Senior Fashion Designer

Job Title: Fashion Designer

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Grant Road, Mumbai

Experience:

Senior Designer: 3+ years

ABOUT SDS by KUSHAL SHAH

SDS by KUSHAL SHAH is a mens luxury brand specializing in Prt, Couture, and Bespoke.

We focus on refined design aesthetics, craftsmanship, and service, creating a seamless balance between luxury and contemporary style.

Rooted in an edgy yet timeless design philosophy, our collections reflect an evolving yet consistent creative vision.

Our parent company, SHEETAL, has been a pioneer in Indian fashion retail for over 50 years.

Industry icons such as Hemant Trivedi, Manish Malhotra, and Aki Narula began their creative journeys at SDS before launching their own labels.

KEY RESPONSIBILTIES :

1. Research, Trend Forecasting & Design Intelligence

Conduct extensive research on global and Indian menswear trends, couture movements, textile innovations, embroidery techniques, and tailoring structures

Analyze competitor positioning within luxury and bespoke menswear

Study evolving luxury consumer behavior and seasonal buying patterns

Forecast seasonal color palettes, fabric directions, silhouette evolutions, and surface ornamentation

Identify craft clusters, artisan techniques, and innovative materials aligned with brand aesthetics

2. Collection Conceptualization & Story Development

Conceptualize seasonal, couture, and capsule collections from initial idea to production readiness

Develop strong thematic narratives and collection storytelling frameworks

Create comprehensive mood boards (silhouette, texture, embroidery, color, styling, references)

Prepare structured concept decks outlining inspiration, category planning, and product segmentation

3. Design Development & Technical Execution

Develop detailed sketches and finalized garment designs across Prt, Couture, and Bespoke

Create precise technical drawings and CADs

Prepare complete tech packs including:

Measurement charts

Stitch details

Construction notes

Fabric specifications

Embroidery placements

Finishing standards

Define silhouette structures, fit blocks, and garment construction techniques

Incorporate bespoke tailoring principles and couture-level detailing into every design

4. Fabric Planning, Sourcing & Material Management

Determine fabric requirements per collection and per garment

Calculate fabric consumption in coordination with merchandising and production

Source fabrics, trims, linings, buttons, embellishments, and accessories

Negotiate pricing, MOQs, and lead times with vendors

Coordinate embroidery sampling with khaka artists and karigars

Maintain updated fabric libraries, trim archives, and sourcing documentation

Ensure timely procurement aligned with sampling and production timelines

5. Sampling, Fit Trials & Prototype Approvals

Oversee development of first samples from design briefing to final prototype

Coordinate closely with masters, pattern makers, tailors, and karigars

Conduct detailed fit trials and silhouette corrections

Provide structured correction sheets for sampling iterations

Approve final samples before bulk production or couture execution

Ensure garments meet luxury construction and finishing standards

6. Production Planning, Merchandising & Execution

Collaborate with merchandising teams on costing and pricing strategies

Align design timelines with production calendars and launch schedules

Finalize stitching units, workshop allocations, and karigar assignments

Monitor embroidery timelines and execution stages

Coordinate fabric usage planning and wastage control

Oversee bulk production quality consistency

Ensure readiness for retail, MBOs, and e-commerce distribution

7. End-to-End Client Consultation & Bespoke Order Facilitation

Lead and actively participate in client consultations at the flagship store

Understand client personality, occasion requirements, styling preferences, and customization needs

Translate consultation discussions into structured design briefs

Develop bespoke concepts tailored to individual client requirements

Prepare personalized tech sheets and embroidery layouts specific to each order

Supervise measurement recording and customization specifications

Coordinate sampling and trial fittings for bespoke clients

Attend fittings, mark corrections, and provide structured alteration instructions

Ensure seamless communication between client, production, and tailoring teams

Track order progress from consultation to final delivery

Oversee finishing, personalization, and couture detailing standards

Ensure on-time delivery without compromising craftsmanship

Maintain detailed documentation of bespoke orders for internal records

8. Quality Control & Design Excellence

Conduct multi-stage quality inspections (fabric, embroidery, stitching, finishing)

Ensure construction accuracy, seam finishing, lining precision, and embroidery consistency

Approve final garments prior to dispatch

Maintain consistency in luxury presentation across collections

9. Campaign Support, Styling & Presentation

Coordinate with Marketing, PR, and Merchandising teams for cohesive collection storytelling

Support shoot styling and campaign visuals

Supervise garment presentation for lookbooks, editorials, and launches

Ensure designs align with brand image across all visual platforms

10. Visual Documentation & Archiving

Click and supervise garment photography for internal records

Maintain digital archives of:

Tech packs

Embroidery layouts

Fabric swatches

Production notes

Final garment images

Ensure structured documentation for future collection references

11. Team Leadership & Creative Mentorship

Guide and mentor junior designers and interns

Review and approve junior sketches, tech sheets, and embroidery layouts

Provide constructive feedback and elevate design standards

Build structured workflows within the design department

Ensure alignment between creative vision and production feasibility

12. Process Development & System Implementation

Develop and standardize design-to-production workflows

Create structured tech pack templates and approval systems

Implement sampling approval hierarchies

Establish documentation systems for tracking collection stages

Coordinate cross-department systems between Design, Production, Merchandising, Retail, and Marketing

Continuously optimize efficiency in execution and communication

QUALFICATIONS & PREREQUISITIES:

Bachelors degree in Fashion Design or related field (advanced degree preferred).

Senior Designer: 3+ years of experience in luxury menswear, couture, or bespoke.

Strong understanding of menswear silhouettes, tailoring, and garment construction.

In-depth knowledge of fabrics, couture embroideries, and finishing techniques.

Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.).

Familiarity with bespoke tailoring and made-to-measure processes.

Awareness of sustainability practices in fashion is a plus.

Strong teamwork, time management, and creative problem-solving skills.

Willingness to travel for sourcing, shows, and industry events if required.