Senior Designer - Topshop Dresses

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Company Description

We're ASOS. We blend our flair for fashion with our love of cutting- edge technology, but more importantly were interested in how we can bring the best out of you.

We exist to give people the confidence to be whoever they want to be, and that goes for our people too. At ASOS, you're free to be your true self without judgment, and channel your creativity into a platform used by millions.

Through our Fashion with Integrity strategy we are driving diversity, equity and inclusion across every aspect of ASOS and ensuring every ASOSer can be their authentic self at work. We want our people to be whoever they want to be, because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work.

Job Description

As a Senior Designer at TOPSHOP, you'll be plugged into 20-something culture and on the pulse of the latest fashion and trends that our customers love. You'll need to be a creative, commercial and highly experienced Designer who works collaboratively. Senior Designers play a critical role at TOPSHOP working closely with Merchandising, Buying and Technical teams to build a commercial and trend-led product range for the department that is loved by the TOPSHOP customer, globally.

As Senior Designer on Dresses, you will need to have a creative eye that can cover stand out fashion across woven and jersey dresses and a strong vision for print. The successful candidate will have a strong knowledge across fabric basis and experience of working with suppliers and factories to develop the newest fabrics for every season. This is a fast-paced department which is constantly pushing new design concepts where originating not replicating is fundamental and the ability to cut, drape, sculpt and create new silhouettes is key. Creativity and innovation are at the heart of product development at Topshop and as Senior Designer you will be key in driving this for dresses and within the wider design team. New silhouettes, fabric, print and detail drive new product and consideration over the quality is key in delivering a dresses range which excites the Topshop customer and meets all her needs, ensuring the range has the ultimate stand out dresses.

THE TEAM

TOPSHOP is one of the UK's top fashion brands - focusing on elevation, differentiation, curation, inclusivity & sustainability. Our values are to be authentic, brave, creative and disciplined, and we live and breathe these in everything we do.

The Design team is instrumental in making TOPSHOP the leading destination for fashion-loving 20-something customers across womenswear and menswear.

The Design Team look for inspiration all around the world, along with street style, vintage shopping, music, art, the catwalk and all things creative, to design the latest product for the range. TOPSHOP is all about newness and product elevation at every level. Our teams focus on developing and delivering a range that pushes the boundaries and meets the needs of our customer.

You'll be...

• Researching, developing and creating a market leading Dresses range, including developing big deals, key seasonal shapes, selecting fabrics, trends for the TOPSHOP customer.
• Researching & advising on print direction working closely with in-house & freelance graphic designers and fabric suppliers to develop the most innovative print for the TOPSHOP range.
• Strong vision and direction on fabric basics both for Core and premium ranges driving product quality and considered product that mix easily in your wardrobe with designer pieces.
• Strong vision and experience in embroidery, cutwork and embellishment is key to deliver a dresses range that meets the Topshop aesthetic.
• As a Senior Designer you will play a key role in brainstorming & collating trend direction for the TOPSHOP brand.
• Presenting trend research and have strong influencing skills to ensure you are the design voice for the department when working closely with Buying, Merchandising and Commercial leadership.
• Collaborating across departments and other functions of the business including Marketing, to ensure the design vision is communicated clearly.
• Identifying and executing new product opportunities to ensue as a brand we are leading the fashion market not following.
• Contributing to business wide initiatives and projects, positively influencing and championing change.
• Using relevant sales data and insights to design commercially relevant, fashion forward ranges.
• Anticipating the needs of the 20-something customer, using sales data, customer profile analytics and trend research to deliver commercial product ranges.
• Sourcing new fabrications, techniques and trim.
• Working closely with in-house Buying teams - collaborating to create fresh product, each season and shape the product direction for the department, ensuring that it is aligned to the brand and divisional strategy.
• Working with the Technical team on fits on a weekly basis, identifying and helping create new silhouette blocks for the department and produce a commercial range.
• Building relationships with suppliers and advising factories on direction, silhouette, construction, key details, fabrics, trimmings and artworks.
• Managing, developing and motivating more junior team members, providing them with clear direction and regular feedback.
• Supporting and deputising for the Head of Design as required, for example, attending product reviews or guiding the team on range building.
• Maintaining a clear understanding of brand purpose and Fashion with Integrity and ensuring these principles are fully embedded within the team. Looking for opportunities to use sustainable materials wherever possible.
• Agreeing styling and visual merchandising guidelines with Studios and Global teams.
• Leading/Role model and contributing to a dynamic world leading design team.
• Providing clear direction and development to the team, identifying individual training needs and encouraging collaborative ways of working.
• Motivating and engaging the team through recognition and regular feedback.

Qualifications

We'd love to meet, someone with...

• Significant experience in designing dresses across woven and jersey within an aspirational brand or high street Retailer.
• Previous experience of direct sourcing from fabric mills, with knowledge of cut and construction to create new concepts/pieces.
• Experience in working with pattern cutters & machinists so that you are able to develop the best stand out fashion product for the dresses range.
• Experience of working cross-functionally to deliver initiatives that have a positive commercial impact.
• Proven ability to drive the success of a department or brand through strategic and commercial thinking.
• A commercial handwriting and strong understanding of the TOPSHOP Brand and Customer.
• Experience with Photoshop, Adobe, CAD.
• Plugged into 20-something culture and fashion, passionate about the product.
• Strong organisational skills, initiative, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• The ability to build great relationships with colleagues across the business and suppliers alike.
• Can gain buy in from the team and management to potentialize opportunities.
• Embraces and champions the benefits of change within the wider team.
• Demonstrates an effective and inclusive leadership style, role modelling positive behaviours and providing the team with clear direction and development.
• Comfortable travelling in the UK and internationally for supplier/product development meetings and inspirational purposes.

Additional Information

What's in it for you?

• Employee discount (hello ASOS discount!)
• ASOS Develops (personal development opportunities across the business)
• Employee sample sales
• Access to a huge range of LinkedIn learning materials
• 25 days paid annual leave + an extra celebration day
• Discretionary performance related bonus scheme
• Private medical care scheme
• Flexible benefits allowance - which you can choose to take as extra cash, or use towards other benefits

Our Commitments

We want our people to be whoever they want to be. That's why we're committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at ASOS, but how're we doing it?

We're proud members of Inclusive Companies, are Disability Confident Committed and have signed the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. We've also recently been placed 8th in the Inclusive Top 50 Companies Employer List too.

We have several employee networks that operate as safe spaces, to help support and celebrate our people, find out more here.

How can we support you to be your best self? Our Talent team will be happy to provide support e.g. if you need additional time to prepare for an assessment or you have requirements for any part of the interview/hiring process - just let us know by email or phone, whatever works best for you. It's also our policy to interview all candidates with a disability who meet the minimum requirements for roles they have applied to.

If you have any questions about the policies we have in place to support our employees (e.g. our parental leave approach), just let our Talent team know.