Assistant Apparel Designer - Women's
Location: Boston, MA - Hybrid
Reports to Lead Designer
Position Overview
Tracksmith is looking for an Assistant Apparel Designer - Women's to support the design and creation of innovative, beautiful and highly functional performance apparel for runners. Reporting to the Lead Designer, who oversees design across the organization, this role will have a primary focus on Women's Apparel, while contributing to broader seasonal design initiatives as needed. This is a hands-on design role for someone who combines strong creative instincts with an understanding of how performance garments are constructed, fit and function on the body. The Assistant Apparel Designer supports the entire product lifecycle from trend research, seasonal concept development, sketching, color and material development to tech pack creation and fittings. A successful candidate will have a strong point of view around women's performance product and an appreciation for the intersection of performance, function, and style.
Responsibilities
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Apparel Design & Product Creation: Support the Lead Designer in the creation of Women's Apparel, from initial concept through final product.
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Design assigned styles under the direction of the Lead Designer.
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Translate seasonal creative direction and product briefs into compelling apparel concepts.
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Create original sketches and detailed technical drawings that clearly communicate design and construction intent.
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Build and maintain accurate tech packs and CADs.
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Participate actively in fittings and partner with Technical Design and Development to resolve fit and construction issues.
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Women's Performance Design: Develop a strong understanding of the performance, fit and functional needs of women runners.
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Design product that considers movement, support, coverage, comfort, storage and adaptability.
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Balance technical performance requirements with modern silhouette, proportion and style.
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Help evolve Tracksmith's Women's assortment while maintaining a clear connection to the broader Tracksmith design language.
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Materials, Construction & Innovation: Partner with Product Development and Technical Design to identify fabrics, trims and construction techniques appropriate for each product.
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Demonstrate working knowledge of technical knits, wovens, stretch materials and performance constructions.
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Explore new materials and construction techniques that improve performance or create meaningful product differentiation.
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Consider moisture management, breathability, stretch, support, weight, durability and comfort in design decisions.
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Consumer, Trend & Marketplace Research: Research emerging trends across running, performance apparel, fashion, sport and culture.
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Maintain awareness of the competitive landscape and relevant shifts in silhouette, proportion, materials, color and construction.
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Develop a deep curiosity about the women's running consumer and how her needs and expectations are evolving.
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Translate research into relevant design ideas rather than simply following trends.
Qualifications
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2–3 years of apparel design experience (performance running, activewear, or technical apparel preferred).
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Bachelor’s degree in Apparel/Fashion Design or equivalent practical experience.
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Portfolio demonstrating strong design creativity and technical execution.
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Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with strong hand-sketching and visual communication skills.
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Baseline knowledge of garment construction, patternmaking, and hands-on sewing to communicate effectively with cross-functional partners.
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Experience with PLM systems and 3D design tools is a plus.
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Balance strong attention to detail with an agile, open-minded approach to collaboration and problem-solving.
What Success Looks Like
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Translate product briefs into compelling design solutions.
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Bring a strong and evolving point of view to Women's performance apparel.
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Create product that balances performance, function and style.
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Produce clear and accurate sketches, CADs and technical drawings.
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Build strong partnerships with Product Development and Technical Design.
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Experience with PLM systems and 3D design tools is a plus.
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Help create a Women's assortment that feels contemporary and relevant while remaining distinctly Tracksmith.
The annual salary for this role is expected to be between $60,000 and $80,000 depending on a combination of factors, including the candidate's experience, education, and industry knowledge.
TO APPLY:
If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your resume to:
Due to internet hiring scam attempts, we encourage applicants for open positions listed at Tracksmith to apply through the following site: tracksmith.com/pages/team. All communication with the hiring team at Tracksmith will come directly from a @tracksmith.com email address. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.