Product Designer - Waterbury, VT (Creative Design)

The Company:

Founded in 1978, Cabot Hosiery Mills is an American manufacturer of premium socks with uncompromised comfort, durability, and fit.  With a family of brands including Darn Tough Vermont, Wide Open, and Cabot & Sons, our mission is to make the world's best socks, in Vermont, USA and back them with our Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee.  We are family owned, three generations strong and have yet to produce our best sock. 

Job Summary:
As one of the fastest-growing apparel brands, Cabot Hosiery Mills is seeking a Product Designer to join our creative team. This role will support the Design Manager and VP of Design/Development in driving seasonal design from concept to manufacturing. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of sock design and a strong talent for color combinations that enhance the brand's visual identity. You will contribute original and trend-driven designs that meet market needs, drive sales, and uphold our commitment to comfort, durability, and fit.

Starting at $75,000 per year, depending on experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the VP of Design/Development, Design Manager, and Product Line Manager to develop seasonal design themes aligned with the broader assortment strategy, emerging trends, consumer insights, and sales needs.
• Conduct in-depth design research and contribute to concept development. Prepare presentation boards, mock-ups, color-ups, and inspirational imagery to inspire the team.
• Create original and visually impactful sock patterns, prints, and graphics in Illustrator or bitmap formats that align with the brand's focus on comfort, durability, and fit.
• Design compelling and commercially viable color combinations, ensuring each collection is both visually appealing and market ready. A strong understanding of color theory and its application is crucial to this role.
• Work closely with designers and product developers to finalize artwork and technical specs for prototype packages, ensuring alignment with the seasonal calendar.

• Collaborate with Product Developers and the Samples team using a live model to assess prototypes for fit and design and drive innovative product solutions that align with project scope.

• Partner with the Design Manager to present the story, mood, color theories and product features for the season. 
• Assist in researching new materials, vendors, and techniques to drive innovation while supporting lean manufacturing and sustainability initiatives.  A strong understanding of Merino wool and natural fibers is preferred.
• Maintain clear and consistent communication with internal and external teams to ensure the timely and accurate execution of projects.
• Perform other duties as requested.
• Travel domestically and internationally for trend research and development purposes.

Qualifications:

• Creativity and artistic talent with proficiency in CAD tools like Illustrator, Photoshop, and/or similar design software.
• Strong portfolio showcasing design work, particularly in sock and hosiery design, as well as color application.
• Demonstrated excellence in color theory and the ability to create dynamic color palettes that enhance product appeal and align with brand identity.
• Ability to receive and apply constructive feedback on one's own work, while also providing thoughtful critique to refine team projects.
• A solid understanding of sock machinery and manufacturing processes is a plus, but a passion for sock design and color application is essential.
• Self-motivated, persistent, and eager to tackle design challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Team-oriented with an entrepreneurial spirit, thriving in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Ability to work independently, while balancing collaboration with other designers to refine and develop ideas.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Effective written, visual, and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in outdoor activities such as hiking, running, skiing, and/or snowboarding is a plus, contributing to an understanding of product function in real-world environments.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design/Development, Graphic Design, Arts, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in apparel or accessories design, with a focus on sock and hosiery design preferred.  Experience with soft goods across all areas of the development process including merchandising, design, sourcing, and product development.  Knowledge of sock manufacturing is a plus.

Working Conditions:

• Manufacturing and office environment – occasional exposure to machinery, noise, and other conditions.
• Flexibility to manage changing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Occasional domestic and international travel as needed.

This job description should not be interpreted to be a complete list of all the duties, qualifications and responsibilities performed by the jobholder.  To maintain organizational flexibility, the organization has the discretion to add, drop or change at any time the duties, responsibilities and expectations of this position. This job description does not constitute an offer of employment, continuous employment or an employment contract. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

 

DEVELOPMENT