Senior Designer -Trail & Extrem

ASAP - Ongoing

London

Up to £61,000

Permanent

Create partnered with a well-known apparel group who are looking for an experienced and technically driven Senior Apparel Designer to join our Product Creation team of one of their active outdoor wear brands, leading the development of high-performance Trail & Extrem apparel. This is a pivotal role for a designer who combines creative vision with deep technical expertise in fit, construction, and performance-led product development. You’ll help shape apparel built for challenging environments—delivering products that meet the demands of trail runners, hikers, and outdoor athletes while staying true to brand DNA and commercial goals.

About the Role

Working cross-functionally with Product Management, Development, Technical, QA, and global manufacturing partners, you’ll lead projects from concept through to production, ensuring every garment delivers on functionality, comfort, durability, and innovation.

Responsibilities

Lead design development across Trail & Extrem categories, creating consumer-focused, performance-driven product solutions.

Translate product challenges such as movement, protection, thermal regulation, durability, and packability into clear design direction.

Partner closely with Product Managers to define product briefs, success metrics, and range direction.

Drive technical fit and construction development, including fit blocks, grading guidance, and consistent fit standards.

Conduct fit sessions on live models and mannequins, analysing movement and wear to refine garment performance.

Collaborate with Development, Technical, QA teams, and global vendors to create manufacturable solutions balancing performance, quality, and cost.

Create and maintain detailed technical packs, construction specifications, BOMs, and PLM data.

Evaluate fabrics, trims, seam technologies, and ventilation methods for performance suitability and innovation opportunities.

Review prototypes and salesperson samples, advising on construction improvements and functional detailing.

Support wear testing and consumer feedback loops, translating insights into actionable product improvements.

Champion consistency, innovation, and best-practice standards across the category.

Mentor and support junior team members within the design function.

Qualifications

Degree-qualified in Fashion Design, Product Design, Industrial Design, Sports Design, Engineering Design, or equivalent experience.

5–7+ years’ experience within a professional product creation environment.

Required Skills

Strong experience in consumer-led problem solving and performance-focused product design.

Excellent understanding of fit, garment construction, human movement, and design-for-manufacture principles.

Proven experience taking products from concept through development into production.

Strong ability to collaborate with factories and vendors through iterative sampling and development processes.

Technical proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite; CLO3D experience preferred.

Experience using PLM systems is advantageous.

Strong knowledge of performance materials, trims, seam construction, bonding, and ventilation solutions.

Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Passion for sustainability and interest in environmentally responsible design approaches.

Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Preferred Skills

Previous mentoring or people management experience preferred.

This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of performance product creation, designing apparel that enables athletes and outdoor enthusiasts to perform in demanding environments.

They welcome applicants from both outdoor apparel and adjacent performance industries where usability, innovation, and manufacturability are central to product creation. If you’re passionate about technical product excellence and creating performance apparel with purpose, we’d love to hear from you.