What are the responsibilities and job description for the Young Men’s Category Designer position at Topson Downs of California, LLC?
Company Overview
We are a leading fashion apparel design and manufacturing company specializing in trend-driven, high-quality garments for a global market. Our young men’s division is a fast-growing category that reflects the lifestyle, energy, and style of today’s youth culture. We are looking for a passionate and innovative Young Men's Category Designer to bring fresh ideas, commercial savvy, and design excellence to our team.
Position Summary
As the Young Men's Category Designer, you will be responsible for conceptualizing, designing, and developing seasonal collections for the young men’s apparel category. You’ll combine a strong understanding of fashion trends, fabrications, and youth culture with technical design skills to create compelling product lines that resonate with our customers and retail partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Research and interpret emerging trends, youth culture, streetwear, and global influences to inform seasonal direction.
- Design cohesive collections across multiple product types (e.g., knits, wovens, outerwear, denim, activewear) for the young men’s category.
- Create and present trend boards, color palettes, and seasonal design concepts.
- Develop detailed tech packs, including sketches, construction details, and fabric/trims selection for production teams.
- Collaborate closely with Merchandising, Product Development, and Production teams to ensure design intent is maintained through to final product.
- Attend fittings and provide design and construction input to maintain aesthetic and functional integrity.
- Maintain awareness of retail trends, competitors, and sales performance to inform future collections.
- Travel to trade shows, shopping trips, and factories as needed.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or related field.
- 3–5 years of experience in apparel design, preferably with a focus on young men’s or streetwear fashion.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating trend-forward, commercial, and innovative young men’s apparel designs.
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and PLM systems.
- Excellent sketching, color, fabric, and trim knowledge.
- Strong communication, organization, and time management skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with multiple deadlines.
Preferred Attributes
- Passion for youth fashion, music, skate, or streetwear culture.
- Experience working with overseas vendors and understanding of manufacturing processes.
- A finger on the pulse of what’s next—social media-savvy and aware of fashion influencers and cultural movements.