YLE JUNKIIE
Style Junkiie is a contemporary women’s fashion brand rooted in strong silhouettes, expressive prints, effortless glamour, and a modern Bombay sensibility.
We are looking for a Design Lead who can help drive the brand creatively and operationally on a day-to-day basis. This role is for someone who understands fashion deeply, not just aesthetically, but technically and commercially too.
The ideal candidate is someone who can independently lead collections, guide the designers, manage fittings and execution, and translate creative direction into strong, sellable product.
This is not a corporate management role.
This is a highly hands-on, design-led position within a fast-moving founder-led fashion brand.
ROLE OVERVIEW
As Design Lead, you will work closely with the Founder and Creative Director to oversee collection development from concept to execution.
You will be expected to lead design thinking, maintain brand consistency, mentor junior team members, and ensure collections are both creatively strong and commercially relevant.
This role requires equal strength in:
• Design sensibility
• Technical understanding
• Product development
• Team management
• Commercial awareness
• Speed and adaptability
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
COLLECTION & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
• Lead seasonal and capsule collection development end-to-end.
• Develop concepts, moodboards, silhouettes, colour stories, print directions, and category plans aligned with the brand DNA.
• Personally design and oversee key styles, hero pieces, and commercially important silhouettes.
• Ensure collections feel cohesive, elevated, and brand-aligned across all categories.
TECHNICAL & PRODUCT EXECUTION
• Work closely with pattern masters, sampling units, fabric teams, vendors, and production teams.
• Lead fittings, sample reviews, corrections, and final garment approvals.
• Ensure technical feasibility and execution quality across collections.
• Maintain strong oversight on fit, drape, construction, finishing, trims, and fabrication.
COMMERCIAL & STRATEGIC THINKING
• Understand bestseller performance, category gaps, customer behaviour, and retail relevance.
• Balance statement fashion with strong commercial sell-through potential.
• Translate trend research into wearable, market-relevant product.
• Participate in collection planning, category splits, and seasonal strategy.
TEAM LEADERSHIP
• Guide and mentor assistant and junior designers daily.
• Review sketches, corrections, tech packs, and design development.
• Build structure, accountability, and stronger design processes within the team.
• Work cross-functionally with merchandising, production, sourcing, marketing, and retail teams.
WHO THIS ROLE IS SUITED FOR
• Designers from contemporary, founder-led, design-driven brands.
• Candidates who enjoy building collections in fast-paced creative environments.
• Individuals who are both creatively strong and technically dependable.
• Designers comfortable taking ownership independently.
THIS ROLE IS NOT SUITED FOR
• Purely corporate or mass-manufacturing backgrounds.
• Candidates whose recent experience has been heavily process-only or vendor-management focused.
• Designers who have not been actively involved in fittings, sampling, or garment development.
• Individuals looking for a purely managerial or delegation-based role.
EXPERIENCE & REQUIREMENTS
• 10-12 years of experience in women’s fashion design.
• Strong experience in contemporary western wear / modern Indian fusion / RTW brands.
• Proven experience leading collections independently.
• Excellent understanding of silhouettes, fabrics, garment construction, and fittings.
• Strong technical knowledge across product development and sampling.
• Strong visual and aesthetic understanding with commercial awareness.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, tech packs, and range planning.
• Strong communication, leadership, and organisational skills.
LOCATION
📍 Lower Parel, Mumbai
This is a full-time, in-office role requiring daily involvement with the design and sampling teams.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send:
• Your CV
• Portfolio
• Current location
• Current CTC & notice period
📩 sanjana@sanjcreative.com Subject L
ine: Application - Design Lead / Senior Design Lead