Merchandise Designer Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Description

We are seeking an experienced and consumer-obsessed Senior Women's Apparel Designer to lead the design and development of innovative licensed sports apparel collections that connect with today's female fan. This role is responsible for creating elevated, wearable sportswear that appeals to the women's sports fan by balancing trend-right styling with timeless versatility, quality, and commercial success.

The ideal candidate has a passion for sports culture, understands the evolving women's licensed apparel marketplace, and has a proven ability to translate consumer insights into compelling seasonal collections. This individual will partner closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Art, Sales, Licensing, and Sourcing to deliver products that strengthen the Antigua brand equity while achieving financial and business objectives.

In addition to leading the creative direction of women's collections, this position mentors junior designers, champions innovation, and helps shape the long-term design vision of the brand.

Key ResponsibilitiesDesign Leadership

• Lead the creative direction and execution of seasonal women's licensed sports apparel collections from concept through      production.
• Design premium sportswear that resonates with the modern female fan, blending fashion, comfort, performance, and team pride.
• Translate seasonal fashion trends, consumer insights, marketplace research, and competitive analysis into commercially      successful apparel collections.
• Drive innovation in silhouettes, fabrication, garment washes, trims, embellishments, print techniques, and construction.
• Develop cohesive seasonal color palettes, print direction, and fabric stories in partnership with Merchandising.
• Ensure every collection reflects the brand's aesthetic while meeting the expectations of league, team, and licensing partners.

Consumer & Trend Research

• Monitor women's fashion, sportswear, lifestyle, and athletic apparel trends.
• Research emerging consumer behaviors and shopping preferences within licensed sports apparel.
• Analyze competitive brands and retailers to identify whitespace opportunities.
• Present trend direction, inspiration, and seasonal concepts to cross-functional leadership.

Product Development

• Partner closely with Product Development throughout the product creation process to ensure design intent is maintained through commercialization.
• Create and oversee detailed technical packages including construction details, measurements, BOMs, trim placement, artwork positioning, and color specifications.
• Review prototypes, fit samples, strike-offs, lab dips, print approvals, embroidery samples, and pre-production samples cross functionally.
• Collaborate with pd and materials teams to identify innovative fabrics, trims, and construction techniques while maintaining cost objectives.
• Ensure all products meet quality, fit, and performance expectations alongside PD/TD.

Team Leadership

• Mentor and develop junior designers through regular coaching, feedback, and creative collaboration.
• Prioritize and delegate design workload while ensuring all seasonal milestones are achieved.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and consumer-focused design culture.
• Maintain Antigua Brand consistency across all collections, brand standards, and visual storytelling.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Merchandising to build balanced assortments aligned with consumer demand and business kpi's.
• Collaborate with Graphic Design to ensure artwork, graphics, embellishments, and branding elevate the overall product.
• Partner with Licensing teams to ensure league and team compliance throughout creation.
• Present seasonal concepts, product lines, and design direction to internal leadership, retail partners, and licensing stakeholders.
• Support Sales by providing compelling product stories and design rationale during seasonal sell-in meetings.

Process & Brand Management

• Maintain seasonal calendar adherence to ensure all design deliverables meet critical deadlines.
• Oversee garment proto approvals, keeping brand standards, and seasonal design DNA in mind. 
• Continuously improve design workflows, communication, and product creation processes.
• Execute designs that achieve target margins while delivering premium consumer value.

What Success Looks Like

• Creates trend-right licensed apparel collections that drive consumer demand and revenue growth.
• Elevates the women's licensed sports apparel business through innovative product design and storytelling.
• Delivers commercially successful collections on time while meeting quality, margin, and business objectives.
• Inspires collaboration across Product, Merchandising, Graphics, Sales, and Licensing.
• Develops and mentors a high-performing design team while continually raising the creative standard of the brand.

Environment: 

Office Setting

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is constantly required to sit. The employee frequently uses hands to: finger, handle, feel or operate objects and computer keyboards. The employee is occasionally required to walk, turn/twist, reach and see, talk, and hear.

The employee may frequently lift, carry, push or pull up to 1to 2 pounds and/or occasionally lift, carry, push or pull up to 5 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be subjected to moving office equipment, fumes, odors, dust, and workspace restrictions.

Employees may be required to wear the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which may include: eye protection, gloves, face shields, and protective shoes. Contact lenses are allowed in all areas.

The duties listed in job descriptions are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTING

External hiring into this position may be contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and background check and possible credit history review.

Antigua Apparel is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The purpose of this description is to assist in ADA compliance and is not intended for other purposes such as collective bargaining, or compensation.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Apparel Design, Fashion Design, or related discipline or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of apparel design experience with demonstrated success in consumer-driven apparel.
• Minimum 5 years designing within the licensed sports apparel industry (NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA, or similar licensed brands).
• Strong understanding of the women's sportswear market, particularly the lifestyle and fan apparel consumer.
• Exceptional knowledge of garment construction, fit, fabrication, trims, washes, print techniques, embroidery, and embellishment methods.
• Proven ability to identify emerging fashion trends and translate them into commercially successful licensed apparel collections.
• Experience leading seasonal concept development from initial inspiration through final production.
• Strong technical design skills including Tech Pack creation and specification development.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Microsoft Office, and PLM systems.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple seasons and priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and storytelling skills.
• Experience mentoring designers and leading creative teams in a collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing for major licensed sports properties including NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA, or professional golf.
• Knowledge of women's fit development across multiple apparel categories including fleece, knits, outerwear, dresses, polos, tees, and performance apparel.
• Experience working with overseas factories and global sourcing partners.
• Passion for sports, fashion, and creating products that celebrate fandom in elevated, everyday ways.

      Culture carrier