About: De La Vali was established in Ibiza in 2017. De La Vali celebrates the essence of femininity through distinctive, elevated and expressive womenswear collections. The label draws inspiration from the hedonistic and bohemian soul of Ibiza and the vibrant, warm Spanish culture. The brand is an ode to its muse the mystic artist ‘Vali Myers’. Her striking and unashamedly expressive way of being has been a constant pillar of inspiration. Created to make women feel like the most beautiful and empowered version of themselves. De La Vali's design studio and office is based in the heart of west London.
De La Vali has an exciting opportunity for a womenswear designer to contribute to the brand's continued growth and creative vision in west London.
Working closely with the Creative Director/Founder, the Womenswear Designer will play a central part in the development of seasonal collections from concept through to production, bringing strong commercial awareness alongside exceptional creative ability, helping to elevate the brand’s distinctive aesthetic while supporting its global expansion.
Following significant growth over the past 18 months, De La Vali is entering a pivotal phase of expansion with a strong and ambitious year ahead, making this a truly exciting moment to join the brand.
Key Responsibilities of the Womenswear Designer
Creative Development:
Work in close partnership with the Creative Director to interpret and develop the seasonal concept, silhouettes, fabric direction and colour & print direction into distinctive, elevated collections.
Design across all categories - woven, jersey, knitwear, leather - to create a complete wardrobe offering.
Oversight of capsule and exclusive projects (including collaborations, exclusive requests & bridal), ensuring alignment with the brand vision and timeline.
Product Development & Collection Process:
Manage the complete design lifecycle, including initial research, sketching, sampling, fittings, and final sign-off.
Translate sketches into detailed technical CADS clearly proposing proportion, detail & fit.
Ensure the technical accuracy, clarity, and production feasibility of all design handovers for both internal teams and external production partners.
Create accurate sampling-ready tech packs with clear construction and finishing instructions, and ensure all tech packs and the development folder are finalised and handed over to Production after final order books.
Manage daily communication with factories on all development and design topics, including fabric sourcing, testing new materials, and tracking proto samples to ensure SMS in-hand dates are met.
Lead the design and research of surface textures, including embroidery and embellishment, and translate these into clear tech packs for factories and manage the print design & development process, including strike-off and lab dip approvals, in line with the critical path.
Drive Range Review meetings within the designated timeframe, ensuring the agenda is circulated beforehand and the updated Range Plan is shared afterward.
Attend development fittings, ensuring comments are communicated to the factory on time and in line with the critical path.
Work with external freelancers on collection development, overseeing workloads to ensure clear outputs and timely delivery in line with the critical path, and assist with photoshoots and styling as required.
Team Collaboration:
Collaborate with the Head of Brand & Sales as well as the Head of Product to align creative intent with commercial opportunity.
Partner with the Head of Product and Pattern Cutters on construction, finishing, and technique development.
Actively participate in all development fittings, providing input and guidance to ensure that both creative vision and technical standards are maintained and achieved at every stage of the development process.
Leadership & Culture:
Champion creativity, foster teamwork, and uphold process discipline to drive excellence within the studio.
Provide mentorship and inspiration to junior staff, supporting their growth and development to consistently reach the highest creative and technical standards.
Work alongside the Head of Product and production team to guide the seasonal critical path and ensure all collection milestones are met.
What De La Vali is looking for:
At least 6 years' experience in luxury & premium design, including a strong background in full wardrobe collections.
Proven ability to balance creativity with commercial objectives and margin targets.
Expertise in garment construction, fabric development, and finishing.
Expert in Illustrator and Photoshop, and proficient with Excel.
Collaborative, positive, and highly organised team player who excels in fast-paced environments with a ‘can-do' attitude.
De La Vali Benefits:
Competitive salary
Generous staff allowance per season
Staff discount on collections
25 days holiday per annum (plus bank holidays)
Opportunity to be part of a growing womenswear brand
