Assistant Designer - Handbags & Accessories

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Apparel Group is hiring an Assistant Designer for Handbags & Accessories in the United Arab Emirates, a full-time onsite role that covers end-to-end collection development from concept to prototype, trend research, mood boards, technical sketches in Illustrator, and cross-functional collaboration with buying, merchandising and sourcing teams. The ideal candidate has 2–4 years in handbag or accessories design, strong Adobe Illustrator skills (Photoshop knowledge a plus), solid knowledge of materials trims construction and product development, and a keen commercial sensibility with excellent organization. In your application emphasize a focused handbag accessories portfolio, demonstrate how you translate brand direction into innovative, marketable designs, and highlight experience coordinating with vendors and internal stakeholders while managing multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Collection Development

• Support the end-to-end design and development process for handbags and accessories collections.
• Assist in translating brand direction into innovative, commercially viable designs.
• Contribute to seasonal range planning and collection build-out.

2. Trend & Market Research

• Conduct ongoing trend research across global fashion markets, competitor brands, materials, and silhouettes.
• Perform market research to identify commercial opportunities and customer preferences.
• Present research findings and inspiration concepts to the design team.

3. Concept & Design Execution

• Create seasonal mood boards aligned with brand identity and market positioning.
• Develop detailed sketches and technical drawings using Adobe Illustrator.
• Support prototype development and sampling processes.
• Assist in refining designs based on feedback from internal stakeholders.

4. Prototyping & Product Development

• Coordinate with vendors and suppliers during the sampling and prototyping stages.
• Track sample progress and ensure design specifications are maintained.
• Review samples and assist in resolving design or production challenges.

5. Presentation & Collaboration

• Support preparation and presentation of collections to the brand team.
• Collaborate closely with buying, merchandising, and sourcing teams.
• Maintain clear communication with vendors and internal stakeholders to ensure smooth execution.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Accessories Design, or related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in handbag or accessories design.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Illustrator (Photoshop knowledge is an advantage).
• Solid understanding of materials, trims, construction, and product development processes.
• Strong trend awareness and commercial sensibility.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.