What are the responsibilities and job description for the Head of Design position at SANA Detroit?
Head of Design - Sana Detroit
The Brand
Sana Detroit is a Detroit-based apparel brand founded in 2021, originally built through strong community connection, sports collaborations, and culturally rooted product. The brand is now entering its next stage of growth; expanding from sports-led streetwear into a broader contemporary menswear direction, with a stronger focus on core product, seasonal collections, and long-term brand building.
To support this evolution, Sana is looking for a Head of Design to work closely with the founder and help shape the future product direction of the business. This role is central to building a more structured design process while maintaining the creativity, speed, and cultural relevance that define the brand. The successful candidate will help translate founder vision into product that is commercially strong, creatively clear, and consistent across all categories.
The Role
The Head of Design will lead the design and development of Sana’s product across core collections, seasonal drops, and collaborations. This person will be responsible for taking ideas from concept through to finished product, helping define silhouettes, fabrics, colours, graphics, and overall product direction in line with the brand’s evolving identity.
The role also includes overseeing a small team of graphic & product designers, ensuring that apparel graphics, branding, and visual product language remain consistent across all projects. Alongside design leadership, this role will manage the wider product journey by working with suppliers and manufacturing partners, reviewing samples, and helping maintain quality and fit standards. This is a hands-on role suited to someone comfortable operating across both creative and practical parts of the business, with the ability to lead product while working closely with a founder-led vision.
Skills & Capabilities
The ideal candidate should bring strong menswear product experience and be confident working across both design and development.
They should have:
Strong experience in menswear design, particularly across jersey, fleece, outerwear, and everyday essentials
A solid understanding of product development, including fabrics, trims, fit, and garment construction
Experience managing the full product process from concept through sampling to production approval
Confidence working with suppliers and sourcing partners
The ability to manage and direct graphic designers through clear creative briefs
A good understanding of how to balance core product, seasonal ideas, and collaboration-led releases
Strong organisational skills and the ability to work in a fast-moving small business environment
An understanding of contemporary menswear, with awareness of both US streetwear and UK / European contemporary fashion
The right person should also be comfortable making decisions, solving problems quickly, and helping bring more structure to a growing design function without slowing the brand down.
Education & Experience
A bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Product Development, Textiles, or a related discipline is preferred. Equivalent professional experience will also be considered where supported by a strong portfolio and relevant industry background. Candidates should bring proven experience in menswear design and product development, with the ability to work across concept, sourcing, sampling, and final production. This role requires someone who understands how to turn creative direction into commercially viable product, while maintaining consistency in quality, fit, and brand identity. Experience working within a contemporary fashion, streetwear, or menswear business is highly desirable, particularly in environments where design teams operate closely with founders, creative directors, and external manufacturing partners.
Applicants should also be comfortable working in a growing business environment where flexibility, initiative, and clear decision-making are essential.