Design Manager

Confirmed live in the last 24 hours

FAM Brands (Marika, Wildfox activewear)

Los Angeles, California, United States

On-site

Posted April 3, 2026

Job Description

Founded in 2000, FAM Brands designs, manufactures, and sells men’s and women’s sportswear and active wear apparel to major retailers, big box stores, and specialty boutiques across the country and throughout the world. Our portfolio of proprietary brands features Marika, Wildfox, Three Dots, and Balance Collection, while a partial list of licensing partners includes Orvis, Jessica Simpson, Eddie Bauer, and Woolrich.

With the capacity to produce over 75 million units per year, our mission continues to be making top-quality apparel accessible to everyone at an impressive value and an irresistible price.

That's the FAM Brands difference.

SUMMARY

FAM Brands is seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Design to lead and elevate our design function across multiple product categories, including sportswear, women’s, and men’s sportswear. This role will oversee and mentor three Design Managers, ensuring cohesive vision, brand alignment, and executional excellence across all offerings.

The ideal candidate brings a strong balance of creative leadership, operational rigor, and deep understanding of the activewear and apparel market. They will drive innovation while maintaining the speed, cost-efficiency, and commercial focus required in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Leadership & Team Development

Lead, mentor, and develop three Design Managers across Sportswear, Women’s, and Men’s categories
Foster a high-performance, collaborative, and accountable design culture
Provide clear direction, feedback, and career development opportunities for design teams
Champion creativity while ensuring alignment with business goals and timelines

Creative Direction & Brand Consistency

Define and drive the overall design vision across all categories
Ensure consistency in brand identity, seasonal storytelling, and product aesthetics
Review and approve design concepts, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and customer expectations
Elevate product design through trend-right innovation and competitive benchmarking

Product Strategy & Execution

Partner with Merchandising, Product Development, and Production teams to build compelling assortments
Translate business objectives into actionable design strategies
Ensure designs meet margin targets, cost constraints, and production feasibility
Oversee seasonal calendars, ensuring timely delivery of all design milestones

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with merchandising to align on assortment plans and category strategies
Partner with sourcing and development teams to ensure material and construction innovation
Collaborate with marketing and branding teams on campaigns, lookbooks, and product storytelling
Act as a key voice in leadership meetings, representing design priorities and insights

Trend & Market Insight

Maintain deep knowledge of market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive landscape
Drive innovation through research, travel, and trend forecasting
Identify new opportunities for growth and category expansion

ABOUT YOU

10+ years of experience in apparel design, with 3–5+ years in a leadership role
Proven success managing and developing multiple design teams and/or managers
Strong background in sportswear, activewear, or performance apparel preferred
Deep understanding of the full product lifecycle from concept through production
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