Senior Apparel Designer (Product Team) x1
Job Details
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Job Title: Senior Apparel Designer (Product Team)
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Company: Old School Brand
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Department: Product Team
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Industry: Fashion / Sports Apparel
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Employment Type: Full-Time
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Product Focus: Men’s and Unisex Sports & Lifestyle Apparel
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Application Method: Send CV to recruitment@oldschool.co.za and complete the online application form.
Job Overview
Old School Brand is seeking a senior, product-focused apparel designer with strong experience in sports and lifestyle clothing. This role involves designing commercially successful apparel ranges from concept to final garment production.
The successful candidate will work closely with the Product, Commercial, and Licensing teams to create bold, authentic designs that reflect sports culture and brand heritage. The role requires a designer who understands both creative design and commercial viability, ensuring that products resonate with fans and perform well in the market.
The designer will contribute to ranges associated with well-known sports brands and teams, including:
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South Africa national rugby union team (Springboks)
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Orlando Pirates
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Kaizer Chiefs
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Liverpool F.C.
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Stingers Netball Team
Job Description
The Senior Apparel Designer is responsible for developing innovative sports and lifestyle clothing ranges while ensuring alignment with brand identity, production feasibility, and market demand.
Product & Range Design
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Design seasonal apparel ranges across sports and lifestyle categories.
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Manage the design process from concept to final production.
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Translate sports heritage, fan culture, and brand DNA into wearable products.
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Ensure designs are commercially viable and aligned with market trends.
Graphic Design & Branding
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Create graphic concepts for apparel, including prints, badges, typography, trims, and branding elements.
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Develop and maintain the graphic direction for apparel collections.
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Ensure design consistency across licensed brands and product ranges.
Product Development
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Produce detailed tech packs and artwork files for manufacturers.
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Collaborate with product developers to ensure designs are production-ready and cost-effective.
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Review and refine samples, fits, materials, and finishing details.
Cross-Team Collaboration
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Work with Commercial and Sales teams to align products with market demand.
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Collaborate with Licensing teams to ensure compliance with brand guidelines.
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Ensure design concepts align with the company’s overall product strategy and brand identity.
Skills & Experience Required
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Senior-level experience designing men’s or unisex sports and lifestyle apparel.
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Strong graphic design skills specifically for apparel design.
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Deep knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, trims, and production processes.
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Strong commercial awareness including pricing, margins, and market demand.
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Experience working with licensed brands and brand guidelines.
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Ability to balance creative ideas with production feasibility.
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Comfortable working in fast-paced environments and managing full product lifecycles.
Bonus Qualifications
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Strong passion for sports culture and fanwear.
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Knowledge of historic sports branding and apparel trends.
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Strong attention to design details such as collars, badges, and typography.