Sport Apparel Designer Jobs in Rutherford, NJ (NOW HIRING)

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets and sells high quality products in multiple segments, including women’s, men’s and kid’s apparel, accessories, entertainment and beauty. Centric Brands is focused on our customers and our brands that will drive the company’s future growth. We are defined by innovation as we seize new opportunities and thrive in an environment informed by creativity and thinking that is both analytical and outside the box. Centric Brands reflects a team built on respect, for others and for the hard work it takes to achieve our goals and build our bright future together.

Senior Designer

What could be more exciting than putting your mark on some of the world’s most famous and well-loved fashion brands? As a designer for Centric Brands, you’ll use your skills and creativity to create designs based on style plans, sales needs and emerging trends. You will also ensure that your work can be transformed into a finished product in a timely manner and at an appropriate price point. This means working not only with our technical design and production teams, but also building collaborative relationships with outside vendors and other external stakeholders. The challenges are exciting and the possibilities endless – as you contribute your skills in a vibrant, customer- and people-centric culture that celebrates you as a valuable member of the team.

The Senior Designer is responsible for creating performance-driven, commercially viable designs for Boys apparel, sizes 4–20 (up through YXXL). This role supports the overall creative direction of the brand by translating trends, sport culture, and brand vision into modern, compelling assortments that resonate with today's youth athletes and their parents, while meeting the performance, durability, and comfort standards Under Armour is known for. The Senior Designer plays a key role in executing seasonal concepts from ideation through final development, ensuring designs meet standards of quality, fit, and performance. This role contributes to programs across Under Armour's Boys apparel business, including graphic tees, fleece, bottoms, and seasonal capsule collections.

Design & Creative Development

• Support the development of seasonal design concepts for Boys apparel (4–20) aligned with brand direction
• Research and interpret macro and micro trends in color, print, silhouette, and performance fabrication
• Assist in creating concept boards, color palettes, print direction, and fabric stories
• Design original styles, prints, and graphics that reflect brand identity and sport/streetwear-influenced market trends
• Ensure consistency of aesthetic across categories while supporting age-appropriate differentiation across the size range

Assortment Development

• Partner with the Design Director and cross-functional teams to build balanced, trend-right assortments
• Contribute to the development of silhouettes, prints, and fabrications appropriate for youth performance and lifestyle categories
• Help refine style assortments to ensure clarity, cohesion, and commercial viability
• Elevate core and basic items through thoughtful design details, updated color/application, and graphic execution

Design Execution & Product Development

• Execute design development from sketch through production with attention to detail and accuracy
• Create Illustrator sketches, CADs, and technical packages for development
• Review lab dips, strike-offs, prints, and samples, ensuring alignment with design intent
• Collaborate with technical design and production teams on fit, construction, and performance quality
• Ensure all designs meet Under Armour's performance, durability, and safety standards for youth apparel

Trend & Market Awareness

• Maintain awareness of sport, streetwear, and youth culture trends relevant to boys' apparel
• Conduct market research and competitive shopping across athletic and lifestyle competitors to inform design direction
• Support preparation of seasonal presentations, concept boards, and design reviews

Collaboration & Team Contribution

• Work closely with merchandising, production, and technical design partners to execute seasonal goals
• Contribute to a collaborative, creative team environment
• Provide support and mentorship to junior designers when needed
• Manage multiple projects with strong organizational and communication skills

• Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design or related field
• 6-8+ years of apparel design experience, with experience in boys', activewear, or performance apparel preferred
• Strong design sensibility with the ability to translate trends into age-appropriate, performance-driven product
• Knowledge of youth apparel construction, performance materials, and fit across a broad size range
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, CAD systems, Microsoft Office, and Mac platforms
• Strong sketching, color sense, and attention to detail
• Excellent organizational, communication, and collaboration skills

In return, we provide an industry-competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical, dental, vision) that includes a matching 401(k), Summer Fridays, generous PTO, merchandise discounts, excellent career development opportunities, and a work environment that reflects our industry leadership. Our social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism to make a difference in communities we live and work in and our D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands though workshops, resources and inspiring conversation.

Salary Range: $100,000K – $120,000K

At Centric Brands, we believe our people are our greatest asset, and we seek to structure competitive compensation offers to ensure that we are able to attract and retain the best talent. Our job postings include an annual base salary range at the time of employment. The stated base salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on several factors, including the selected candidate's educational and professional experience, industry knowledge, location, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process. Base salary is a part of a total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, annual bonus and other Centric Brands sponsored benefit programs.

Be part of our growing community by getting involved with groups, teams and initiatives like Be Green, Be Giving, and Be Celebrated.

Centric Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Please note that Centric Brands will only reach out to interview, make an offer of employment or conduct onboarding activities for candidates who have applied through our careers site. When interviewing for a position, the candidate experience will include live interaction, such as a video conference or telephone call, with a Recruiter and/or company employee(s). We will never ask for any money or payments from applicants at any point in the recruitment process. Be aware of suspicious recruitment activity. If you think you are a victim of an employment scam, you may contact your local law enforcement agency and/or visit the Federal Trade Commission website here: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams.

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