Senior Fashion Designer
3 days ago
London
Job Title: Senior Fashion Designer \n Department: Design \n Reporting to: Design Director \n Direct Reports: Junior Designer & Junior Product Developer \n Contract type: Permanent, 40 hours per week \n Location: The Fold’s Head office in Bermondsey. Hybrid working- 4 days per week in the office \n \n \n About the Fold: \n \n The Fold London is an award-winning British luxury womenswear brand built on a singular, powerful idea: that the women who run boardrooms, lead teams and shape the world deserve clothes as ambitious as they are. Founded with a clear mission to dress professional women with intention, The Fold has built a loyal global community of customers who value craft, quality, and considered design over fast fashion. \n \n With a multi-channel presence - led by ecommerce and supported by our two London stores in Chelsea and the City – The Fold has built a loyal and growing customer base across the UK, US and internationally. \n \n As we enter the next stage of growth, we are investing heavily in our international expansion, commercial capability, systems, customer insight and operational infrastructure. This role is a key part of that journey. \n \n You can explore our world at www.thefoldlondon.com and find us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook as @thefoldlondon. \n \n Role Overview: \n This is a rare and significant creative role. As Senior Designer, you will function as the number two to Design Director Katya Maschenko — a trusted creative partner who can hold the breadth of the design vision, elevate the team's output, and step confidently into leadership as the brand continues to grow. \n \n This is not a role for someone who executes briefs. We are looking for a designer with a genuine and distinctive point of view — someone who understands the balance between The Fold's clean, sophisticated brand handwriting and the commercial needs of our customer; who can create product with authentic design integrity that stands apart in the premium womenswear market. \n \n The Fold operates in a way that is increasingly rare at our level: in-person fittings, access to extraordinary artisan fabrics, a deeply considered approach to silhouette and construction, and an absolute commitment to quality. This is a role a designer can be genuinely proud of. \n \n Key Responsibilities: \n \n Design & Creative Direction \n\n • Serve as the creative right hand to the Design Director — deputising as required and contributing to the overall design strategy and seasonal vision at the highest level.\n, • Lead seasonal design and market research, identifying opportunities that are relevant to The Fold customer and true to the brand's aesthetic DNA.\n, • Develop seasonal concepts, mood boards, colour palettes, fabric stories, and design direction with a clear, confident point of view.\n, • Design contemporary collections and signature pieces that reflect The Fold's clean, sophisticated handwriting — pieces with authentic design integrity, not derivative of market trends.\n, • Demonstrate exceptional mastery of outfitting, range building, and collection architecture — ensuring collections are balanced, commercially viable, and editorially compelling.\n, • Present seasonal concepts and line-ups at sketch reviews and collection sign-off meetings with clarity and conviction.\n, • Refine and amend collections following feedback and sign-off, maintaining design intent throughout.\n\n \n Product Development \n\n • Select fabrics, trims, linings, prints, and colourways in close collaboration with suppliers and internal teams — bringing genuine knowledge of and passion for exceptional materials.\n, • Attend international fabric fairs and supplier meetings to source innovative materials and evolve The Fold's distinctive design handwriting season on season.\n, • Work closely with pattern cutters and technical teams to develop new silhouettes, drapes, and fits that meet The Fold's exacting quality standards.\n, • Produce detailed technical drawings and design specifications using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.\n, • Support the collection through in-person fittings, maintaining the highest standards of fit, quality, and design integrity throughout.\n, • Prepare collections for handover to Production and Technical teams with clear communication and thorough documentation.\n\n \n Cross-Functional Collaboration \n\n • Partner closely with Buying, Merchandising, Production, Technical, and Marketing teams throughout the collection development process.\n, • Present seasonal inspiration, product stories, and collection narratives to Marketing and wider business teams with energy and authority.\n, • Attend and contribute to campaign photoshoots, ensuring product styling and brand representation reflect the original design vision.\n, • Maintain a strong understanding of the luxury and contemporary womenswear competitive landscape — always knowing where The Fold sits and why it stands apart.\n\n \n Leadership & Team Development \n\n • Manage and mentor the Junior Designer and Junior Product Developer — providing guidance, feedback, and a strong creative lead.\n, • Foster a collaborative, positive, and ambitious team environment where craft and excellence are celebrated.\n, • Lead by example: promoting accountability, creative rigour, and a solutions-focused approach at every stage of the design process.\n, • Support the growth and confidence of junior team members, investing in their development as seriously as in the product.\n\n \n About You \n \n Essential Experience & Skills \n\n • Significant experience in a Senior Designer role within contemporary, premium, or luxury womenswear.\n, • A strong, distinctive design handwriting — an exceptional eye for cut, fabric, colour, print, and quality, with work that demonstrates genuine creative authorship.\n, • Deep understanding of the balance between brand identity and commercial viability — you know how to hold a point of view while building product that sells.\n, • Proven experience creating capsule collections and signature product with a clear brand identity.\n, • Strong mastery of outfitting, range building, and commercial product development.\n, • Excellent draping, sketching, and technical drawing skills.\n, • Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.\n, • Strong understanding of garment construction, fit, and product development processes.\n, • Excellent presentation, communication, and organisational skills — comfortable presenting to senior leadership and external partners.\n\n \n Personal Attributes \n\n • A genuine passion for The Fold brand, its customer, and the extraordinary craft that defines it.\n, • A deep and instinctive understanding of the needs and lifestyle of professional women.\n, • Highly creative, commercially aware, and solutions-oriented — you see possibility, not obstacles.\n, • Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment; embraces change with energy and a positive mindset.\n, • Proactive, collaborative, and hands-on — no task is beneath you when the collection requires it.\n, • Takes genuine pride in exceptional standards and is unwilling to compromise on quality.\n, • Builds strong relationships internally and externally, acting as a trusted ambassador for The Fold.\n, • An inspiring team player who raises the standard around them and invests in others' success.\n, • Adaptable and resilient — comfortable navigating evolving priorities with calm confidence.\n\n \n Benefits & Perks: \n We believe great work happens when people feel supported, valued, and inspired—here’s how we make that happen: \n \n\n • 33 days holiday (25 days + bank holidays) + option to buy more!\n, • Pension scheme\n, • Salary sacrifice options (pension & childcare)\n, • Financial wellbeing platform to support your goals\n, • £1,250 annual The Fold gift voucher\n, • Bike to work scheme to save on bikes & equipment\n, • Employee Assistance Programme (confidential wellbeing support when you need it)\n, • Eye care support\n, • Enhanced maternity pay\n, • Friends & family discount – enjoy 50% off full retail price\n, • Monthly social events, plus summer & Christmas parties\n, • Summer Fridays for that early start to the weekend\n, • Fully stocked snack cupboards, fresh fruit, plus great coffee & tea\n, • Opportunities to give back through volunteering with our charity partner, Smart Works\n\n \n Why The Fold \n\n • A brand with a clear point of view and a fiercely loyal customer base — you will be selling something you can believe in\n, • Opportunity to play a highly visible role in a growing premium fashion brand\n, • Direct exposure to the leadership team and key strategic initiatives\n, • Broad and genuinely commercial remit with real influence on business performance\n, • Opportunity to help shape the next stage of international and operational growth\n, • Entrepreneurial environment with high levels of ownership and autonomy\n, • Collaborative culture with ambitious plans for the future\n, • Recent investment from a new owner. The brand is at a new chapter of growth across both existing and new channels, and operates internationally.\n\n \n Diversity and Inclusion \n We promote a diverse and inclusive workplace which harnesses the benefits of the diversity of our team and strives to represent the communities in which we live and work. Our vision is to establish an environment that attracts individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and talents, empowering them to contribute their best and authentic selves. We welcome and encourage applications from those who share our commitment to fostering this inclusive and authentic work culture.
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