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About Us

American Exchange Group is an industry leader in fashion accessory products and brand management. By facilitating distribution to major retailers internationally for their globally recognized brands, custom private label brands, and exclusive licensed brands-including footwear, tech wearables, watches, jewelry, handbags, fashion accessories, home, and beauty-American Exchange Group raises the bar by disrupting the status quo with value and quality, while staying at the forefront of trends.

Joining American Exchange Group means being part of a dynamic and diverse team where your contributions drive real impact-and where there's always room to grow. If you're looking to be part of a company that blends heritage with hustle, we're excited to meet you.

Visit our website at www.axnygroup.com

Job Title: Designer - Slippers

Location: 5 days onsite at our NYC HQ

Overview

We are seeking a creative and detail oriented Slipper Designer to join our team. As a Slipper Designer, you will be responsible for conceptualizing and designing stylish and comfortable slippers that align with current fashion trends and customer preferences.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Design Director throughout the product development lifecycle, including market research, trend analysis, mood board creation, footwear design, and construction development.
• Design innovative, trend-right, and commercially viable footwear collections that support seasonal business objectives.
• Develop technical footwear designs and communicate construction specifications, materials, and pattern layouts to overseas factories and development partners.
• Create detailed technical sketches using Adobe Illustrator and develop comprehensive tech packs for production.
• Review and maintain specification sheets, line sheets, product development logs, design boards, and design archives to ensure accuracy and organization.
• Request, receive, track, evaluate, and approve development samples and materials from factories.
• Manage the sample development process, including Salesman Samples (SMS), fit samples, and development milestones.
• Communicate fit, construction, quality, and material feedback to vendors and cross-functional internal teams.
• Organize, maintain, and manage all development samples throughout the design office.
• Create and maintain seasonal product catalogs and presentation materials throughout the development cycle.
• Prepare compelling presentation decks for internal reviews and seasonal line presentations.
• Partner cross-functionally with Product Development, Merchandising, Sourcing, Production & Sales teams to ensure product integrity from concept to commercialization.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of professional design experience in women's footwear; direct slipper experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of slipper constructions, including moccasins, clogs, mules, scuffs, booties, ballerinas, indoor/outdoor slippers, and comfort constructions.
• Knowledge of footwear materials and components, including textiles, faux fur/shearling, microsuede, knits, trims, footbeds, linings, EVA/TPR/rubber outsoles, and memory-foam constructions.
• Ability to develop complete seasonal collections from trend research and concept through final product.
• Strong understanding of women's footwear trends, colors, materials, prints, and consumer preferences.
• Ability to interpret different brand DNAs and develop distinct collections appropriate to each brand and target customer.
• Experience conducting competitive and market research and translating trends into commercially viable product.
• Ability to create CADs, technical drawings, colorways, material specifications, and detailed tech packs.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; experience with footwear-specific design/development software is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of footwear construction, fit, costing, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience communicating directly with overseas factories and development teams regarding samples, materials, corrections, and commercialization.
• Ability to review prototypes and samples, provide detailed corrections, and manage multiple sample rounds.
• Understanding of target costing and value engineering, particularly for high-volume and off-price retail.
• Ability to work closely with sales, merchandising, production, sourcing, and brand teams.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to manage multiple brands and development calendars simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively within tight development timelines and key market deadlines, including FFANY.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to present seasonal concepts and collections internally.
• Knowledge of the U.S. footwear retail landscape, particularly department stores, off-price, mass-market, and value retailers, preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Footwear Design, Fashion Design, Industrial Design, or a related field preferred.
• Commercially driven design approach with an understanding of balancing trend, brand positioning, retail price, cost, construction, and volume potential.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with company match
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Half Day Fridays with shortened hours during both Summer and Winter seasons
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• Exclusive employee merchandise discounts

Salary: The anticipated base salary is $80k - $95k annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, internal equity, and location.

This position description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with this position. While this description is intended to accurately reflect the position's activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary. The compensation package is dependent on a number of factors, including, for example, experience, education, market data, and business needs.