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Apparel Design Director
Career Insights for Fashion Designer
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Scorecard
Based on California data
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What they do
A Fashion Designer creates designs for clothing, shoes, accessories or costumes. Creates designs for individual pieces or for a collection or line of clothes or shoes. Creates drawings and prototypes for designs, chooses fabrics and materials, and oversees the production process.
$78,590 / year median in California
-11% projected decline
Job Description
Apparel Design Director
Los AngelesFull-timeProduction / Manufacturing / Processing - Apparel / Textile / Leather
Responsibilities
1. Set the creative direction and design strategy for the apparel line.
2. Lead, mentor, and grow a team of apparel designers globally.
3. Partner with merchandising, production, and planning to align on assortment, cost, and timeline.
4. Drive seasonal concept development, fabric selection, color palette, and key item direction.
5. Translate trend forecasting and customer insights into commercially successful collections.
6. Ensure fit, quality, and construction meet Cider standards across all categories.
7. Collaborate with marketing and content teams on product storytelling and launch campaigns.
Qualifications
1. 7+ years of apparel design experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
2. Deep knowledge of garment construction, fit, fabric, and manufacturing processes.
3. Proven ability to translate Gen-Z trend signals into commercially successful collections.
4. Strong team management experience — you've built and led high-performing design teams.
5. Experience working with global factories and production partners.
6. Portfolio demonstrating range across categories, seasons, and price points.