Kenzo Senior Knitwear Designer

About Kenzo

Kenzo is a Paris‑based luxury fashion house known for its eclectic prints, bold graphics and cross‑cultural design language. Operating within a global luxury group, Kenzo's studio blends artisanal craftsmanship and contemporary innovation across ready‑to‑wear and accessories, offering a collaborative creative environment that partners closely with European and international mills and ateliers.

Role & Responsibilities

• Design and develop men's and women's knitwear Pre‑Collections and seasonal knitwear capsules in alignment with the House creative direction.
• Lead the end‑to‑end development of two Pre‑Collections per year, from concept and research through sampling, fittings and final product sign‑off.
• Translate graphics, artworks and visual research into knitwear concepts, textile developments and fully realised garments.
• Propose original yarn developments, silhouettes, constructions and added‑value knitwear techniques each season.
• Manage fittings with a stringent focus on construction, proportion and product quality throughout development cycles.
• Collaborate daily with Product Development, RTW Pre‑Collection teams, Graphics & Artwork, Merchandising and Production to ensure technical feasibility and commercial alignment.
• Build and maintain relationships with yarn suppliers, mills and factories; coordinate technical requirements and development timelines.
• Work directly with factories and yarn mills during development and production to ensure alignment between creative intent and technical execution.
• Research and develop embellishment techniques, specialised finishes and other value‑adding knitwear innovations.
• Support collection planning, department organisation and process improvements within the Knitwear team.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years' professional experience as a knitwear designer, with demonstrable expertise across both men's and women's knitwear.
• Deep technical understanding of knitwear techniques, yarns, constructions and garment engineering.
• Proven experience managing development with European yarn mills and factories; participation in industry events such as Pitti Filati is advantageous.
• Practical experience working with international (including Chinese) yarn mills and production partners is a strong plus.
• Strong project and time management skills with proven ability to deliver under demanding calendars.
• Excellent communication skills, professionalism and a solutions‑oriented mindset when liaising with cross‑functional teams and suppliers.

Skills

Experience

At least 8 years in knitwear design within luxury or high‑end fashion brands, with hands‑on experience in technical development, factory collaboration and yarn/mill relations across Europe and internationally.

Education

Degree or diploma in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Knitwear Technology or equivalent; technical knitwear qualifications or vocational training preferred.

Workplace

Culture

Kenzo's studio cultivates a creative, research‑driven culture that values artisanal know‑how and inventive textile work. The environment is collaborative and fast‑paced, with close cross‑functional partnerships between design, product development and suppliers to bring distinctive knitwear concepts to market.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.