Tapestry Design Director, Specialty Accessories
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Director
- Compensation
- $155,000–175,000/year
- Department
- Creative, Design & Styling
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Sep 29, 2026
About Tapestry
Tapestry is a New York–based house of modern luxury, uniting the distinctive worlds of Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman. As an employer, the group offers the scale and sophistication of a global fashion leader while preserving the creative spirit and heritage of its iconic brands. Tapestry cultivates an inclusive, purpose-driven culture where design, craftsmanship, digital innovation, and commercial excellence intersect. Its teams are encouraged to think boldly, grow continuously, and contribute to a more responsible future for fashion, making Tapestry a compelling environment for talent seeking impact, creativity, and international opportunity.
Coach seeks a Design Director, Specialty Accessories to lead the creative vision and technical execution of specialty accessory categories across Women's, Men's, Runway, and Outlet collections. This strategic role oversees both design and technical development teams, bridging innovative concept and product realization across diverse categories including bag charms, belts, gifting, and runway specialty pieces. The position reports to the Vice President of Design and requires extensive experience balancing creative expression with commercial considerations while maintaining Coach's standards of craftsmanship and quality.
Role & Responsibilities
- Provide strategic oversight across both design and technical development, ensuring alignment between creative vision and product execution
- Lead and develop the Specialty Accessories Design team and Technical Design team, fostering a culture reflective of Coach values of craftsmanship, authenticity, optimism, and modern luxury
- Interpret brand narratives and runway concepts into expressive, well-considered accessories
- Collaborate with Product Development, Merchandising, and Materials partners throughout the design process to support quality, functionality, cost, and timing
- Participate in line reviews, proto and sample evaluations, providing clear and constructive design feedback
- Mentor and support team members, encouraging strong execution, curiosity, and professional growth
- Communicate design intent clearly in cross-functional and leadership presentations
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in accessories design and technical design with exposure to specialty, novelty, or small leather goods categories
- Demonstrated ability to lead and align both creative and technical teams, bridging design vision with product execution to deliver innovative, high-quality product
- Experience working within an established global brand, balancing creative expression with commercial considerations
- Previous experience mentoring or managing junior designers
- Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Accessories Design, or equivalent work experience
- Runway or elevated collection experience is preferred
Skills
Experience
10+ years in accessories design and technical design, with demonstrated experience leading creative and technical teams in a global luxury brand environment. Prior mentoring or management experience required.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Accessories Design, or related field; equivalent professional experience may substitute
Workplace
This position is based in New York, New York, USA.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 155,000 to USD 175,000 per annum.
Benefits
Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, 401(k), Paid Paternity and Maternity leave, Commuter Benefits, Disability insurance, Tuition assistance
Culture
Tapestry fosters a collaborative, inclusive workplace where creativity, craftsmanship, and consumer insight come together across its portfolio of iconic fashion and lifestyle brands. As an employer, it encourages entrepreneurial thinking, global perspective, and continuous growth, empowering teams to shape meaningful brand experiences while contributing to a culture of innovation and belonging.
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 «Creative Director, Accessories», «Senior Design Director, Specialty Goods», «Head of Accessories Design», «Accessories Design Lead», «Design Director, Technical Accessories», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.