Designer / Merchandiser

DESIGNER / MERCHANDISER

PARL.A Fashion LLC — Los Angeles, California

Position: Designer / Merchandiser
Department: Design & Product Development
Reports To: President / Creative Director
Employment Type: Full-Time

ABOUT PARL.A

PARL.A Fashion LLC is a Los Angeles-based fashion company specializing in men’s, women’s and young contemporary apparel , with expertise in woven, knit and denim products. PARL.A combines European-inspired design and Los Angeles fashion culture with strong product development and manufacturing capabilities.

The company works with established retail partners and is expanding its private-label and branded business across major U.S. retailers.

POSITION SUMMARY

PARL.A is looking for a creative, commercially minded Designer/Merchandiser who can take a product from concept through development and production.

This position requires someone who understands both fashion design and the business of fashion . The ideal candidate has a strong eye for trends, color, fabrics, washes, silhouettes and styling, while also understanding retail pricing, margins, target customers and production requirements.

The Designer/Merchandiser will work closely with management, sales, customers, pattern makers, factories, vendors and production teams to develop collections and products that are both fashion-forward and commercially successful .

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Design & Product Development

• Develop new apparel designs and collections based on current fashion trends, customer needs and market opportunities.

• Create and present design concepts, mood boards, color stories and product assortments.

• Research current trends in silhouettes, fabrics, washes, colors, graphics and details.

• Develop products across DENIM, woven, knit, tops, bottoms, outerwear and related apparel categories .

• Prepare sketches, tech packs, line sheets and product specifications.

• Select fabrics, trims, washes, colors and other components.

• Work with pattern makers and sample rooms to develop prototypes and samples.

• Review samples and provide detailed comments and corrections.

• Follow products through development until final approval.

Merchandising

• Build commercially balanced assortments based on customer, category, price point and season.

• Analyze product performance and identify opportunities for new products.

• Understand target retail prices, wholesale prices, costs and margins.

• Recommend styles, colors, fabrics and quantities based on market demand.

• Maintain product development calendars and ensure deadlines are met.

• Organize and maintain seasonal collections and sample presentations.

• Assist sales with product presentations and customer meetings.

Retail & Customer Support

• Work directly with the sales team to develop products for major retail customers.

• Translate customer feedback into new product concepts and revisions.

• Develop exclusive and private-label products according to customer specifications.

• Prepare presentations for buyers and retail meetings.

• Stay informed about competitive products, pricing and trends in the marketplace.

Production & Vendor Coordination

• Communicate with domestic and international factories and vendors regarding product development.

• Review fit, construction, fabric, wash and finishing details.

• Identify potential production issues early and work with vendors to resolve them.

• Ensure final products maintain the intended design, quality and cost objectives.

• Coordinate with production to ensure approved samples accurately represent the final product.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of experience in apparel design, merchandising or product development.

• Strong knowledge of fashion trends and the U.S. retail market especially for Men's and YOUNG Men market.

• Experience with denim is highly desirable .

• Strong understanding of fabrics, washes, construction, fit and garment production.

• Ability to create professional presentations, line sheets and product development materials.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with designers, buyers, vendors, factories and sales teams.

• Strong attention to detail.

• Commercial understanding of pricing, margins and retail positioning.

• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; knowledge of other fashion/product-development software is a plus.

• Ability to work independently while also being an effective member of a small, fast-moving team.

• EXPERIENCES with Major retailers and also with Discounter such as Ross , TJ Maxx , Burlington and others.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is creative, energetic, organized and business-minded .

You should be someone who can look at a trend and immediately understand how to turn it into a product that a retailer will actually buy.

We are looking for a person who is comfortable moving between:

Trend Research → Design → Fabric Selection → Sampling → Merchandising → Buyer Presentation → Production

A strong understanding of both fashion creativity and commercial retail is essential.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Opportunity to work directly with senior management and participate in the growth of an expanding Los Angeles fashion company.

• Hands-on involvement in the complete product-development process.

• Exposure to major U.S. retail customers and private-label programs.

• Opportunity to develop collections across multiple apparel categories.

• A creative and entrepreneurial working environment.

• Opportunity for professional growth and increased responsibility as the company expands.

COMPENSATION

Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.

Compensation may include performance-based incentives depending on experience and responsibilities.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your resume, portfolio and examples of previous apparel design/product development work .

Candidates should include examples demonstrating their experience with fashion design, merchandising, denim, product development and/or retail collections .