Apparel Designer - Trail & Extrem (Berghaus)

We’re Pentland Brands; a dynamic, global family business, and proud owners and licensees of many iconic active and footwear brands. With a community of over 1,300 team members worldwide, we embrace diversity and inclusion, and champion growth and development. Our success is built on teamwork, courage, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

WHAT’S THE MISSION FOR THIS ROLE?

The Apparel Designer – Trail & Extrem plays an essential role in bringing creative, functional, and consumer-relevant accessory products to life. Sitting within the Product Creation team, the role blends design innovation, material exploration, and commercial understanding to deliver accessories that enhance the consumer experience and strengthen the brand’s overall product offering.
The mission is to create modern, thoughtfully designed accessories that align with brand identity, solve real consumer needs, and complement seasonal apparel and pack ranges.

WHAT DOES THIS ROLE DO?

As our Apparel Designer – Trail & Extrem you will be responsible for:

• Designing seasonal accessories collections across categories such as headwear, gloves, belts, wallets, small bags, and other softgoods.

• Creating clear design concepts, sketches, CADs, colour stories, and material direction to support seasonal narratives.

• Conducting trend, market, and consumer research to inform design decisions and ensure products feel relevant and differentiated.

• Collaborating with Product Management and Development teams to ensure designs meet cost, quality, sustainability, and performance requirements.

• Collaborating with Rapid Prototyping Centre to create physical concepts for trialing design details and full silhouettes before designs are put into work.

• Working with Product Development to ensure all designs are feasible, manufacturable, and aligned with cost, fit, and quality requirements.

• Owning the design process from concept through final sample—participating in reviews, refining construction, and ensuring products match design intent.

• Selecting appropriate materials, trims, and hardware for functionality, durability, and aesthetic impact.

• Preparing accurate technical design files, including specifications, call-outs, artwork, and PLM information.

• Working with global sourcing partners and suppliers to resolve technical challenges and maintain alignment during sampling and production.

• Supporting internal presentations and range reviews, presenting design rationale and consumer insights to cross-functional teams.

• Maintaining organised and up-to-date design documentation, ensuring smooth handover and clear communication across teams.

WHAT DO I BRING TO THE ROLE?

You just might be our next superstar if you have the following skills and experience:

• Experience designing accessories or softgoods (e.g., headwear, gloves, small bags, wallets, or similar categories).

• You have a degree in relevant design fields: Fashion, Sport, Industrial and Graphic Design, or equivalent experience, and have a minimum of 2-3 years experience in a professional environment

• Strong portfolio showcasing concept generation, material understanding, detail-oriented design, and 2D/3D thinking.

• Proficiency in all Adobe CC; knowledge of Clo3D or similar; PLM experience is a plus.

• Solid understanding of accessory construction, materials, trims, hardware, and manufacturing processes.

• Ability to translate trends, brand DNA, and consumer insights into commercially viable, brand-right products.

• Are passionate about sustainability and have experience implementing environmentally responsible material strategies.

• Strong communication, presentation, and collaboration skills with experience working within cross-functional teams.

• Organised and detail-focused, with the ability to manage multiple projects and timelines.

• A proactive, problem-solving mindset and passion for designing functional, stylish accessories that elevate the consumer experience.

We want you to live our company principles, bringing a strong consumer focus, while always looking for ways to improve and grow in your role. Take ownership of your work and be proactive in solving problems whilst communicating openly and treating everyone with respect and kindness. And, of course, let your creativity shine by bringing your unique style and individuality to the Pentland Brands Team.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

• Competitive salary + discretionary bonus

• 25 Days Holiday : Increases with length of service and the option to purchase additional days to suit your needs.

• Discounts: Brand discounts (including friends and family and JD Sports), Sample Sales, and other retail discounts and perks.

• Family-Friendly Benefits : Generous enhanced parental leave policies

• Health Perks : Choose from a variety of health-related perks including medical cash plan, critical illness cover, life assurance, gym and fitness discounts, dental insurance, eye care, and health screening to maintain your wellbeing.

• Travel Perks : Take advantage of our season ticket loan, cycle to work schemes, electric car schemes, and discounts on home charging units to support eco-friendly commuting.

• Flexible Working : We offer hybrid working and flexible working hours, allowing you to start your day earlier or later to help with commute costs or personal commitments.

• Chance to join our Charity, D&I and Sustainability employee networks.

As an equal opportunity employer, we’re committed to fostering diversity and creating an inclusive culture across our business, stores, and office environment.

We warmly welcome your application.

This vacancy is a newly created role as part of organisational changes. Final appointment will depend upon the outcome of consultation processes and affected employees will have priority for consideration.