Vice President of Design DKNY

Vice President of Design, Dresses

Location: New York City, Midtown Manhattan - Fashion District (On-Site)

Department: DKNY Dresses

Reports To: Senior Vice President of Design

About G-III Apparel Group:

G-III excels at bringing excitement and confidence to customers through the fashion we create. We are global experts in design, sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and marketing, which enables us to fuel the growth of a substantial portfolio of brands. With more than 30 licensed and owned brands, including some of the most sought-after names in global fashion, our success is driven by our team's entrepreneurial spirit and our deep relationships across the industry.

Position Summary:

We are seeking an accomplished and visionary Vice President of Design, Dresses to lead the DKNY Dresses design team. This role will oversee the development of seasonal collections that align with the DKNY brand aesthetic while balancing creativity, innovation, and commercial success. The ideal candidate is a strategic design leader with extensive experience in women's dresses, exceptional trend forecasting abilities, and a proven track record of developing cohesive collections that meet merchandising, margin, and production objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the creative direction and development of seasonal DKNY Dresses collections from concept through production.
• Research current and emerging fashion trends, forecasting their evolution while ensuring alignment with the DKNY brand identity.
• Conduct extensive market research through runway shows, retail analysis, street style, vintage inspiration, blogs, magazines, and competitive shopping to develop seasonally relevant collections.
• Develop cohesive assortments that are balanced in fabrication, silhouette, color, print, and merchandising strategy.
• Communicate seasonal design concepts and creative direction to overseas factories, requesting preliminary treatments, prototypes, and mock-ups.
• Create and oversee comprehensive technical packages detailing silhouettes, garment construction, trims, fabrics, and finishes.
• Review prototypes, attend fittings, and communicate design revisions through photographs, technical specifications, and annotated sketches.
• Evaluate collection development and refine designs to support seasonal objectives, line plans, SKU targets, and financial goals.
• Partner with Merchandising, Product Development, Technical Design, Production, and Sales to ensure design integrity throughout the product lifecycle.
• Work closely with the Senior Vice President of Design during seasonal presentations and product introductions.
• Oversee garment execution through production, ensuring accurate development, fabrication, color allocation, and quality standards.
• Provide creative leadership, mentorship, and direction to the design team while supporting cross-functional business initiatives.

Who You Are:

• A visionary design leader with a passion for contemporary women's fashion and luxury dress design.
• A strategic thinker who balances creativity with strong commercial and merchandising instincts.
• A collaborative leader who inspires teams and builds strong cross-functional partnerships.
• An exceptional communicator who effectively partners with overseas vendors and internal stakeholders.
• A results-driven professional who thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or a related field preferred.
• 10+ years of apparel design experience, with extensive experience in women's dresses.
• Luxury or contemporary fashion background required.
• Strong expertise in dress construction, pattern drafting, draping, fabrication, and print development.
• Experience in both wholesale and retail product development environments.
• Proven ability to lead seasonal collection development from concept through production.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and other design software.
• Exceptional organizational, leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
• Portfolio demonstrating high-end dress design experience is required for consideration.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary
• Performance-based bonus opportunities
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and 401(k)
• PTO and company holidays
• Employee discounts
• A collaborative, creative work environment with opportunities for growth and development

The pay range for this position is: $200,000 - $250,000 per year.

Please note that the foregoing compensation information is a good-faith assessment associated with this position only and is provided pursuant to the New York City Salary Transparency Law.

G-III Apparel Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

About G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. | www.g-iii.com

G-III's owned brands include DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld Paris, Donna Karan, Vilebrequin, Sonia Rykiel, G.H. Bass, Bass Outdoor, Andrew Marc, Eliza J., G-III Sports and more. G-III has fashion licenses under the Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Cole Haan, Dockers, Guess?, Kenneth Cole, Levi's, Vince Camuto, Margaritaville and more. G-III also operates retail stores for the DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld Paris and Donna Karan brands.