Position: Lead Fashion Designer

Type: Full time (38 hours per week)

Employer: Recent Era Cap Australia Pty Ltd

Location: Melbourne VIC 3000

Salary: $147,000 per annum plus superannuation

About the Business

New Era Cap Australia Pty Ltd is the Australian operation of New Era, the global headwear and apparel brand behind the 59FIFTY fitted and the 9FORTY A-Frame, and has traded in Australia since 2011 from its Melbourne office on Flinders Street. The business designs, sources and distributes officially licensed caps and clothing for the AFL, NRL, MLB, NBA, NFL and other major sporting codes and teams, alongside its own New Era branded apparel ranges, supplying wholesale customers and selling direct to consumers online. Built on a long sporting heritage and a strong following among youth and streetwear consumers, New Era is known for authenticity, quality and cultural relevance, and its Melbourne team works in a collaborative, fast-moving environment where design, product, sales and marketing combine to bring seasonal collections to market.

About the Position

The Lead Fashion Designer is a recent, senior design role created to lead the creative development of New Era’s apparel and graphic ranges for the Australian market. Working from Melbourne with the local product, sales and marketing teams and the wider New Era design network, the role takes seasonal collections from trend research and concept through to graphics, garment development and production-ready specifications. The position is central to keeping New Era’s licensed and branded product commercially relevant to Australian consumers and retail partners, and to delivering ranges that meet licensor standards, cost targets and critical-path deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead the design of seasonal apparel ranges, including tees, fleece, outerwear, bottoms and accessories,



across licensed sporting codes and New Era branded collections.
- Research fashion, streetwear, sport and youth culture trends, colour and fabric directions, and competitor activity to inform range concepts and product direction.
- Develop concept boards, mood boards, colour palettes and range plans that translate brand strategy and commercial requirements into cohesive collections.
- Create original graphics, artwork, typography and placement prints, and adapt team and league marks in line with licensor style guides.
- Prepare technical flats, tech packs and design specifications covering construction, trims, fabrications, artwork placement, print and embellishment techniques, and grading notes.
- Manage garment development with suppliers and factories, reviewing prototypes, lab dips, strike-offs and samples, and leading fit and quality comments through to sealed samples.
- Prepare and submit concepts and samples for licensor approval, and incorporate licensor feedback within approval timelines.
- Work with product, merchandising, sales and marketing teams to align ranges with customer and channel needs, price points and margin targets.
- Develop designs within agreed cost targets, recommending fabric, trim and process alternatives to protect margin without compromising quality or brand standards.
- Maintain the seasonal critical path, ensuring design milestones, sample deadlines and handover dates are met.




- Present seasonal concepts and finished ranges to internal stakeholders, sales teams and key wholesale customers.
- Maintain accurate design archives, artwork files and product records, and keep design work consistent with New Era global brand guidelines.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of design processes, tools and supplier relationships.

Requirements

- Australian citizens and permanent residents are encouraged to apply.
- Bachelor degree or equivalent formal qualification in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Textile Design, Graphic Design or a closely related discipline.
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in fashion or apparel design, including senior-level responsibility for apparel concepts, graphics, garment development and seasonal ranges.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with the ability to produce accurate technical flats, artwork and tech packs.
- Strong working knowledge of garment construction, fabrications, trims, fit, and print and embellishment techniques.
- Experience working with overseas suppliers and factories through sampling, fit and approval stages.
- Understanding of licensing requirements, brand guidelines and approval processes, and of range planning, costing and critical-path management.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain creative direction to commercial and technical audiences.
- Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple seasons and deadlines at once.
- A collaborative, proactive approach and a genuine interest in sport, streetwear and youth culture.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their resume, including a valid email address, through this online portal. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

📌 Fashion Designer (Melbourne)
🏢 New Era Cap Australia
📍 Melbourne