Tapestry Handbag Designer
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Compensation
- $88,000–110,000/year
- Department
- Creative, Design & Styling
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Apr 14, 2026
About Tapestry
Kate Spade New York is a design-led global lifestyle brand within the Tapestry portfolio, known for colorful, optimistic collections spanning handbags, ready-to-wear, jewelry, footwear and home décor. As part of Tapestry — a global house of brands — the label emphasizes creativity, inclusivity and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
Kate Spade New York seeks a Handbag Designer in New York, NY to design handbags from concept to production at Tapestry.
Role & Responsibilities
- Conceptualize and develop fashion-driven handbag designs that reflect the Kate Spade aesthetic and seasonal direction.
- Participate in seasonal trend, market and material research to inform design concepts and direction.
- Support the Senior Designer in managing the design process from initial concept through to production milestones.
- Create and maintain detailed CADs and technical specification packages to communicate design intent, construction details and material usage to factories and product development partners.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Merchandising, Product Development, Hardware Design, Tech Design and Print Design to drive product from concept to final production.
- Prepare design presentations, mood boards and visual tools for key design and review meetings.
- Ensure product quality and consistency with market trends and business strategy through close oversight of materials and construction.
Qualifications
- College degree in fashion design or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
- 4+ years of professional design experience, with demonstrable work in handbags or leather goods.
- Proven ability to produce clear technical packages and CADs for production.
- Strong hand-sketching ability and concept development skills.
- Deep knowledge of materials, hardware and construction techniques specific to leather goods.
- Excellent communication, presentation and organisational skills.
- Understanding of merchandising principles as they relate to sales and the retail environment.
- Graphic/print design experience considered a plus.
Skills
Experience
Minimum of 4+ years of design experience with a focus on handbags or leather goods, including hands-on involvement from concept development through production and interaction with factories and product development partners.
Education
College degree in fashion design or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and professional experience considered.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in New York, New York, USA.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 88,000 to USD 110,000 per annum.
Benefits
Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, 401(k), Paid paternity and maternity leave, Commuter benefits, Disability insurance, Tuition assistance
Culture
Kate Spade fosters a creative, optimistic workplace that values originality and inclusivity. As part of Tapestry, the brand encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration and a people-centered approach to development and diversity.
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 «Leather Goods Designer», «Accessory Designer — Handbags», «Bag Designer», «Handbag Design 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.