What's Happening?
Calvin Klein, a brand under PVH Corp., is actively recruiting for a Design Manager, Outerwear position in New York, United States. This role is crucial for translating global design directives into commercially viable products for the Calvin Klein consumer.
The Design Manager will focus on bringing pre-selected seasonal concepts to market, adapting existing styles, managing product updates, and ensuring design accuracy throughout the development process. The individual will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Merchandising, Technical Design, and Product Development, to maintain seasonal timelines, meet margin goals, and deliver high-quality products aligned with brand standards. The position requires 8-10 years of related outerwear design experience and a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences or equivalent. Proficiency in design software such as Illustrator, Photoshop, Excel, Web PDM/PLM, and Miro is also essential. The salary range for this role is between $104,500 and $141,200, with additional bonus eligibility.
Why It's Important?
This hiring initiative by Calvin Klein underscores the brand's commitment to maintaining its design integrity and market competitiveness in the U.S. fashion industry. The Design Manager, Outerwear, plays a pivotal role in ensuring that Calvin Klein's product offerings resonate with consumer trends while adhering to the brand's aesthetic and quality standards. The emphasis on collaboration with various departments highlights the intricate process of bringing fashion concepts to fruition, impacting supply chain efficiency, product innovation, and ultimately, sales performance. For the U.S. fashion market, this role contributes to the continuous evolution of outerwear trends and the brand's ability to capture consumer interest. The competitive salary and benefits package offered by PVH Corp. also reflect the high value placed on experienced design professionals within the industry, potentially influencing talent acquisition strategies for other fashion companies.
What's Next?
Calvin Klein will continue its recruitment process to fill the Design Manager, Outerwear position, with applications accepted on a rolling basis until the role is filled. Once onboarded, the new Design Manager will be instrumental in shaping upcoming seasonal collections, particularly in outerwear. This will involve interpreting seasonal concepts, color palettes, and key item directions, and ensuring these are translated into designs suitable for the North American market. The individual will also be responsible for coordinating with partners to obtain samples and cost information, creating detailed technical drawings, and managing artwork updates. The successful integration of this role is expected to streamline the design-to-market process, potentially leading to more innovative and timely product launches that align with consumer demand and brand objectives.
Beyond the Headlines
Beyond the immediate hiring, this role reflects broader trends in the fashion industry, particularly the increasing demand for designers who can blend creative vision with commercial viability. The requirement for strong technical skills in design software and an understanding of product development processes indicates a shift towards more integrated and data-driven design workflows. The focus on maintaining brand standards while adapting to market needs also highlights the delicate balance fashion companies must strike between global identity and local consumer preferences. Furthermore, PVH Corp.'s commitment to diversity and inclusion, as stated in the job description, suggests a broader industry movement towards fostering more equitable and collaborative work environments, which can enhance creativity and innovation within design teams.
