Design & Product Development Director

The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in fashion/product designing, embroidery, and hand embroidery, along with a deep understanding of craftsmanship, materials, trends, and commercial product development.

This role will be responsible for translating creative concepts into commercially viable products while maintaining high standards of design, quality, detailing, and craftsmanship. The candidate should have strong leadership capabilities and the ability to work closely with design, production, sourcing, merchandising, and business teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall design and product development function, establishing creative direction aligned with brand identity and business objectives.
• Conceptualize and develop new collections, product lines, designs, and seasonal concepts from initial ideation through final production.
• Drive innovative approaches to embroidery and hand embroidery, ensuring distinctive detailing and high-quality craftsmanship.
• Develop and refine embroidery concepts, motifs, patterns, textures, placements, and techniques suitable for different products and collections.
• Work closely with artisans, embroidery teams, craftsmen, and production partners to translate design concepts into finished products.
• Review samples, prototypes, embellishments, fabrics, trims, and embroidery techniques to ensure they meet design and quality expectations.
• Guide the team in creating detailed design specifications, product concepts, color stories, material selections, and development samples.
• Research emerging fashion, design, textile, embroidery, and consumer trends to identify opportunities for new product development.
• Collaborate with merchandising, sourcing, production, and business teams to ensure products are commercially viable and delivered within timelines.
• Establish and maintain design standards, product development processes, and quality benchmarks across collections.
• Mentor and lead design and product development teams, encouraging creativity, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Manage multiple product development projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and execution quality.
• Evaluate prototypes and provide constructive feedback to improve fit, finish, craftsmanship, aesthetics, and functionality.
• Work with vendors and external craftsmen to develop specialized techniques and maintain consistency in production.

Must-Have Skills

• Designing
• Strong expertise in embroidery and hand embroidery
• Product design and development
• Knowledge of fabrics, textiles, embellishments, and surface techniques
• Strong understanding of design concepts, color, proportion, texture, and detailing
• Ability to take a concept from ideation through sampling and production
• Strong creative leadership and team management skills
• Excellent understanding of quality standards and product execution

Good-to-Have Skills

• Advanced knowledge of hand embroidery techniques
• Experience working with skilled artisans and traditional craftsmanship
• Exposure to fashion, luxury, apparel, textiles, lifestyle, or related product categories
• Understanding of current design and consumer trends
• Experience developing premium or highly detailed products