Whalebone Apparel Apparel Designer - Freelance Remote · Contractor Company website

Apply for Apparel Designer - Freelance

Whalebone is a coastal lifestyle apparel brand born on the beaches of Montauk in 2010, now with flagship stores in Montauk and Newport and a growing e-commerce business serving customers from Maine to Malibu. We're a small, scrappy team mid-growth — actively fundraising, expanding our product drops, and building toward a much bigger version of this brand over the next few years. We need a finance partner who can bring order and foresight to a business that moves fast and seasonally.

About the Role

Whalebone is looking for an experienced Apparel Designer / Product Developer to collaborate with our team on the design and development of new styles across men’s, women’s and kids apparel.

THIS IS NOT A GRAPHIC DESIGNER, THIS IS A PRODUCT DEVELOPER

This person will work closely with our CEO/Brand Director to translate creative ideas, inspiration and product direction into thoughtful, commercially viable apparel. You’ll help define silhouette, fit, fabrication, construction, washes, trims and details before handing styles off for technical design and tech-pack development.

We’re looking for someone who brings both a strong fashion/design point of view and deep product knowledge — particularly within casual lifestyle apparel, including tees, fleece, sweats, knits and other everyday staples.

What You’ll Own

• Collaborate on the design and development of new apparel styles from initial concept through development
• Translate creative direction, references and inspiration into clear product concepts
• Recommend fabrics, weights, compositions, washes, trims and raw materials appropriate for each style
• Develop silhouettes, proportions, construction details, color and design elements
• Create design sketches and clear development direction for technical design/tech-pack execution
• Review samples and recommend changes to fit, fabrication, construction and overall aesthetic
• Help evolve existing best-selling styles through new fits, fabrics and details
• Bring new product ideas and relevant market/category insights to seasonal development
• Partner closely with technical design and production throughout the development process

What We’re Looking For

• 5–10 years of professional apparel/product design experience
• Degree or formal education in Fashion Design, Apparel Design or a related discipline
• Strong experience designing within casual lifestyle apparel — particularly tees, fleece, sweatshirts, sweatpants, knits and similar categories
• Deep knowledge of fabrication, textiles, garment construction, washes, trims and raw materials
• Strong understanding of fit, proportion and how fabrication impacts the finished garment
• Experience taking product from concept through development and sampling
• Strong taste level and an understanding of surf, coastal, heritage and casual lifestyle apparel
• Ability to collaborate creatively while also bringing an experienced, independent point of view
• Adobe Illustrator proficiency and strong apparel sketching/design capabilities

To Apply

Email [email protected] with your resume, portfolio and examples of apparel you have designed and developed.

Please include examples that demonstrate both your design aesthetic and experience with fabrication/product development.