ABOUT THE BRAND
At Karl Lagerfeld, we are driven by Karl’s mantra: “Embrace the present and invent the future.”
Always contemporary and forward-looking, the House of KARL LAGERFELD shares the creative vision and design aesthetic of its iconic founder, Karl Lagerfeld.
We are the only fashion house that carries Karl’s name on its door and we strive to live up to this responsibility in everything we do, every day, with the utmost joy and passion.
Our headquarters in Paris and in Amsterdam are home to a highly diverse and driven team of KARL family members that hail from over 35 countries. Together, we aim to create meaningful stories and product concepts that connect to Karl’s world and iconic attributes.
Women’s & Men's ready-to-wear, bags, small leather goods, swimwear and underwear are managed directly from our Amsterdam headquarters, while other categories, including footwear, fragrances, eyewear and more, are developed with best-in-class licensing partners.
We connect with our consumers on multiple levels, ensuring that our online and offline approach goes hand in hand. We thrive to maximize consumer engagement via more than 200 KL stores worldwide, our premium wholesale partners, and our strong digital footprint, spearheaded by our
karllagerfeld.com and 35 countries. Our digital channels currently represent more than 30% of our overall full-price business.
We are a dynamic, fast-growing and inclusive company built on professionalism and strong values. At KARL LAGERFELD we’re committed to working toward the highest standards of sustainability and integrity across all areas of our business,. In 2019, KARL LAGERFELD joined as a founding member of the Fashion Pact, a global sustainability initiative seeking to transform the fashion industry through objectives in three areas: climate, biodiversity and ocean protection.
The Role:
Reporting to the KARL LAGERFELD Design Director, you will lead the KARL LAGERFELD JEANS design team, currently comprising three designers across Men’s, Women’s and Denim, spanning Senior Designer to Designer level.
You will be responsible for translating the brand’s DNA into distinctive, relevant and commercially successful collections that resonate with the KARL LAGERFELD JEANS consumer. Combining a strong creative vision with deep product expertise and a clear understanding of the target audience, you will drive seasonal collections, product innovation and consistent design execution across all categories and genders.
This is a hands-on role for a passionate and commercially minded design professional who can inspire, mentor and develop a team while balancing creative ambition, product excellence, business objectives and seasonal deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Design & Collection Development:
Lead and coordinate the design team in the development of seasonal collections, ensuring alignment with the creative vision, strategic priorities and objectives set by the Design Director.
Drive in-depth research into brand-relevant trends, consumer insights, market developments and product opportunities to establish compelling seasonal concepts. Develop and oversee cohesive mood boards, colourpalettes, concept presentations and product stories that translate the KARL LAGERFELD JEANS brand DNA into a distinctive, relevant and commercially compelling creative direction.
Translate seasonal concepts, trend research and market insights into cohesive, innovative and commercially viable collections that strengthen the KARL LAGERFELD JEANS brand identity and resonate with its target consumer.
Oversee the design development of Men’s, Women’s and Denim collections, ensuring a consistent overarching brand vision while preserving the distinctive identity and product focus of each category.
Drive product innovation across fits, silhouettes, fabrics, washes, finishes, colours, trims and detailing to deliver distinctive, relevant and differentiated products.
Balance fashion-forward design with commercial priorities, ensuring collections respond to consumer expectations, reflect the brand’s price positioning and support overall business objectives.
Embrace technological innovation by integrating AI-powered tools into the design process to enhance creativity and creative presentations. Previous experience with AI design tools is an advantage, alongside a strong willingness to explore, adopt and apply emerging technologies.
Graphics, Prints & Product Innovation
Together with Graphic Designers, lead the development of graphics, prints, artworks, logos and branding applications that strengthen the identity and visual impact of the collection.
Together with the Graphic Designers, guide and create original graphic concepts and evolve existing artwork to deliver fresh, relevant and commercially successful products.
Explore innovative applications of graphics, washes, embellishments and surface treatments across apparel and denim.
Team Leadership & Collaboration
Manage, guide and inspire the design team, providing clear direction, constructive feedback and creative support throughout the seasonal development process.
Allocate responsibilities and monitor progress to ensure collections are delivered on time and to the required creative and technical standards.
Foster a collaborative, proactive and solution-oriented team culture, encouraging creativity, accountability and continuous improvement.
Work closely with the Design Director and cross-functional teams, including Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, to align creative concepts with business needs.
Present seasonal concepts, design proposals and collection developments to relevant stakeholders, clearly communicating the creative rationale and opportunities.
Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal teams, suppliers and external partners.
Product Development & Technical Execution
Translate design concepts into clear design proposals, including sketches, AI renders, technical drawings, colourways and detailed product specifications.
Create and oversee accurate, complete and production-ready technical packs, including construction details, measurements, materials, trims, artwork placement and finishing instructions.
Collaborate with Product Development and suppliers throughout sampling and production to ensure the intended design, fit, quality and finishing are achieved.
Participate in sample reviews and fittings, providing clear feedback and driving necessary adjustments to improve fit, construction, appearance and overall product quality.
Ensure designs are developed in line with target costs, quality standards, production feasibility and seasonal timelines.
Monitor the collection development calendar, identifying potential delays or challenges and taking proactive steps to ensure timely delivery.
Research, Market Awareness & Continuous Improvement:
Conduct ongoing research into fashion trends, innovations, consumer behaviour, competitors, materials, colours, washes and emerging market opportunities.
Translate catwalk, streetwear, youth culture and relevant lifestyle influences into commercially relevant designs aligned with the KARL LAGERFELD JEANS point of view.
Visit suppliers, manufacturers, trade fairs and relevant industry events to discover new materials, techniques, technologies and product opportunities.
Review market feedback and product performance with relevant teams to identify opportunities for future collection development.
The Profile:
Experience & Technical Expertise:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Fashion Design or a related discipline.
At least 8 years of experience in commercial apparel design, ideally including denim and casual-wear, with proven experience in developing and delivering seasonal collections.
Demonstrated experience in leading, mentoring or coordinating designers and managing multiple product categories.
Strong understanding of product development, including fit, fabric sourcing, trims and garment construction.
Proven expertise in graphics, prints, artwork development and branding applications.
Excellent technical design skills, including technical sketches, detailed product specifications and production-ready technical packs.
Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; experience with PLS or other relevant fashion design and product development software.
Strong understanding of fabric and material selection, garment construction, fit, quality, costing and production feasibility.
Willingness and ability to travel to manufacturers, suppliers, trade fairs and other relevant industry destinations.
Fluent in written and spoken English.
Creative & Commercial Mindset:
Strong creative vision and distinctive product taste, with the ability to balance design excellence, innovation and commercial viability.
Excellent fashion and market awareness, with the ability to identify relevant trends and translate them into compelling products that reflect the KARL LAGERFELD JEANS identity.
A strong understanding of brand positioning, target consumers and the importance of delivering a consistent brand experience across collections.
Ability to build on existing graphics, designs and brand codes while introducing fresh ideas and meaningful product innovation.
Commercially minded, with an understanding of how design decisions influence product appeal, target pricing, margins and collection performance.
Leadership & Personal Attributes:
Leadership: Able to motivate, guide and develop a design team while encouraging creativity, ownership and accountability.
Collaboration: A proactive team player who works effectively across functions and builds strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Communication: An excellent communicator with the ability to present ideas convincingly, influence stakeholders and translate creative concepts into clear actions.
Adaptability: Flexible and responsive to changing priorities, trends and business requirements.
Performance under pressure: Able to thrive in a fast-paced, highly dynamic and commercially driven creative environment.
Organisation & Efficiency: Structured, detail-oriented and capable of managing multiple projects, deadlines and development processes simultaneously.
Initiative & Problem-solving: Anticipates challenges, identifies opportunities and takes ownership of finding effective solutions.
Brand Passion: Enthusiastic, energetic and committed to expressing and strengthening the KARL LAGERFELD JEANS brand identity.
Results orientation: Focused on translating creative ideas and team efforts into high-quality collections that deliver against creative, product and business objectives.
Why #TEAMKARL? (HQ)
· Learning and development courses/training
· Opportunity to make an impact
· Remote working arrangements
· Relocation allowance
· Bonus holidays
· Working in the heart of Amsterdam
· Brand discounts
· And exclusive sample sales only for #TEAMKARL
JOIN #TEAMKARL
The collective vision of KARL LAGERFELD is to be the most connected global designer brand, inspiring consumers through luxury collections and immersing them in the World of KARL. If you are interested in joining #TEAMKARL, we invite you to submit your application today.
At #TEAMKARL, everyone can give their opinion, grow in their career, and be part of a genuinely caring and inclusive team. We welcome people from all backgrounds, with different perspectives, ideas, and experiences to work with us.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING JOB POSTINGS
Please be advised that all legitimate job opportunities at KARL LAGERFELD are published exclusively on our official careers page and on selected partner platforms that redirect directly to our career site.
We strongly recommend that applicants only apply through our verified channels and remain vigilant against unofficial job offers.
KARL LAGERFELD will never request any form of payment during the recruitment process.
If you come across suspicious job postings or receive unexpected communication about a position, please contact us immediately at career@karllagerfeld.com
