Senior Designer - Men's Casual Apparel

Pivot Apparel · India

Location: Mumbai, India

Reports To: Head of India office/ SVP Design (US Team)

Experience Level: 10+ Years Category: Men's Casual Apparel (Woven & Knit)

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Designer, Men's Casual Apparel to join our Mumbai design team, working in close partnership with our US design and merchandising organization. This role is responsible for designing on-trend men's casual apparel for the US market, with a strong emphasis on fabric quality, garment construction, fit, and trim detailing. The ideal candidate combines a sharp eye for US consumer trends with hands-on technical design expertise, and is comfortable operating across time zones in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

In addition to core design responsibilities, this role will support accessories follow-up across two brands, partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure timely and accurate execution.

Key Responsibilities

Design & Trend Development

• Research and stay current on US men's casual apparel market trends, competitive landscape, and consumer preferences
• Translate trend insights into seasonal design concepts, mood boards, and design direction relevant to the brand's aesthetic
• Develop original designs for men's casual apparel including wovens, knits, and related categories

Technical Design & Construction

• Demonstrate strong knowledge of fabric types, performance qualities, and suitability for casual apparel applications
• Understand and specify garment construction methods, seam types, and finishing techniques
• Partner with pattern making, technical design, and production teams to ensure design intent translates accurately into product

Fit & Detail

• Apply strong understanding of fit principles across body types and silhouettes for the US market
• Review fit samples and provide clear, actionable feedback to achieve brand fit standards
• Maintain meticulous attention to trim details — buttons, zippers, labels, tapes, and other embellishments — ensuring consistency with design intent and brand standards

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with US-based design, merchandising, and technical design counterparts across overlapping time zones
• Collaborate with vendors and factories on sample development, fit approvals, and trim/fabric sourcing
• Communicate design specifications clearly to technical design and production teams
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior designers on the team as needed

Accessories Support (Secondary Responsibility)

• Support accessories follow-up for two brands, including tracking development milestones, sample reviews, and vendor communication
• Coordinate with brand teams to ensure accessories deliverables stay aligned with calendar and quality expectations

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in apparel design, with a focus on men's casual wear
• Prior experience designing for the US market strongly preferred
• Strong knowledge of fabrics, garment construction, and manufacturing processes
• Solid understanding of fit and grading principles
• Keen eye for trim and detail-level execution
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) required; CAD skills a plus
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Experience working within a PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) system required
• Familiarity with Claude (AI assistant) preferred
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across international teams and time zones
• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Textile Design, or related field preferred
• Flexibility to accommodate overlapping working hours with the US team as needed

What We're Looking For

A designer who is equally comfortable sketching a fresh concept and diving into the technical details that make a garment work — someone who understands that great casual apparel lives in the balance of trend relevance, fabric feel, construction integrity, and fit. A collaborative communicator who thrives in a cross-continental team structure and takes pride in getting the small details right.