Leads footwear design and development for trend-led, commercially viable product ranges. Creates seasonal concepts, mood boards, color palettes, and print research; briefs technical teams; presents ranges to management and buying teams; and directs a Design Assistant. Manages pricing, margins, product approvals, supplier development, costing, deadlines, and international research and development trips. Requires women’s footwear design experience, strong fashion illustration and technical drawing skills, retail awareness, communication, and attention to detail.
Role Purpose:
The Footwear Designer leads the design and development process for the department, building a balanced, comprehensive product offer with the required pricing structure and margin. This role delivers constant newness combined with commerciality and a strong affinity for fast fashion, heavily influenced by the latest catwalk and trend predictions specific to the non-clothing and footwear sectors.
Role Responsibilities:
Design & Creative Leadership
- Take responsibility for the design, development, and delivery of relevant, trend-led products for a specific area.
- Produce overarching concepts, trends, and storyboards, including mood and trend boards seasonally with associated color palettes and print research.
- Manage and provide clear design direction to the Design Assistant, including planning their daily workload.
- Present new product ranges confidently to management and buying teams.
- Conduct research trips to key fashion hubs like NYC, Paris, and London to identify product opportunities for all areas of the business.
- Liaise directly with the sample room and brief designs to creative pattern cutters to ensure technical execution matches the creative vision.
Technical & Commercial Execution
- Maintain a deep understanding of pricing, margins, and the "design to price point" process.
- Plan the development trip calendar and travel to India and China to actively develop products and build the range.
- Collaborate with production teams on all order approvals and resolve any costing issues.
- Manage own time effectively to meet all deadlines and complete ad-hoc duties to ensure the continuous development of the business.
- Continually aim for self-development, actively seeking support and guidance from the Line Manager.
Technical Requirements:
- Previous design experience within a high street fashion retailer or supplier, specifically within non-clothing or footwear departments.
- Experience working with embellishment, embroidery, and materials relevant to footwear and accessories.
- Excellent free-hand fashion illustration and technical drawing skills specific to footwear and non-clothing products.
- Demonstrable awareness of the retail industry, including category-specific trends, potential threats, and opportunities.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to convey technical and creative information clearly.
- Ability to handle highly confidential information with absolute discretion.
- Exceptional attention to detail and a spirit that rises to challenges.
About UsLipsy is a London-based fashion brand that’s bold, dynamic, and always evolving. We create trend-led designs with a signature feminine edge, blending sophistication with unapologetic glamour. From statement-making eveningwear to effortlessly chic everyday looks, every piece is designed to make women feel confident, empowered, and unstoppable. The Lipsy woman knows what she wants - she’s ambitious, stylish, and ready to own every moment, whether she’s commanding the boardroom or turning heads at an exclusive event. About the Team
- 25% off most NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria's Secret* products (*when purchased through NEXT)
- 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
- Hot deals and exclusive offers from over 3,500 retailers through our online benefits platform
- Company performance based bonus
- Early VIP access to sale stock via Direct to Desk
- Life assurance
- Sharesave scheme
- Annual Travel Card Loan
- Sample Sales
- Fantastic L&D opportunities
- Flexi-Hour Scheme
- Direct to Work - Discount online and instore, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
- Support Networks - Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
- Wellhub - Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email [email protected] (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0207 436 2000 and leave a voicemail.
Similar Jobs
Healthtech
Design full womenswear footwear and bag collections, translating global trends into commercial products. Create CAD concepts, material swatches, and factory-ready specifications while balancing style, cost, and quality. Collaborate with buying, merchandising, and international manufacturing teams, manage prototypes and critical paths, and ensure products progress from concept through final production. Seasonal trend and factory travel is required, along with a digital portfolio.
Top Skills:
Adobe IllustratorAdobe PhotoshopGoogle DocsGoogle DriveGoogle MeetGoogle Workspace
eCommerce • Fashion • Retail
Design and develop footwear collections by researching trends, materials, trims and competitor products. Support the Designer and Buying Team to ensure fit and brand aesthetics. Produce sketches, detailed technical drawings and specs using Illustrator and Photoshop. Maintain sample organization, a sample tracker, and supplier relationships to adhere to development timelines. Perform general administration and present collections for meetings while ensuring attention to detail throughout the process.
Top Skills:
Adobe IllustratorAdobe Photoshop
Financial Services
Leads technology risk and controls management by identifying, quantifying, and mitigating compliance and operational risks. Oversees control effectiveness, issue management, governance, reporting, and regulatory alignment. Partners with technology stakeholders, control teams, data officers, and regulators to improve risk posture and support executive decision-making. Uses enterprise-authorized AI to synthesize evidence and streamline control testing while validating outputs for security, auditability, and regulatory compliance.
Top Skills:
Artificial IntelligenceCybersecurityData SecurityRisk Management Frameworks
What you need to know about the London Tech Scene
London isn't just a hub for established businesses; it's also a nursery for innovation. Boasting one of the most recognized fintech ecosystems in Europe, attracting billions in investments each year, London's success has made it a go-to destination for startups looking to make their mark. Top U.K. companies like Hoptin, Moneybox and Marshmallow have already made the city their base — yet fintech is just the beginning. From healthtech to renewable energy to cybersecurity and beyond, the city's startups are breaking new ground across a range of industries.
