Richard Quinn is seeking a highly skilled and technically accomplished Embroidery Designer to join our dynamic London-based studio in Bermondsey. This role requires a designer who is not only creatively exceptional but deeply technical—confident leading the full embroidery development process from concept through to final production.

The successful applicant will be a key member of the design team, creating embroidery across our womenswear collections and working closely with the Creative Director to translate bold design vision into refined, innovative, and exquisitely executed embroideries.
This is a rare opportunity to become part of the Richard Quinn design team, contributing to womenswear collections that celebrate craftsmanship, couture-level detail, and bold femininity.

The Role of Embroidery & Textile Designer

This position demands both creative originality and rigorous technical execution. You will be responsible for generating embroidery concepts and bringing them to life through detailed swatch development, precise technical documentation, and hands-on collaboration with our external embroidery craftsmen.
You must be confident designing embroidery placements across pattern pieces, engineering embellishment layouts with accuracy, and ensuring every detail—from stitch type to thread composition—supports the garment’s silhouette, proportion, and luxury finish.

Key Responsibilities of the Embroidery & Textile Designer:

• Lead end-to-end embroidery development, from initial concept research and seasonal ideation through to final production launch.
• Generate original, forward-thinking embroidery concepts that align with the house aesthetic while introducing fresh and innovative ideas.
• Develop detailed embroidery swatches to test materials, stitch techniques, textures, embellishments, and finishes.
• Translate creative ideas into clear, comprehensive technical packs, including artwork, stitch breakdowns, material specifications, placement maps, scaling, and construction notes.
• Engineer precise embroidery placements across pattern pieces with strong understanding of garment construction and proportion.
• Work closely with external embroidery houses and exporters in India to develop, refine, and perfect samples.
• Provide clear technical communication to craftsmen to ensure design intent is fully realised in sampling and production.
• Manage sampling timelines, approvals, revisions, and quality control to ensure exceptional standards are met.
• Troubleshoot and problem-solve technical challenges during development, offering practical solutions without compromising design integrity.
• Negotiate pricing, manage budgets, and maintain cost targets while achieving the highest level of craftsmanship.
• Confidently present embroidery launches and communicate technical detail internally and externally.
• Ensure all embroidery executions meet luxury standards in scale, finish, colour harmony, and material composition.
• Work effectively within tight lead times, balancing creativity with commercial awareness and production realities.
• Produce accurate fashion illustrations that clearly communicate embroidery integration within garments.

Requirements:

• Minimum 3 years’ professional experience in embroidery design and technical development.
• Proven ability to independently manage embroidery projects from concept through sampling to final production.
• Strong technical understanding of embroidery construction, stitch techniques, materials, embellishments, and finishing processes.
• Demonstrated experience creating detailed swatches and producing comprehensive tech packs for external suppliers.
• Experience working directly with Indian exporters and embroidery craftsmen.
• Strong understanding of garment construction and how embroidery interacts with fabric weight, drape, and structure.
• Highly detail-oriented, methodical, and technically precise.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to articulate creative vision in technical language.
• Confident negotiating costs while maintaining luxury standards.
• Strong sense of colour, texture, material composition, and embellishment layering.
• A refined luxury design aesthetic with an eye for feminine, couture-level embroidery.
• Strong drawing and illustration skills, particularly in communicating embroidery placements.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to deliver under pressure in a fast-paced studio environment.
• Experience within a luxury or couture womenswear environment is highly desirable.

Why Join Richard Quinn

At Richard Quinn, you will be part of a globally recognised brand celebrated for its boundary-pushing creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation. You will work in a focused, collaborative studio environment, contributing to collections shown on international runways and worn on red carpets worldwide.

This is a demanding and highly technical role suited to a designer who is passionate about embroidery as both an art form and an engineered craft—someone who can generate visionary ideas and bring them to life through precision, expertise, and close collaboration with master craftsmen.

Application

Please apply with a CV, a cover letter outlining your suitability and interest, and a portfolio demonstrating both creative and technical embroidery development, including swatches and technical documentation where possible.