CAREERS
MKI MIYUKI ZOKU [M-K-I MEE-YOU-KEY ZO-KU] IS A CONTEMPORARY MENSWEAR BRAND FOUNDED IN THE UK IN 2010, BY CREATIVE DIRECTOR, VIK TAILOR.
MENSWEAR DESIGNER - WE ARE LOOKING FOR A HANDS-ON DESIGNER TO JOIN THE PRODUCT TEAM, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE CEO AND DESIGN DEPARTMENT TO CREATE AND DEVELOP MENSWEAR COLLECTIONS ACROSS MAINLINE APPAREL, JERSEY AND ACCESSORIES. YOU'LL MANAGE MULTIPLE COLLECTIONS AT ONCE, FROM CONCEPT AND RESEARCH THROUGH TO SAMPLING, FITTINGS AND PRODUCTION, COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH SUPPLIERS AND MANUFACTURERS TO BRING COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL PRODUCT TO MARKET.
MENSWEAR DESIGNER
JOB TITLE: MENSWEAR DESIGNER
LOCATION: MKI HQ (BINGLEY, WEST YORKSHIRE)
JOB TYPE: ONSITE, MONDAY-FRIDAY
DEPARTMENT: DESIGN
START DATE: IMMEDIATE
ABOUT THE ROLE
AS A DESIGNER, YOU WILL BECOME A KEY MEMBER OF THE MKI PRODUCT TEAM, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE CEO AND ALONGSIDE THE WIDER DESIGN DEPARTMENT TO CREATE AND DEVELOP OUR MENSWEAR COLLECTIONS.
THIS IS A HANDS-ON ROLE, RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING AND DEVELOPING PRODUCTS ACROSS MAINLINE APPAREL, JERSEY AND ACCESSORIES. YOU WILL WORK ACROSS MULTIPLE COLLECTIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY, SUPPORTING BOTH SEASONAL AND NON-SEASONAL PROJECTS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE PRODUCT LIFECYCLE. FROM INITIAL RESEARCH AND CONCEPT THROUGH TO SAMPLING, FITTINGS AND PRODUCTION, YOU WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE IN BRINGING PRODUCT TO MARKET WHILE WORKING CLOSELY WITH SUPPLIERS, MANUFACTURERS AND INTERNAL TEAMS TO DELIVER COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL COLLECTIONS.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- RESEARCH SEASONAL TRENDS, FABRICS, COLOURS AND MARKET DEVELOPMENTS (INCLUDING ATTENDING FASHION WEEKS, TRADE SHOWS, FABRIC FAIRS WHERE REQUIRED)
- DESIGN AND DEVELOP SEASONAL AND NON-SEASONAL COLLECTIONS ACROSS APPAREL, JERSEY AND ACCESSORIES.
- PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY CADS, TECHNICAL DRAWINGS AND PRODUCT VISUALS USING ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR AND PHOTOSHOP.
- CREATE DETAILED TECH PACKS AND DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENTATION FOR SUPPLIERS AND FACTORIES.
- MANAGE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT FROM CONCEPT THROUGH SAMPLING, FITTING, APPROVALS AND PRODUCTION.
- LEAD SAMPLE FITTINGS, PROVIDING CLEAR FEEDBACK AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTION TO SUPPLIERS.
- OWN AND MANAGE PRODUCT CRITICAL PATHS TO ENSURE KEY DEADLINES ARE ACHIEVED.
- WORK CLOSELY WITH SUPPLIERS AND MANUFACTURERS THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
- SUPPORT THE CREATION OF WHOLESALE SALES TOOLS, PRODUCT PRESENTATIONS AND MARKETING ASSETS.
- ANALYSE PRODUCT PERFORMANCE AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE FUTURE COLLECTIONS.
- SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL PROJECTS AND BRAND COLLABORATIONS.
ABOUT YOU
WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN EXPERIENCED DESIGNER WITH A STRONG PRODUCT EYE AND A GENUINE UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONTEMPORARY MENSWEAR MARKET.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:
- A MINIMUM OF 4 YEARS' EXPERIENCE DESIGNING MENSWEAR.
- EXPERIENCE DESIGNING ACROSS MAINLINE APPAREL, JERSEY AND ACCESSORIES IS DESIRABLE.
- EXPERIENCE IN LEADING FIT SESSIONS AND SAMPLE REVIEW SESSIONS.
- STRONG CAD SKILLS AND THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE CLEAR TECHNICAL DRAWINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE TECH PACKS FOR PRODUCTION.
- EXCELLENT ADOBE CREATIVE SUITE SKILLS, PARTICULARLY ILLUSTRATOR AND PHOTOSHOP.
- A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF GARMENT CONSTRUCTION, FABRICS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.
- EXCELLENT COMMERCIAL AWARENESS WITH THE ABILITY TO BALANCE CREATIVITY AND COMMERCIALITY.
- CONFIDENCE PRESENTING IDEAS AND COLLECTIONS TO SENIOR STAKEHOLDERS.
- EXPERIENCE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH FACTORIES AND SUPPLIERS.
- STRONG ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS WITH THE ABILITY TO MANAGE MULTIPLE COLLECTIONS AND DEADLINES SIMULTANEOUSLY.
- EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH.
WHY JOIN MKI?
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME PART OF A FAST-GROWING GLOBAL MENSWEAR BRAND WHERE YOU WILL HAVE GENUINE INFLUENCE OVER PRODUCT DIRECTION.
YOU'LL BE JOINING A PASSIONATE, AMBITIOUS TEAM WITH THE FREEDOM TO CONTRIBUTE IDEAS AND HELP SHAPE THE NEXT STAGE OF MKI'S GROWTH.
KEY INFORMATION
- FULL-TIME, PERMANENT POSITION.
- BASED AT OUR HEADQUARTERS IN BINGLEY, WEST YORKSHIRE.
- MONDAY TO FRIDAY (THIS ROLE IS FULLY OFFICE-BASED AND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR REMOTE OR FREELANCE APPLICANTS).
- IMMEDIATE START AVAILABLE.
HOW TO APPLY
- PLEASE SEND YOUR CV, PORTFOLIO AND ANY SUPPORTING WORK TO: INFO@MKISTORE.COM
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
- STAGE 1: INFORMAL INTRODUCTORY CALL WITH OUR RECRUITMENT TEAM TO DISCUSS THE ROLE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.
- STAGE 2: INTERVIEW AT MKI HQ WITH THE CEO AND CURRENT DESIGN TEAM, INCLUDING A SHORT DESIGN TASK PROVIDED IN ADVANCE.
- STAGE 3: FINAL INFORMAL MEETING WITH KEY MEMBERS OF THE WIDER TEAM.
