Free People Associate Designer - Free-est

Free People is seeking an Associate Designer to support the design and development of the Free-est product line, with a primary focus on cut & sew knits and sweaters.

In this role, you'll work closely with the Designer and Design Director to bring seasonal collections to life—from concept through production. Responsibilities include contributing to design development, sewing or mocking up original ideas for key meetings, and supporting daily design and operational tasks. You’ll help source fabrics and design garments across categories like dresses, bottoms, tops, one-pieces, and layering pieces, all tailored to the Free-est customer.  Ideal for someone passionate about creativity, collaboration, and hands-on product development.

• The Associate Designer will contribute to the creation, development, and execution of own brand product appropriate for Free People Free-est team with a focus on Free-est Knits & Sweater product.
• Assist in creating product that represents the unique style of the Free-est customer within Dresses, Sets One-pieces, Bottoms, Tops & 3^rd pieces range
• Contribution to the design process including sketching new ideas with the help of procreate or/and Adobe Illustrator programs, researching new trends and ideas as well as utilizing ai platforms to increase creative research
• Maintain an active role in the weekly Design Flow Meetings. Take notes and follow up on all outstanding issues upon aligning w/ manager.
• Support seasonal development calendar in partnership with the Free-est design team
• Execute specific design development projects as assigned by the Designer/Design Director
• Manage development and execution of all design packages and participate in all follow-up communication related to each package in partnership with the Design Coordinator & Product Development team.
• Assist in completing technical sketches for domestic and overseas programs – as well as manage all sketch updates
• Set up spec sheets for all private label product & assist Designers with all developments & communication as needed.
• Manage development and execution of all design packages and participate in all follow-up communication related to each package in partnership with the Design Coordinator & Product Development team.
• Communicate fit and construction details to cross-functional partners by managing weekly fit notes recap. As well as alert Design Coordinator & Product Development team of any major changes made during fit and facilitate follow up conversations when needed.
• Participate in research and report on industry trend direction, color direction, and fabric innovations that can relate to the Free People target customer.
• Execute original design ideas through draped & sewn mocks to communicate design’s vision in key meetings when needed.
• Support Designer/Design Director & collaborate closely with entire Free-est team on innovative presentation layouts for key design meetings to communicate ideas to Buyers and Brand leaders.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design or related field preferred.

• 3–5 years of relevant industry experience preferred.

• Ability to work on-site at our Home Office in Philadelphia 4-5 days per week.

Soft Skills:

• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

• Highly organized with strong problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to multitask.

• Detail-oriented and able to follow complex processes.

• Collaborative team player with a positive, can-do attitude.

• Comfortable working across cross-functional teams.

Fabric & Construction Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of cut & sew knits and sweater fabrications.

• Ability to apply technical knowledge to garment construction and design.

• Confident draping, mocking, and sewing skills required.

• Passion for garment construction and technical design.

Trend & Customer & Awareness:

• Strong fashion trend awareness and the ability to interpret trends for the Free-est customer.

• Ability to identify and translate emerging trends into relevant product ideas for the brand.

Software & Tools:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).

• AI tools knowledge (MidJourney, PromeAI, etc.) is a plus.

URBN offers comprehensive Perks & Benefits to employees. Availability and eligibility to specific benefits may be subject to your location and employment status. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, generous employee discounts, retirement savings and much more! For additional information visit www.urbn.com/work-with-us/benefits

URBN celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti-harassment training to managers and employees.