Senior Knitwear Designer

Vivienne Westwood is one of the most iconic British fashion brands, renowned for its heritage, innovative design, and commitment to culture and activism. We care deeply about our people and the environment, and our core values - Gaia, Quality not Quantity, Activism, Culture & Heritage - guide us daily. If you share our passion for creativity, sustainability, and innovation, we’d love to hear from you.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Knitwear Designer to join our Design team in Milan. This role requires a strong design vision, technical expertise, and the ability to bring innovative ideas that reflect and evolve the brand’s aesthetic.

The Senior Knitwear Designer will lead the development of men’s and women’s knitwear collections, working in close partnership with the Creative Team. This individual will play a key role in shaping seasonal concepts, driving design direction, and ensuring the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. They will collaborate closely with the Senior Knitwear Product Developer, who oversees technical development and production with external vendors. The ideal candidate will have the ability to interpret and translate the Creative Director’s vision into cohesive, commercially relevant knitwear collections that reflect and elevate the brand’s identity.

KEY REPSONSIBILITIES

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Lead the design and development of seasonal menswear and womenswear knitwear collections, ensuring alignment with the brand’s creative vision, positioning, and luxury standards

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Contribute strategically to concept development, collection storytelling, and overall creative direction in collaboration with the Creative Director, Artistic Director and Design Director

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Drive innovation in knitwear design through the exploration of new techniques, yarns, constructions, and finishes

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Propose yarns, stitches, gauges, and construction details in line with the brand’s aesthetic and quality expectations

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Prepare clear, detailed, and commercially aware design briefs to support the development process

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Work in close partnership with the Senior Knitwear Product Developer to ensure seamless translation of design concepts into production-ready garments

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Review prototypes and samples, maintaining rigorous standards of quality, fit, and craftsmanship

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Lead and actively participate in fittings, sample reviews, and collection sign-offs, providing clear, structured, and actionable feedback

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Collaborate with manufacturers and suppliers, including travel where required, to support sample development, quality control, and issue resolution

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Conduct ongoing research into trends, materials, and innovation, working alongside the Milan-based fabric R&D team

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Mentor and support more junior team members where applicable, contributing to the overall development of the design function

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Support additional design and business needs as required

PROFILE & KEY SKILLS

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Minimum 7+ years’ experience in knitwear design, with a strong and proven track record in a senior or lead role

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Strong ability to interpret and translate creative direction into commercially viable collections

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Extensive experience designing both menswear and womenswear knitwear collections within a luxury or premium environment

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Advanced knowledge of knitwear techniques, yarns, constructions, and manufacturing processes

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Strong creative vision with the ability to translate brand identity into innovative, commercially relevant collections

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Highly detail-oriented with a strong focus on quality and craftsmanship

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Proven ability to influence and collaborate effectively with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams

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Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment

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Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to perform under pressure during peak periods

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Professional working proficiency in both English and Italian

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Willingness to travel internationally as required

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High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) with a strong ability to create precise and presentation-ready design assets

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Ability to produce accurate and detailed technical drawings / flat sketches for development and production

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Experience with, or strong interest in, 3D design tools such as CLO 3D, with the ability to support digital prototyping and visualization workflows

WHAT OUR COMPANY OFFERS

A design-driven, luxury, as well as stimulating, young, and supportive work environment that values individual wellbeing; daily tickets restaurant; health & wellbeing support; staff discounts; clothing allowance based on lenght of service, other additional benefits.

Vivienne Westwood is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy or any other protected characteristic as outlined by local government laws.