1

Assistant Fashion Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... design concepts. * Assist in creating seamless garment patterns, ensuring a balance between ... Support designers on preparing seasonal trend presentations based on understanding of product line ...

Be Seen First

The Fashion & Textile Associate Designer will assist the design team in creating and developing new product designs. Key responsibilities include researching industry trends, participating in design ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Assistant Fashion Designer information

See salary details

$11

$24

$39

How much do assistant fashion designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for assistant fashion designer in the United States is $24.63, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.23 and $28.61 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a fashion designer assistant do?

A fashion designer assistant supports designers by helping with tasks such as researching trends, preparing sketches, organizing materials, and coordinating fittings. They often use design software like Adobe Illustrator and need strong organizational skills to manage schedules and deadlines. The role provides exposure to the design process and industry standards.

How much does a fashion assistant earn?

A fashion assistant typically earns between $30,000 and $50,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the size of the company. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced assistants or those working for high-end brands can earn higher salaries. The role often requires strong organizational skills and knowledge of fashion trends.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Assistant Fashion Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Assistant Fashion Designer, you need a strong grasp of garment construction, textiles, and trend awareness, typically supported by a degree in fashion design or a related field. Proficiency with design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and CAD programs, as well as familiarity with pattern-making tools, is often required. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help you collaborate effectively and contribute innovative ideas to collections. These skills are crucial for supporting lead designers, ensuring designs are executed accurately, and maintaining the creative vision of a fashion brand.

What Does an Assistant Fashion Designer Do?

As an assistant fashion designer, you work as part of a team under a senior designer to develop concepts, patterns, silhouettes, artwork, and other supporting assets used in the creation and support of a clothing line, collection, or campaign. Your responsibilities include understanding and creating materials to support brand positioning, researching emerging trends in target demographics, and meeting deadlines for seasonal releases of new products and lines. You must be deeply familiar with various types of fabric, design principles as they relate to fashion and clothing, and you must possess moderate-to-advanced skills in common industry software like Adobe Photoshop and Indesign.

What types of projects and tasks can an Assistant Fashion Designer expect to work on during a typical week?

As an Assistant Fashion Designer, you’ll support the lead designers by helping with trend research, creating mood boards, preparing technical sketches, and sourcing fabrics and trims. You may also assist during fittings, update design specifications, and communicate with manufacturers or suppliers to ensure samples are produced correctly. Collaboration is key, as you’ll frequently work with design, production, and merchandising teams to keep collections on schedule and aligned with brand vision. This hands-on experience provides an excellent foundation for career growth within the fashion industry.

What does an Assistant Fashion Designer do?

An Assistant Fashion Designer supports lead designers in creating new clothing and accessory collections. Their responsibilities include researching fashion trends, creating sketches or technical drawings, sourcing fabrics and materials, and preparing samples. They often assist in fittings, communicate with manufacturers, and help manage the design process from concept to production. This role is critical for ensuring designs are executed accurately and efficiently, and provides valuable hands-on experience within the fashion industry.

What is the difference between Assistant Fashion Designer vs Fashion Designer?

AspectAssistant Fashion DesignerFashion Designer
CredentialsFashion design degree or related certificationFashion design degree or extensive experience
Work EnvironmentAssist in design process, support senior designersLead design projects, create collections
ResponsibilitiesSketching, fabric selection, trend researchConcept development, finalizing designs, overseeing production

The main difference is that an Assistant Fashion Designer supports and assists the Fashion Designer in various tasks, focusing on learning and executing design support activities. In contrast, a Fashion Designer takes the lead in creating and managing entire collections, making strategic design decisions.

How much do fashion design assistants make?

Fashion design assistants in New York City typically earn between $40,000 and $60,000 annually, depending on experience and the employer. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced assistants or those working for high-end brands can earn higher salaries. The role often requires strong sewing, illustration, and CAD skills, with some positions offering additional benefits.

What is the lowest salary for a fashion designer?

The lowest salary for an assistant fashion designer typically starts around $30,000 to $40,000 annually, depending on location, experience, and employer. Entry-level positions may offer lower wages, especially in smaller companies or less competitive markets, but salaries generally increase with experience and skill development in design software and industry knowledge.
What cities are hiring for Assistant Fashion Designer jobs? Cities with the most Assistant Fashion Designer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Fashion Designer jobs? The most popular types of Fashion Designer jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Assistant Fashion Designer jobs? The top employers for Assistant Fashion Designer jobs are:
What states have the most Assistant Fashion Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Assistant Fashion Designer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Assistant Fashion Designer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,223 per year, or $24.6 per hour.
Fashion Designer

$32.99 - $37.93/hr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 2 days ago


Job description

About the Role:

We’re seeking a creative and technically skilled Associate Designer to join our Lounge and Fully Fashioned Knits team. In this role, you’ll support the design and development of new products, contributing to both seasonal collections and ongoing style improvements. You’ll work closely with cross-functional partners in Technical Design, Product Development, and Production to bring each concept from sketch to finished prototype.

This position is an individual contributor role that offers hands-on experience across the full design process, from CAD sketching and tech pack creation to color and material selection. It’s a great opportunity for someone eager to grow their skills in apparel design and gain exposure to lounge, sleep, and knitwear categories.

What You’ll Do:

  • Assist in creating product designs and achieving desired style, appearance, and fit characteristics for new and existing products.
  • Produce CAD illustrations, technical sketches, and detailed tech packs using Centric PLM and Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Contribute to concept development, color stories, fabric selection, and trend research.
  • Shop the retail market for inspiration and stay current on lounge and knitwear trends.
  • Partner closely with Technical Design to ensure the proper fit, function, and aesthetic of prototypes.
  • Support design hand-offs, sample reviews, and design documentation.
  • Collaborate with team members to meet deadlines and maintain brand design standards.

Experience & Skills:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Fashion or Apparel Design, or equivalent experience.
  • 2–3 years of design experience, ideally in lounge, sleepwear, or knit categories.
  • Strong CAD illustration skills and proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
  • Experience with tech pack creation and understanding of garment construction (lounge, sleep, fully fashioned knits).
  • Familiarity with Centric PLM and the product development lifecycle.
  • Excellent attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Soft Skills:

  • Detail-oriented, proactive, and organized.
  • Easy-going and collaborative, comfortable working cross-functionally.
  • Strong communication skills and ability to take feedback constructively.

Company Description

• Come get Swoon’d!!
• Swoon handles the staffing need of over 80 Fortune 500 clients.
• We have won Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation Award 7 years in a row.
• Swoon was also awarded the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the US from 2016 – 2020.