Freelance Cold Weather Designer (New York City Metropolitan Area)

Collection 18 is looking for a talented and hard-working Freelance Cold Weather with a strong eye for color, a passion for textiles, and the ability to thrive in a creative, fast-paced environment.

Candidates should have experience within, or closely related to, the Cold Weather Accessories category and be comfortable supporting trend research, product development, CAD/coloration, technical design, and presentation needs across branded, licensed, and private-label businesses.

Key Tasks/Role:

· Create CADs, colorways, plaids, patterns, and textile designs across multiple Cold Weather categories.

· Partner closely with Cold Weather Directors, Design, and Sales to develop product appropriate for different customers, distribution channels, price points, and timelines.

· Support ongoing product development, revisions, presentations, and market preparation while maintaining strong attention to detail and deadlines.

· Assist with merchandising and preparation of product for customer presentations and market as needed.

Candidate Requirements:

· Excellent color sense is essential , with the ability to develop commercial, trend-right color palettes and colorways across multiple product categories.

· Strong background in Cold Weather accessories and/or textile design, with experience working across knit and woven product in preferred.

· Strong CAD and coloration skills, including experience creating and recoloring plaids, patterns, prints, and textile designs.

· Experience developing gifting items, packaged gift concepts, and coordinated product sets is strongly preferred.

· Must be highly proficient in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and comfortable working with layered PSD files and Illustrator artwork.

· Strong understanding of textiles, fabrications, yarns, patterns, and current fashion trends.

· Ability to take creative direction and independently execute concepts, revisions, colorations, and presentation-ready CADs.

• Experience working within branded, licensed, and/or private-label fashion accessories is preferred.

• Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and shifting priorities while meeting deadlines.

• Must be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively with the broader design team.

• NYC-based or able to come into our NYC office as needed to review physical product, materials, and project direction is preferred.

• As this is a freelance role, candidates must have access to their own computer and required Adobe software and be able to bring their laptop when working from our NYC office as needed.