Designer

Who We Are

Founded by Gosia Piatek in 2006, Kowtow is a seed-to-garment brand from Wellington, New Zealand. All of our garments are made naturally from a single fibre, Fairtrade organic cotton.

At Kowtow our vision is to create clothing that can return to the earth without harm. We take responsibility for what we produce, how we operate our business and are actively working on solutions to reduce our footprint. We are committed to the principles of circular design - reducing waste, making products that last, keeping them in use and regenerating the natural environment at every point in the process. Our collections are created to build a modular wardrobe, offering quality pieces that can be worn again and again, year after year.

“The limitations of our ethos keeps us innovative. We don’t compromise on design, and embrace restrictions. This gives our garments a strong minimal identity, and we believe the simplicity of our clothing is the first step toward circularity.”

– Gosia Piatek, Kowtow Founder


The Role and what you will bring

We are searching for a talented Designer to join our Wellington based team. Reporting to the Head Designer, you will play a key role in designing and developing Kowtow’s seasonal collections using a single natural fibre, Fairtrade organic cotton. From concept to completion, you will work closely with the in-house Production team to bring the design vision to life, ensuring alignment with the commercial and sustainable goals of the business. 

If you are an experienced designer, who draws inspiration from global fashion, art, and design, and you thrive on crafting beautiful product designs that embody a brand's aesthetic, this could be the career opportunity you’ve been waiting for!


The Primary Responsibilities

  • Research, create and update range themes and mood-boards with Head Designer

  • Identify and analyse market and sales trends, to ensure product development aligns with the seasonal range plan and Kowtow’s commercial and sustainable goals

  • Research, design and develop innovative product designs across all categories, including cut and sew, knitwear, denim and wovens

  • Collaborate with technical and production team on product prototypes and sampling, ensuring all deadlines are met

  • Create specification illustrations & update seasonal colour guides

  • Oversee technical processes to ensure consistently high quality in fit and construction

 

Your Skills and Experience

  • At least 2 years experience in a product design role

  • Highly creative, both conceptually and hands-on

  • Ability to sketch by hand

  • In depth understanding of apparel product design and development across all categories

  • Resourceful and proactive approach, with a commercial understanding of the fashion industry and current market trends

  • Deadline driven with exceptional attention to detail

  • Team player with an ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

  • Mac literate, and experience with Adobe Suite, CLO and/or other design software

  • Confident communicator with excellent verbal and written skills

Ideally you care about preserving the planet as much as we do and have a genuine interest in circularity, sustainability and innovation.


Working at Kowtow

Kowtow’s workroom and studio is located in central Wellington, Aotearoa’s creative capital. Flexible working options, a 9-day fortnight and volunteer days are just some of the ways we support the health and wellbeing of our team, and allow our people the time they need to rest and recharge. A seasonal clothing discount provides you and your loved ones the opportunity to enjoy wearing our Fairtrade organic cotton clothing.

At Kowtow we are proud of our kind and caring culture. We aim to provide a positive work environment where people can achieve their full potential, and we are committed to being diverse, inclusive and accessible. We believe in a future where fashion harmonises with the planet and people, leaving no harmful footprint behind. The whole team shares an interest in sustainability and innovation and everyone at Kowtow contributes toward our shared goals.

You will thrive at Kowtow if you are naturally confident, have a positive attitude and share our vision of leaving the planet better than we found it.

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.

Please note, this role is based in our Wellington workroom and requires the successful candidate to be hands-on in the studio with the design and production team. We are therefore not able to consider applications for remote working. 


Apply now through Seek or email us at careers@kowtowclothing.com including a cover letter, CV and online portfolio.