Assistant Designer, Kidswear

ABOUT THE ROLE Are you passionate about a career in Kidswear? Do you want to work for a premium fashion brand? ...If so, read on... We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Entry-Level Fashion Designer to join our kidswear design team at a premium fashion brand. You will demonstrate a strong aesthetic sensibility, a proactive mindset, and a deep passion for elevated design. You should be hungry to learn, full of creative energy, and eager to contribute to a team that values innovation, craftsmanship and fun! You will be a kidswear designer with an innate sense of taste, an eye for detail, and a strong desire to grow within a collaborative environment. You will need to bring energy, ambition, and originality to everything you do, with a clear passion for excellence. . Full Partnership Salary Range - £26,300 - £35,000 Expected Salary - Up to £31,000 depending on experience Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home. The expectation is for three in-person days per week, which can include your time spent on store visits and meeting brands / suppliers. For Fashion Design this is generally Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Please note, any cost incurred as a result of travel to the office is the responsibility of the successful candidate. Location - This role is based at our Pimlico Head Office As an Assistant Designer, you will be responsible for supporting design, product development and the delivery of original, trend relevant, customer-centric and distinct own brand products, utilising customer insights, to inspire, excite and delight our customers and deliver commercial growth. This role will focus on developing foundational product design skills and support the overall design critical path, from design concept to production. You will support the operational running of the Design Studios (Fashion) You will work alongside other Designers to support and coordinate the needs of this design studio, providing administrative and equipment assistance. You will bring a good understanding of design principles, technical approaches and relevant technology. Key responsibilities Support the girlswear and boyswear designers in the development of seasonal collections that align with our premium brand identity. Conduct trend research, fabric sourcing, and concept development. Prepare mood boards, sketches, and technical packages for internal and external communication. Utilise 3D design software (CLO3D) to create high-quality digital prototypes and visualise garment construction with precision. Collaborate closely with pattern makers, technical developers, and production teams to ensure flawless execution of designs. Demonstrate that you are happy to present and share ideas back to the team. Participate in fittings, revisions, and sampling to maintain the highest level of product integrity. Stay informed on emerging trends, materials, and innovative design techniques relevant to kidswear. Essential skills/experience you’ll need A passion and interest in kids clothing design Sketching and illustration skills Proficiency in relevant design software e.g. CLO, 3D design and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, ) Excellent understanding of the kidswear premium market, fabrications, and finishes. Entry level understanding of technical construction and creation of technical packages (as relevant to Fashion Design) Proactive attitude, self-motivated, and detail-driven with understanding of the target customer and market Ability to work effectively in a team environment with excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to clearly communicate design ideas Strong organisational and time management skills Time management and prioritisation Desirable skills/experience you may have Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Design (product, furniture, textiles, surface pattern, decorative arts as relevant) Portfolio demonstrating design skills Experience of working in Retail Experience working with automated processes Proactive approach to Learning and Development Knowledge of product development processes Internal use only: #LI-HEADOFFICE #LI-RZ1 #LI-HYBRID . Closing Date: August 31, 2025 Pay: £26,300.00 - £35,000.00 Annual Contract Type: Permanent Hours of Work: N/A Job Level: Partnership Level 9 Where You'll Be Working: London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, , SW1V 2QQ ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there never been a more exciting time to join us. We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose. As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it. Important points to note: It important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles. We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants. We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview. At the John Lewis Partnership we’re not just employees; we’re co-owners, and that why we’re called Partners. Being a Partner means not only do we all collectively share the responsibilities of being the UK largest employee-owned business, but we also share in its rewards and successes. It this ownership model that makes the Partnership a very unique place to work.