We are a fashion retail group that started as a denim specialist in 1988 and has grown into a leading regional fast-fashion retailer with over 600 stores, a strong online presence, over 7,000 employees and close to 1 billion USD revenue.
We bring style and value to millions, offering clothing, footwear, and accessories for women, men, and children and starting new product lines home and beauty. We believe fashion should be inspiring, accessible, and constantly evolving.
Now entering a bold new phase of international growth from our global headquarters in Dubai, UAE, we're looking to elevate our executive management and creative product development with world-class talent.
Our vision is to merge decades of retail expertise with cutting-edge technology building advanced omnichannel systems, driving operational excellence, and leveraging AI-powered innovation to redefine the fast-fashion landscape.
We move fast, adapt boldly, and care deeply about making everyday fashion beautiful and attainable for millions.
We are looking for a Design Lead / Senior Designer who will take ownership of a key product category and drive its creative direction from concept to final product.
This role combines strong creative sensibility with leadership capabilities and a deep understanding of commercial fashion. The person in this role will be responsible for shaping the seasonal creative vision for the category and translating trends and concepts into compelling, wearable collections that resonate with customers while meeting business objectives.
Working from concept through to final product, the Design Lead will collaborate closely with buying, planning, sourcing, production, and merchandising teams to ensure that each collection is creatively strong, commercially relevant, and operationally feasible.
The position is suited for someone who is both creatively driven and highly collaborative, able to lead a team while balancing design vision with timelines, cost considerations, and product performance in the market.
While the role remains closely involved in the design process, its primary responsibility is to ensure that the category delivers strong, trend-aligned collections that meet both creative ambitions and business targets.
Key Responsibilities
Creative Direction & Category Design Leadership
- Define and communicate the seasonal creative vision for the product category, aligned with brand strategy.
- Lead concept development, trend research, and colour/material direction to create commercially successful collections.
- Oversee design execution from initial sketches to final product handover, ensuring consistency with brand aesthetics and category goals.
Collection Planning & Development
- Partner with Buying, Business Controlling, and Planning teams to build balanced assortments that meet financial and strategic targets.
- Manage the design calendar and ensure timely delivery of all design milestones throughout the product development cycle.
- Review prototypes, samples, and fit sessions to maintain design integrity and quality standards.
Team Leadership & Talent Development
- Lead and inspire designers within the category, providing mentorship, feedback, and creative guidance.
- Foster a culture of creativity, innovation, and accountability within the design team.
- Ensure strong collaboration with cross-functional partners to enable seamless execution.
Market & Trend Analysis
- Stay ahead of fashion trends, consumer insights, and competitive landscape developments.
- Translate global trends into commercially viable products tailored to the target customer.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Sourcing, Technical Design, and Production teams to optimize cost, quality, and speed-to-market.
- Collaborate with Marketing and Visual Merchandising teams to align product storytelling with the brand's creative direction.
Requirements
- Degree in Fashion Design, Fashion Development, or a related field
- Minimum 8 years of experience in fast fashion, mass market, or high-street brands, ideally with ownership of a product category
- Strong creative vision combined with a solid understanding of commercial fashion and price architecture
- Proven ability to translate trends into successful, high-volume collections
- Experience leading or mentoring designers within a design team
- Strong understanding of garment construction, fabrics, trims, and product development processes
- Excellent visual communication skills and ability to present design concepts to senior stakeholders
- Advanced proficiency in design tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and other digital design software
- Experience with PLM systems and digital product development workflows
- Knowledge of 3D design tools (such as CLO or similar) is a plus
- Strong awareness of global fashion trends, consumer behavior, and competitor landscape
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Strong collaboration skills and ability to work cross-functionally with Buying, Production, Merchandising, and Marketing teams
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally for sourcing, supplier visits, and market research
- Fluent English required; additional languages are a plus
