Technical Designer - Intimate Apparel / Bras

Dana-co, a leading design company of luxury intimate apparel, is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Intimate Apparel Technical Designer to join our team. This role is in-office, 4 days onsite in New York City with an option to work remotely for 1 day. In this role, you will be responsible for handling the technical design process from initial style adoption to final garment approval, ensuring the integrity and quality of intimate apparel collections. You will work closely with design, development, and manufacturing teams to ensure that garments meet fit, construction, and specification standards.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Lectra for pattern adjustments and grading.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel and SharePoint.
• Attention to detail and a strong understanding of bra construction and intimate apparel specifications.
• Experience in managing fit samples, garment documentation, and maintaining organized records.
• Ability to communicate effectively with cross-functional teams and external factories.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask and meet deadlines.
• 3+ years of experience in a technical design role in the fashion or intimate apparel industry.
• Experience with T&A dates and the garment approval process is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities:

Pattern Design & Adjustments:

• Utilize Lectra software for pattern adjustments, reviewing, and manipulating grades.
• Implement corrections to base size patterns, ensuring accurate fit for all required size ranges.
• Review base size patterns sent from the factory, ensuring corrections are followed, and work with the factory on next steps

Sample & Garment Review:

• Order reference samples in all required fit sizes and ensure they arrive before the first graded fitting.
• Review garments for accuracy in specifications, including BOM, accessory breakdowns, pad specs, and measurements.
• Ensure spec measurement descriptions and sketch maps are updated and accurate, especially after changes during the fit process.
• Communicate any BOM adjustments to the Design and Development Associate and ensure final approval before the garment moves forward.

Fittings & Corrections:

• Prepare samples before fitting, ensuring all requested fit sizes and sewing comments are adhered to.
• Facilitate fittings for your assigned styles, reviewing potential corrections based on fit comments and pattern review.
• Make necessary adjustments, including modifying patterns, trying different wires, pads, and molded cups.
• Send detailed fit comments to factories and follow up on any issues/questions.

Fit Sample Documentation & Organization:

• Take flat photos of garments and upload them to the HK Drive.
• Keep all specs, emails, and work in binders following current filing processes.
• Ensure organization of fit samples, filing previous fits as needed and keeping the design area clean.

Blue Tag & Garment Approval Process:

• Ensure the spec file is complete and accurate, including care label and hang tag placements.
• Collaborate with factories to ensure the Blue Tag (BT) samples meet all comments and approvals before proceeding with production.
• Review BT samples, measure garment sizes, and update spec measurements accordingly.

Pad/Plastic Shots:

• Review pad and plastic shot samples, ensuring the fit, size, and measurements are correct.
• Provide approval for pad/plastic shot/outer cover and communicate final approval to the factory.

Schedule and Fit Coordination:

• Schedule model fittings and send calendar appointments to the appropriate teams.
• Maintain active model measurement charts and conduct go-sees with new models as needed.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Work with the Grade team, Design team, and Factory to ensure garment fit and pattern corrections are implemented as needed.
• Facilitate communication with QC teams, ensuring garment issues are addressed and resolved in a timely manner.
• Update the HK technical workload and maintain daily communication with your manager.

Benefits for full-time employees include:

• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid Vacation, Sick, Personal time
• Paid Holidays
• 401(k) with a company match
• Parental leave (non-birthing parents included)
• Short-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Bereavement Support
• Education Reimbursement
• Voluntary benefits include term life insurance, short-term disability, AD&D, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, and group legal services
• Employee discounts

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Dana-co is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce. We provide a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected characteristic, including, but not limited to, an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

Full Time: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week

Work Location: In-office 4 days and remote 1 day