Senior Knitwear Designer

About the role

Vivienne Westwood is seeking a Senior Knitwear Designer to join its Milan design team. The role will lead the creation of men’s and women’s knitwear collections, translating the Creative Director’s vision into commercially viable, high‑quality garments.

Key responsibilities

• Lead design and development of seasonal knitwear collections for menswear and womenswear, ensuring alignment with brand aesthetic and luxury standards.
• Collaborate with Creative Director, Artistic Director and Design Director on concept development and collection storytelling.
• Drive innovation by exploring new yarns, stitches, gauges, constructions and finishes.
• Prepare detailed design briefs and work closely with the Senior Knitwear Product Developer to turn concepts into production‑ready pieces.
• Review prototypes and samples, conduct fittings, and provide structured feedback for quality, fit and craftsmanship.
• Partner with manufacturers and suppliers, including travel for sample development and issue resolution.
• Research trends, materials and innovations alongside the Milan fabric R&D team.
• Mentor junior designers and support broader design and business needs.

Required profile

• Minimum 7 + years of experience in knitwear design, with a proven record in a senior or lead role.
• Strong ability to interpret and translate creative direction into cohesive collections.
• Excellent eye for detail, quality standards and craftsmanship.

Required skills

• Knitwear design and development.
• Yarn selection, stitch engineering, gauge and construction detailing.
• Prototype review, fitting and sample sign‑off.
• Collaboration with product developers and external manufacturers.
• Trend research and material innovation.