Senior Designer - Topshop - Dresses

TOPSHOP and TOPMAN are iconic British fashion brands with 60 years of heritage. Headquartered in London, the Brands have over 2 million customers across the globe through the ASOS platform and generate brand sales of c£200m. Our mission is to unlock the best of fashion for everyone, with creativity and innovation at our core.   

Following the formation of a Joint Venture between ASOS and HEARTLAND in October 2024, ASOS is creating a standalone cross-functional team within ASOS which is dedicated to unlocking the huge growth potential of the TOPSHOP and TOPMAN brands. The brands will now benefit from ASOS infrastructure and resources while enjoying the creative freedom and agility of standalone brands.    

The next 12 months for TOPSHOP and TOPMAN will see the expansion of the brands’ offline and online retail presence with the launch of Topshop.com and new wholesale partnerships.    

THE ROLE

TOPSHOP and TOPMAN are iconic British fashion brands with 60 years of heritage. Headquartered in London, the Brands have over 2 million customers across the globe through the ASOS platform and generate brand sales of c£200m. Our mission is to unlock the best of fashion for everyone, with creativity and innovation at our core.   

Following the formation of a Joint Venture between ASOS and HEARTLAND in October 2024, ASOS is creating a standalone cross-functional team within ASOS which is dedicated to unlocking the huge growth potential of the TOPSHOP and TOPMAN brands. The brands will now benefit from ASOS infrastructure and resources while enjoying the creative freedom and agility of standalone brands.    

The next 12 months for TOPSHOP and TOPMAN will see the expansion of the brands’ offline and online retail presence with the launch of Topshop.com and new wholesale partnerships.   

THE ROLE

Senior Designer on Topshop dresses plays a critical role in one of the brands hero departments driving the success of this category through delivering best in class product effective trend building and strategic planning. Working collaboratively with the team across Design, Merchandising, Buying, Sourcing and Technical, they are responsible for a dresses range which delivers to our wholesale business and the global Topshop customer.

You will identlfy and drive the product strategy for dresses working with the design team and the wider Retail team to deliver a commercial and trend-led range.

You will be collaborative, organised, and strategic, delivering trend direction and product that ensures Topshop stays ahead of the market in newness and trend always looking to push the range for our global markets forward.

The role will contribute to design direction and ensure that product design is aligned to the strategic vision & focused on delivering a compelling and commercial offer appropriate for our target customer.

What you'll be doing...

• Researching, developing and creating a stand out range, including big deals, key seasonal shapes, with focus on newness in fabric, trend and key items for the TOPSHOP customer.
• Developing a cohesive range for the department, ensuring that product reflects the Brand strategy, the range is without gaps or duplication, and that the season is logically and commercially thought through.
• Developing new and unique product to deliver a range across Topshop customer profiles and end-uses including volume pieces, key items of the Season and stand out press pieces.
• Presenting trend research & dresses design strategy to other teams including Buying and Commercial leadership.
• Identifying and executing new product opportunities as they emerge in the market
• Presenting key looks and styling for the category to support in studio shoot execution in line with the brand strategy.
• Using relevant sales data and insights to design commercially relevant, fashion forward ranges.
• Sourcing new fabrications, techniques and trimmings
• Working closely with in-house Buying teams – collaborating to create new product, each season and shape the product direction for the department, ensuring that it is aligned to the brand and divisional strategy
• Working with the Technical team on fits on a weekly basis, identifying and helping create new silhouette blocks for the department and produce a commercial range
• Building relationships with suppliers and advising factories on direction, silhouette, construction, key details, fabrics, trimmings and artworks.
• Managing, developing and motivating more junior team members, providing them with clear direction and regular feedback
• Supporting and deputising for Lead designer as required, for example, attending product reviews or guiding the team on range building.
• Work collaboratively with other functions to deliver the Topshop strategy. 
• Supporting to shape and drive, lean, agile processes and ways of working for your department.
• Motivating and engaging the wider design team through role model behaviour.

We’d love to meet, someone with…

• High level of WW Dresses & Softs experience is a requirement.
• Experience of working with Far East, India and European manufacturers and sourcing.
• Is strategic in planning to support the delivery of a well balanced cohesive range.
• Can deliver world class product driving creativity and stand out unique product as well as commercial interpreted pieces for must have items of the Season.
• Strong trend research and inspirational direction to ensure the dresses dept delivers new stand out product.
• Has a strong eye for Print, embroidery & embellishment direction.
• Has experience of fabric sourcing across multiple sourcing territories to bring new direction to the collection.
• Has experience in working with pattern cutters in toile and concept to sample garment to ensure new silhouettes and direction is constantly developed.
• Shows strong awareness of current trends, Retail market conditions and opportunities within a Global context  
• Has a proven track record in Design within a fast-paced and rapidly changing global Retailer
• Demonstrates the ability to drive the success of multiple categories within dresses across multiple end uses through strategic and commercial thinking.
• Can successfully influence and gain buy in from the team and leaders to potentialize opportunities
• Presents performance and strategy to the team and management with an engaging and confident style.
• Shows a deep understanding of the Topshop customer and customer segmentation and reflects this in decision making
• Has a strong awareness of current trends, Retail market conditions and opportunities within a Global context  
• Builds great relationships with internal stakeholders Head of and Exec level and other functions.
• Has an effective and inclusive management style, role modelling positive behaviours and providing the team with clear direction and development

BeneFITS’ 

• Employee discount (hello ASOS discount!) 
• ASOS Develops (personal development opportunities across the business) 
• Employee sample sales  
• Access to a huge range of LinkedIn learning materials 
• 25 days paid annual leave + an extra celebration day for a special moment 
• Discretionary bonus scheme  
• Private medical care scheme 
• Flexible benefits allowance - which you can choose to take as extra cash, or use towards other benefits