Tapestry Design Associate, Footwear
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Compensation
- $70,000–80,000/year
- Department
- Creative, Design & Styling
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- May 18, 2026
About Tapestry
Coach is a New York–born global fashion house known for leather goods and design-led accessories. The brand is part of the Tapestry portfolio, a global house of consumer fashion brands, and emphasizes craftsmanship, contemporary design, and inclusive storytelling across its product ranges.
Coach (Tapestry) — New York: Design Associate, Footwear to design women's casual and dress shoes, from concept and CAD to prototypes (USD $70–80k).
Role & Responsibilities
- Support senior footwear designers in concept development and seasonal trend research for women's casual and dress categories.
- Produce clear hand and digital sketches and efficiently CAD final designs for line presentations and technical specs.
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners — including development, materials, and merchandising — to align designs with seasonal direction and customer needs.
- Develop and communicate technical footwear specifications and pattern layouts to development and factory partners.
- Assist in prototype review and correction with technicians; participate in sample reviews and travel to supplier/production locations as required.
- Partner with the materials team to identify seasonal trends and source materials with consideration for sustainability and quality.
- Contribute to runway footwear development, assist with show styling logistics, footwear allocation and last‑minute modifications during shows.
- Manage design documentation, adhere to timelines, and ensure design integrity through the full product development cycle.
Qualifications
- Minimum 3+ years of professional experience in footwear design or a closely related discipline.
- Proven ability to produce both technical drawings and freeform sketches; strong CAD presentation skills.
- Exceptional proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Microsoft Excel.
- Hands-on knowledge of footwear construction, pattern layouts, and technical specification writing.
- Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams and managing multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
- Excellent organization, communication, and collaborative skills; strong sense of the Coach aesthetic.
- Willingness to travel for materials sourcing and sample reviews, including potential travel to Asia and attendance at leather fairs and shows.
Skills
Experience
At least 3 years of footwear design experience with demonstrated involvement in seasonal product cycles, prototype development, and collaboration with technical and sourcing teams; runway or show-styling experience is a plus.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Industrial Design, Footwear Design, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience considered.
Workplace
This position is based in New York, New York, USA.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 70,000 to USD 80,000 per annum.
Benefits
Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, 401 (K), Paid paternity and maternity leave, Commuter benefits, Disability insurance, Tuition assistance
Culture
Coach cultivates a creative, design-driven workplace rooted in New York energy and the broader Tapestry focus on inclusion and optimism. The environment values collaboration, candid feedback, and continuous learning while encouraging employees to contribute original ideas and stretch creative boundaries.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Tapestry, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Footwear Designer», «Footwear Product Designer», «Women's Footwear Designer», «Footwear Development Associate», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.