Tony Curtis & Associates Inc. is actively interviewing for the immediate role of Designer – Evening Gown/Special Occasion. Our client is a leading visionary in luxury, special occasion design known for exquisite craftsmanship, romantic aesthetic, and a refined approach to colour, texture and form. This is a stellar opportunity to work with a leading, established luxury brand while showcasing your exceptional talent by shaping the future of evening wear

This role will require travel to US and Asia as needed throughout the year.

If the above sounds like the perfect challenge for you and you can bring the experience, skill-set, efficiencies and criteria outlined below, then we would love to connect with you immediately.

While Tony Curtis & Associates Inc. thanks all applicants, only those legally authorized to work in Canada will be contacted.

Summary

The successful candidate will report to the Director of Design and to the Creative Director. You will be influential in establishing and growing a new category within the brand. You will be a highly motivated self-starter with confidence, discipline, and the creative rigor to lead design and development from concept through production, operating within the brand’s established vision. Working with autonomy and accountability, you will collaborate closely with the Creative Director and Design Director while partnering with factories for line sample development and working with the brand’s head atelier in Canada. The ideal candidate will help set the foundation for team growth and supercharge a modern, distinctive category selection, honoring existing core principles and refined luxury.

Responsibilities

Creative Direction & Concept Development

· Research, synthesize, and interpret industry trends, competitive landscape, and sales feedback to develop innovative, brand-forward design concepts aligned with existing brand aesthetic.

· Collaborate with the Creative Director and Design Director to help curate seasonal mood boards, creative narratives, and overall directional vision for each collection.

· Design new styles through hand sketching, illustration, and draping, translating creative concepts into refined, production-ready designs.

· Prepare and present design concepts to Creative and Design leadership, collaborating on edits and selections based on brand alignment, innovation, and market relevance.

Materials, Embellishment & Vendor Strategy

· Lead strategic sourcing and development of fabrics, trims, components, and embellishments, working with existing vendors and identifying new partners aligned with the creative and technical needs of each collection.

· Develop fabrics, surface treatments, and techniques specific to the seasonal creative direction, ensuring innovation while maintaining luxury standards.

· Create embroidery and embellishment layouts as needed, working directly with artisans and beaders from concept through execution.

· Establish and maintain organized fabric, trim, and embellishment libraries for the Evening / Special Occasion division, ensuring materials are clearly archived and accessible as the category grows.

Development, Sampling & Technical Execution

· Translate approved designs into detailed and comprehensive tech packs, BOMs, and specification sheets to ensure clarity and production readiness.

· Partner with factories to manage line sample development, overseeing styles from initial pattern through completed samples.

· Own and lead all garment fittings from initial muslin through first samples, driving fit, construction, and refinement through precise communication and follow-through with patternmakers and sample sewers to ensure styles are viable for production.

· Clearly communicate complex draping techniques, construction details, and design intent to external partners, ensuring consistency from initial samples through final execution.

Costing, Production Readiness & Cross-Office Collaboration

· Design within established cost parameters, demonstrating a strong understanding of garment costing and price-point architecture; responsible for initial costing set-up and accuracy within internal systems.

· Work closely with the head atelier in Canada to transition approved styles into production, reviewing and approving final patterns, artwork templates, and construction details prior to production handoff.

· Oversee production fabric and trim lab dips and swatches, partnering closely with the Production Fabric Buyer to review, approve, and ensure alignment with design intent and quality standards.

· Collaborate with the Canada-based design and production teams to ensure craftsmanship, quality, and brand integrity are maintained through final production.

Collection Execution, Market Readiness & Feedback Loop

· Design and oversee collections presented twice annually in February and September, as well as special account–based product development between seasons.

· Attend and oversee collection photoshoots in advance of market, working in close collaboration with the Creative Director and Brand Manager to ensure visual storytelling aligns with the collection’s creative vision.

· Organize and manage design boards, development calendars, and priorities, adjusting timelines as patterns, materials, fittings, and approvals progress.

· Attend relevant industry events, markets, and fashion presentations to maintain competitive awareness and bring fresh perspective to the brand’s eveningwear offering.

· Incorporate market and sales feedback into ongoing design refinement and future seasonal planning.

· Champion exceptional craftsmanship, quality, and brand integrity throughout all phases of design and development.

Qualifications

· 8+ years of industry experience in eveningwear or special occasion design within a luxury or couture environment.

· Strong technical understanding of draping, patternmaking, and garment construction, with the ability to translate complex design concepts into production-ready styles.

· Demonstrated creative fluency in silhouette, proportion, color, fabrication, and embellishment, with a refined luxury sensibility.

· Strong appreciation for heritage craftsmanship and an ability to design innovatively within a luxury brand aesthetic.

· Proven ability to independently manage the full design and development lifecycle, from initial concept through fittings, refinement, and production handoff.

· Experience working directly with patternmakers and factories, as well as North American or overseas production partners.

· Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize, pivot, and execute in a fast-paced, high-responsibility environment.

· Comfortable operating in a role that requires hands-on involvement across creative, technical, and operational aspects of the design process.

· Confident collaborator who is comfortable receiving feedback and direction from Creative and Design leadership, as well as incorporating sales and market insight into design decisions.

· Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong work ethic; energized by building, problem-solving, and taking full accountability for outcomes.

· Naturally curious and culturally engaged, drawing inspiration from art, fashion, and contemporary culture to inform modern design.

· Comfortable wearing many hats and operating as a key contributor within a small, highly collaborative team.

· Willingness and ability to travel to US and Asia as needed throughout the year.

· Strong working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop and Procreate, proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.

· Familiarity with ERP systems such as OLOtech or Apparel Magic is a plus; training will be provided.

· Experience with 3D apparel programs such as Browzwear, VStitcher, or CLO 3D is a plus but not required.

Additional Details

· Working Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm/ 10:00am-6:00pm  - on-site

• Benefits: 80% coverage for health, vision and dental post 3 month probation

• 2 Weeks paid vacation