What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fashion Designer position at Rare Editions?
Company Description
Rare Editions is part of Star Children’s Dress Company, a privately owned, family-operated business founded in 1936 with a mission to create fashionable, affordable dresses for girls. Based in New York City, the showroom is located on the 18th floor of 1250 Broadway, where design, merchandising, and sales teams collaborate to develop new seasonal lines multiple times per year. Major department stores from around the world visit the showroom in person and virtually to preview the latest collections. While Rare Editions is the flagship brand, Star Children’s Dress Company also includes labels such as Rare Too, Chantilly Place, Counting Daisies, Emily Rose, Tween Diva, and Dear Moon. Team members join a long-established company that combines heritage craftsmanship with a strong global retail presence.
Role Description
This is a full-time, on-site Fashion Designer role based in New York, NY. The Fashion Designer will create original girls’ dress concepts and collections aligned with the Rare Editions and affiliated brand aesthetics, from initial sketches through final samples. Responsibilities include researching trends, colors, and fabrics; developing mood boards; sourcing textiles and embellishments; and translating concepts into detailed technical drawings and specifications. The role involves working closely with patternmakers, sample rooms, and production teams on fittings, adjustments, and garment construction to achieve high-quality, market-ready styles. The Fashion Designer will collaborate with merchandising and sales to respond to customer feedback, prepare showroom samples, and support seasonal line presentations to domestic and international buyers.
Qualifications
- Strong foundation in Fashion Design and Fashion, including sketching, concept development, and collection building.
- Hands-on experience with Textiles and Embroidery, including fabric selection, surface design, and embellishment techniques.
- Proficiency in Fitting, garment construction, and partnering with patternmakers and production to refine samples.
- Ability to research trends, colors, and competitive products to inform commercially viable designs for children’s wear.
- Proficiency in design software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop) and familiarity with tech packs and spec sheets.
- Strong collaboration skills and ability to work on-site with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced showroom environment.
- Excellent attention to detail, time management, and ability to manage multiple styles and deadlines per season.
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or a related field, or equivalent professional experience in apparel design; experience in childrenswear is a plus.