Junior Designer Bodywear & Swimwear

Join the Design Team at Karl Lagerfeld HQ in Amsterdam

ABOUT THE BRAND

At Karl Lagerfeld, we are driven by Karl’s mantra: “Embrace the present and invent the future.” Always contemporary and forward-looking, the House of KARL LAGERFELD shares the creative vision and design aesthetic of its iconic founder, Karl Lagerfeld. Our headquarters in Paris and in Amsterdam are home to a highly diverse and driven team of KARL family members that hail from over 50 countries. Together, we aim to create meaningful stories and product concepts that connect to Karl’s world and iconic attributes.

Women’s & Men’s ready-to-wear, bags, small leather goods, swimwear and underwear are managed directly from our Amsterdam headquarters, while other categories, including footwear, fragrances, eyewear and more, are developed with best-in-class licensing partners. We connect with our consumers on multiple levels, ensuring that our online and offline approach goes hand in hand. We thrive to maximize consumer engagement via more than 200 KL stores worldwide, our premium wholesale partners, and our strong digital footprint, spearheaded by our KARL.COM flagship store, which reaches 96 countries. Our digital channels currently represent more than 30% of our overall full-price business.

We are a dynamic, fast-growing and inclusive company built on professionalism and strong values. At KARL LAGERFELD we’re committed to working toward the highest standards of sustainability and integrity across all areas of our business. In 2019, KARL LAGERFELD joined as a founding member of the Fashion Pact, a global sustainability initiative seeking to transform the fashion industry through objectives in three areas: climate, biodiversity and ocean protection.

THE ROLE

We are looking for a Junior Bodywear & Swimwear Designer to join the Design team at Karl Lagerfeld HQ in Amsterdam. You will work together with the Body & Swim Designer, reporting to the Body & Swim Design Manager under the direction of the Creative Director and in close contact with RTW Men’s and Women’s teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work on innovative and commercial Swimwear and Bodywear/Home wear categories across Men’s and Women’s to help support and grow the business, under the supervision of the Body & Swim Design Manager and the direction of the Creative Director, collaborating with the intern.
• Develop styles, trims, and artworks to elevate the product and create precise design tech packs and technical sketches to send to suppliers.
• Build strong relationships with the merchandising and retail teams and offer general support to the Design team.
• Attend regular meetings with design, merchandising, and retail teams to present ideas and develop ranges, ensuring strong ongoing business relationships. Demonstrate strong communication and influencing skills across all levels.
• Source key fabrics and trims alongside the development team.
• Work closely with the development team to ensure all deadlines are met.
• Provide technical information to factories.

THE PROFILE:

• 2-3+ years of experience in the design industry specializing in close to body product. Experience with bodywear/swimwear is a plus but not essential.
• Completed Master or Bachelor degree in Fashion Design.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; team player with a ‘can do’ approach.
• Good knowledge of Illustrator, Photoshop, PLS (or other design software), Microsoft Office, and any 3D Design tools (software knowledge is a plus).
• Solid garment proportion and technical knowledge of underwear and swimwear.
• High attention to detail; structured and organized.
• Ability to work with existing artworks and create your own ideas to offer innovation.
• Strong market research and fashion trend analysis skills. Ability to translate catwalk and street style inspiration into commercial and innovative designs.
• Create mood boards through trend research, competitive shops, and catwalk inspiration.
• Ability to produce a commercial range, considering customer types, price constraints, and supplier base.
• Excellent understanding of the manufacturing process and how to achieve commercial retail price points.
• Ability to follow up and meet deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Willingness to travel to manufacturing bases and for comparative and inspirational shopping.

Why #TEAMKARL?

• Learning and development courses/training
• Opportunity to make an impact
• Remote working arrangements
• Relocation allowance
• Bonus holidays
• Working in the heart of Amsterdam
• Brand discounts
• Exclusive sample sales only for #TEAMKARL

The collective vision of KARL LAGERFELD is to be the most connected global designer brand, inspiring consumers through luxury collections and immersing them in the World of KARL. If you are interested in joining #TEAMKARL, we invite you to submit your application today.