Acler
Designer
| company: | Acler |
| job title: | Designer |
| location: | Adelaide CBD |
| work type: | Full-time |
| level: | Mid-level |
Role Description
We are an Adelaide based fashion house that began nearly 10 years ago with the now globally recognised brand ‘Acler’. Acler is a female founded and led business that at its heart, celebrates quality textiles, masterful craftsmanship and accessible luxury pieces. From the success of Acler grew our second brand ‘Significant Other’. Significant Other is a pioneering force for artisanal luxury and resort-wear, a renowned presence in the Australian and international markets. Both brands have expanded rapidly, with an ever-growing list of major retailers across the US, EU, UK and Middle East.
It was important to Creative Directors and brand founders Kathryn Forth and Julia Ritorto, to keep Acler & Significant Other’s operations in South Australia. To nurture talent in their home-state and offer employment opportunities that otherwise might only be found in Australia’s major cities. Furthermore, integrity is at the heart of everything we do, from setting up a Scholarship opportunity for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students, to our overarching work in the Reconciliation space and our ongoing charity partnerships with local not-for-profits, we’re committed to being excellent and doing excellent things. If you’re an excellent human, who resonates with the above; please assess your skills* against the requirements below.
We’ve seen the research that suggests that women and underrepresented groups often don’t apply for roles because they don’t feel they fit enough of the criteria. Even if you’re only 60% there, we’d like to hear from you.
The Designer plays a key role in developing seasonal collections that align with the brand’s creative vision and commercial strategy. This position supports the Senior Designer and Head of Design in all aspects of the design process—from research and range planning to tech packs, fittings, and exclusive capsule development. The role requires a blend of creativity, technical skills, market awareness, and attention to detail, with a strong ability to manage deadlines and collaborate cross-functionally.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute to range planning, ensuring each collection meets brand, pricing, and commercial objectives.
- Conduct trend and market research to identify new design opportunities.
- Assist in designing and sketching seasonal collections, including digital CADs, under the direction of the Senior Designer.
- Develop and update design tools such as colour palettes, CADs and seasonal pre-lines.
- Collaborate on print development and recolouring; creating bespoke prints and embellishment artworks as required.
- Lead and manage special projects such as recuts, exclusives, and short-run capsule ranges as briefed by the Head of Design and Wholesale team.
- At times support the design technicians to prepare accurate and detailed tech packs, ensuring all information is supplier-ready.
- Support the team in developing mock-ups and toiles, while actively improving draping and 3D development skills.
- Work with the Product Developer to review and provide feedback on fabric and trim submissions.
- Support in managing and populating supplier bibles and development trackers.
- Participate in sampling reviews and contribute fit feedback alongside the Senior Designer.
- Handover garments and fit notes to the Design Technician clearly and accurately.
- Assist in fittings as needed and actively build confidence in fit analysis to support the team during busy development phases.
- Collaborate with Design Technicians and Coordinators to resolve construction issues and manage costs to achieve target FOBs.
- Lead the design and development of exclusives and SMU (Special Make-Up) styles for wholesale and eCommerce partners.
- Manage the creative and technical process for exclusive capsules, including costing, print development, lab dips, and strike-off approvals.
- In consultation with the Head of Design and Creative Director, design and develop new product extensions and capsules in response to market needs.
- Contribute to a collaborative, solution-focused team environment.
- Provide mentorship and day-to-day support to junior team members where appropriate.
- Take initiative in managing own workload and stepping into project management roles as required.
KEY SKILLS
- Strong sketching, CAD, and Adobe Creative Suite skills (particularly Illustrator)
- Excellent eye for print, colour, and silhouette
- Strong understanding of garment construction, fabrications, and embellishment
- High level of organization and attention to detail
- Commercial awareness and ability to design for different markets
- Confident communicator and collaborator
- Proactive problem solver with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or a related field
- 3–5 years’ experience in a design role within a fashion business, ideally across contemporary or commercial womenswear
- Experience in end-to-end design development including tech packs, fitting, and offshore supplier communication
- Previous experience working on exclusives, SMUs, or capsule collections is highly regarded.
Apply via Seek only, do not use the ‘apply now’ form below.
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