associate Discount - We love our products just as much as you do! That’s why we offer a great associate discount across all of our brands (J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, and Madewell).

• Summer Fridays - In addition to our hybrid work model, we also close our office at 1:00 PM every Friday during the Summer months.

• Community Impact - We support the communities where we live and work through our philanthropic efforts and the J.Crew Cares Program.

• Winter Break - In addition to our PTO package, J.Crew Group offers a winter break at the end of December to eligible full-time associates at the Home Office to provide time to refresh and recharge.

Note: Availability of these benefits and perks may be subject to work location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements.

At J.Crew Group (JCG) we aim to pay competitively for our company’s size and industry. The base salary offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region of work premises, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. The base salary is just one component of J.Crew Group’s competitive total rewards strategy that also includes the opportunity for bonus, competitive benefits and perks.

One of our core focuses here at JCG is creating a community and culture that builds belonging. We are deeply committed to our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, and we warmly welcome job applicants of all backgrounds.

JCG is proud to affirmatively provide equal opportunity to all associates and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or citizenship, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, legally protected physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other basis protected under applicable law.