Tapestry Senior Handbag Designer (Outlet)
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Senior
- Compensation
- $113,000–157,000/year
- Department
- Creative, Design & Styling
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Apr 16, 2026
About Tapestry
Kate Spade New York is a global lifestyle brand known for its colorful, optimistic aesthetic across handbags, ready-to-wear, jewelry, footwear and home décor. As a member of the Tapestry portfolio, the brand operates within a larger global house of brands that emphasizes creativity, commercial rigor and inclusion. The workplace blends design-led thinking with cross-functional collaboration across merchandising, product development and technical teams.
Kate Spade New York seeks a Senior Handbag Designer (Outlet) in New York, NY. Full-time role at Tapestry headquarters, $113,000–$157,000.
Role & Responsibilities
- Develop and execute handbag concepts for the outlet assortment that align with the seasonal creative direction and business objectives.
- Own the design process from initial concept through production, producing detailed CADs and technical specification packages to communicate construction, materials and fit to factories and product development partners.
- Participate in seasonal trend, market and materials research to inform assortment direction, color and trim choices.
- Support the Senior Design Director in managing team workflow, organization and seasonal deliverables for the outlet channel.
- Collaborate closely with merchandising, product development, raw materials, hardware and print teams to ensure cohesion between creative intent and commercial execution.
- Prepare design presentations, mood boards and visual tools for key milestone meetings and cross‑functional reviews.
- Ensure product quality and consistency with market trends and the brand’s commercial strategy, recommending edits to the line as needed.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in design or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum 8 years of leather handbag design experience within a trend‑driven, aspirational brand.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating the translation of creative concepts into commercially successful product.
- Proven ability to manage design workflow and coordinate cross‑functional stakeholders.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills; ability to present and defend design decisions to cross‑functional teams.
Skills
Experience
At least 8+ years of leather handbag design experience in a trend-driven, aspirational brand, with demonstrated success translating concepts into commercially viable products and experience managing design deliverables for a team or channel.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in fashion design, accessory design, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in New York, New York, USA.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 113,000 to USD 157,000 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 cultivates a playful, optimistic creative culture that values originality and commercial sensibility. As part of Tapestry, the brand benefits from a collaborative, cross‑brand ecosystem that emphasizes inclusion, professional development and equitable practices.
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 «Lead Handbag Designer», «Senior Accessories Designer», «Senior Leather Goods Designer», «Handbag Design Lead», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.