Our mission is to Make Today Ridiculously Awesome! This isn't about selling handbags, it's about manifesting a feeling, an experience, and a community - all in honor of the journey - because it's not about the bag....it's where you take it. We are a women’s fashion brand headquartered in Austin, TX. Our product offering, almost entirely produced in Mexico, focuses on totes, handbags and accessories. We aspire to help people and have a positive impact through our lives and work, and to keep our focus on the good. Our It’s Not About the Bag™ program celebrates women who impact the world in positive ways through their service, strength, kindness, humor, tenacity and love. We choose light. We are a community. We uplift people. We aspire to be a category of one. Join us!
The Technical Designer Manager will be responsible for all technical details of the product. They will own the creation of POMs, communicating them and training full team on them. Responsible for managing the creation and updating specs for seasonal development in collaboration with the founder/Dev team, along with all master specs for each silhouette in the line. They will also be responsible for creation of master specs based on approved new silhouette samples.
- Own master specs and ensure consistency of construction and adherence to spec details across all factories in partnership with the factory pattern makers.
- Update and maintain master specs based on any running changes or any found errors.
- Responsible for management of seasonal spec creation, ensuring brand cohesiveness, and adhering to the master calendar
- Responsible for accurate and timely communication of seasonal spec details to all relevant teams in collaboration with Product Development Director & Product Development Manager.
- Work with development team to maintain tech pack integrity (All Spec Updates doc)
- Maintain department wide list and educate relevant teams on materials compatibility due to performance or limitations across all silhouettes. Partner closely with Raw Material Development Manager and Implementor.
- Serves as point person for construction testing for Intertek
- Weekly/Monthly Meetings:
- New Silhouettes review w/ Implementor and Design team making new silhouettes
- TBs with RM Development on new materials/testing etc. to evaluate final uses
- QC team to present consistent issues to this role and Implementor to help adjust any issues in production on patterns, etc.
- Seasonal education to design team during concepting around silhouettes, materials suggested and materials to avoid due to construction limitations.
- Weekly Design/Dev calendar meetings
- Weekly Development team touch base
- Responsible for creation/update of fully detailed master specs based on sample/spec/revision of new silhouettes in all materializations.
- Updates of master BOM in WFX based on samples in collaboration with Development Associate
- Digitize pattern panels for counter sourcing silhouettes and embroidery/novelty design templates
- Assist in tech pack creation for components, i.e. hardware, patches, charms, based on Design direction
- Probability to expand to multiple product categories
- Travel to factories and/or our MX office regularly
- Bachelor’s degree in design or fashion related field
- 7+ years experience in product/technical design in the fashion industry - specifically in handbags & small leather goods in a range of materializations.
- Excellent working knowledge of handbag and small leather goods construction and the capabilities of a wide range of raw materials.
- Strong understanding of technical implications of pattern cutting, grading and bag construction.
- Ability to critically review bags to avoid potential construction QC issues.
- Must be able to clearly communicate information effectively across multiple cross functional teams.
- Must be organized and possess the ability to prioritize to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Must be a collaborative team player with great initiative.
- Familiarity with various raw materials including leather, PVC, trims and hardware.
- Proficiency in Illustrator and Photoshop
- Bilingual in English and Spanish required