Temporary Designer, Accessories (Stamford)

Designer, Accessories

About Us:

vineyard vines is a highly successful, privately held, American clothing and accessory retailer founded in 1998 on Martha's Vineyard by brothers, Shep and Ian Murray. With Shep & Ian still at the helm today, vineyard vines has experienced exponential year over year growth and now operates over 120 retail locations locations including an outlet division, a successful e-commerce business, domestic distribution center, and expanding corporate headquarters. In addition, vineyard vines is carried in major department stores such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdales as well as numerous specialty boutiques across the US.

vineyard vines was founded on a state of mind that Every day should feel this good .

You don't need to be on a beach, by the ocean or on vacation to have Every day should feel this good moments. It's a state of mind that we all experience, and one where everyone is invited. At vineyard vines, we don't live an #EDSFTG life away from our desks - we bring it to work with us, too.

In our stores, at our Harbor Drive headquarters or working remotely, our company culture is fun, encouraging and welcoming to all. We work hard and play harder, and we never take ourselves too seriously. And while we have many company goals, our number one priority is making vineyard vines a great place to work for all employees.

Our team is our family, and we'd never have grown to where we are today without them.

We're committed to building an inclusive team across all channels, departments and stores within our community. We hope you'll join us and see what the smiling pink whale is all about.

Overview:

We are looking for a creative, detail-oriented, and highly organized Accessories Designer to take full ownership of the Men’s, Women’s, and Kid’s Accessories categories. This contract role is an exciting opportunity to lead the design and development of a diverse range of products, ensuring they align with brand identity, market trends, and customer expectations.

This is a contract role for a designer ready to take full ownership of the accessories category and make a meaningful impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the accessories design category, creating innovative and brand-right designs each season across bags, hats, belts, scarves, shoes, hair accessories, small goods, socks, and gifting.
• Develop original concepts, materials, silhouettes, and graphics that bring fresh perspectives to the category while maintaining brand consistency.
• Present design concepts through sketches, materials, colors, and trims, ensuring alignment with seasonal direction and business goals.
• Build and maintain design boards, trend research portals, and concept presentations.
• Work cross-functionally with Merchandising, Production, and Technical Design to ensure seamless execution from initial concept to final product.
• Create detailed technical flats, BOMs, and tech packs in PLM (Centric) to ensure accurate production execution.
• Oversee the development process, ensuring all prototypes and samples reflect the intended design vision and quality standards.
• Act as the primary design contact for external vendors, maintaining clear communication to drive product development and ensure deadlines are met.
• Stay ahead of market trends, materials, and construction techniques to continuously evolve and elevate the category.
• Lead design review meetings, incorporating feedback and making necessary refinements.

What You Bring:

• 5+ years of experience in accessories design, with a strong portfolio showcasing innovative, high-quality work.
• A deep understanding of accessories construction, materials, and functionality.
• Strong creative vision with an innate ability to balance trend, brand identity, and commercial viability.
• Expertise in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Excel, and PLM systems (Centric preferred).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design concepts and rationale.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• A collaborative mindset with the ability to lead within a cross-functional team.
• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or a related field.
• Passion for accessories design and a commitment to delivering exceptional products.