Senior Handbag Designer

Company Overview

We are building a design-driven leather goods brand focused on creating timeless, architectural designs with exceptional craftsmanship in the premium accessible luxury segment. Our aesthetic emphasizes minimalist design, sculptural silhouettes, and sustainable practices.

Position Summary

We're seeking a Senior Handbag Designer with 8+ years of experience to lead our handbag design development in Shenzhen. You'll be responsible for creating original bag collections that balance sculptural aesthetics, functional innovation, and manufacturing feasibility.

Key Responsibilities

Design & Creative Development

• Lead end-to-end design process from concept sketches to final production samples
• Create original handbag collections (4-6 styles per season) with distinctive silhouettes and architectural forms
• Develop detailed technical drawings, specifications, and construction details
• Design hardware elements and signature details that differentiate the brand
• Balance aesthetic vision with commercial viability and cost targets

Materials & Construction Expertise

• Specify appropriate leather types (full-grain, top-grain, calf leather) and finishes for each design
• Design bag constructions that optimize leather usage and minimize waste
• Develop innovative bag structures that maintain shape while remaining lightweight
• Work with chrome-free and sustainable leather options
• Understand leather grading, cutting patterns, and yield optimization

Technical & Manufacturing Knowledge

• Create detailed tech packs including patterns, hardware specs, and assembly instructions
• Work closely with leather suppliers, tanneries, and hardware manufacturers
• Conduct cost analysis to ensure designs meet target margins
• Problem-solve manufacturing challenges and provide alternative solutions
• Conduct fit studies and structural testing for durability

Supplier & Vendor Management

• Build and maintain relationships with leather suppliers, hardware manufacturers, and tanneries
• Source high-quality Italian or Spanish leathers and PVD-plated hardware
• Negotiate material costs and lead times
• Visit factories and tanneries to ensure quality standards
• Evaluate new suppliers and materials

Market & Trend Research

• Analyze premium handbag market for design trends and construction methods
• Identify emerging trends in accessible luxury segment
• Attend leather goods trade shows and material fairs
• Understand customer preferences in contemporary leather goods market

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 8+ years in handbag design, with at least 5 years in premium leather goods
• Portfolio demonstrating architectural bag designs with clean lines and minimal branding
• Experience working with European leather goods manufacturers (Italy, Spain, Portugal) preferred
• Track record of designs that successfully launched and sold in competitive markets

Hard Skills - Leather Knowledge & Materials

Leather Grading Expertise:

• Deep understanding of full-grain leather (top 10-15% quality) vs. top-grain leather
• Knowledge of split leather, corrected grain, and bonded leather
• Ability to identify and specify leather quality grades (Grade 1-4 hides)
• Understanding of natural leather characteristics: grain patterns, imperfections, scarring

Tanning Methods Mastery:

• Expert knowledge of vegetable tanning processes (oak, chestnut, mimosa tannins)
• Understanding of chrome/mineral tanning and its properties
• Familiarity with combination-tanning techniques
• Knowledge of aniline, semi-aniline, and pigmented finishes

Leather Types & Applications:

• Specification expertise: calfskin, cowhide, lambskin, nappa leather
• Understanding of leather weights (measured in oz or mm thickness)
• Knowledge of suede, nubuck, and specialty leathers
• Understanding of pull-up leather, patent leather, and embossed textures
• Familiarity with chrome-free and sustainable tanning options

Material Sourcing:

• Experience with Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese tanneries
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 certified leather suppliers
• Understanding of Leather Working Group (LWG) certification standards
• Ability to evaluate leather yield and cutting efficiency
• Knowledge of sustainable and eco-friendly leather options (recycled, upcycled)

Hard Skills - Design Software & CAD

2D/3D CAD for Leather Goods (Required - proficiency in at least 2):

• Crea Solution Create (leather goods specific CAD)
• ElitronCAD (industry-standard for leather goods)
• Lectra, Optitex, or Gerber (pattern-making systems)
• Comelz CAD software
• M4 CAD or similar 2D drafting tools

General Design Software (Required):

• Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator (expert level), Photoshop (advanced)
• CorelDRAW (optional but valued)
• Technical flat sketching and rendering

3D Design & Visualization (Preferred):

• CLO3D or Marvelous Designer for bag visualization
• Rhino 3D with leather goods plugins
• Browzwear or Style3D
• Basic knowledge of rendering software (KeyShot, V-Ray)

PLM & Collaboration Software:

• Experience with Centric PLM or similar product lifecycle management systems
• Tech pack creation software
• Understanding of digital asset management

Hard Skills - Technical Construction

Bag Construction Methods:

• Hand-stitching techniques and specifications
• Machine-stitching construction knowledge
• Edge painting, edge burnishing techniques
• Understanding of bag lining construction and attachment methods
• Knowledge of reinforcement techniques and structural support

Hardware & Components:

• Specification of zippers: YKK, Riri, Lampo, etc.
• Understanding of PVD plating vs. galvanization for hardware longevity
• Knowledge of magnetic closures, snap buttons, turn-locks
• Chain types and specifications
• Bag feet, studs, and protective hardware

Pattern Making & Cutting:

• Ability to create cutting patterns with minimal waste
• Understanding of grain direction and leather stretch
• Nesting optimization for material efficiency
• Grading specifications for different sizes
• Knowledge of die-cutting processes

Hard Skills - Manufacturing & Quality Control

Tech Pack Creation:

• Detailed technical drawings with measurements
• Bill of materials (BOM) specifications
• Assembly sequence documentation
• Quality control checkpoints
• Tolerance specifications

Factory Communication:

• Understanding of manufacturing timelines and sample development phases
• Knowledge of MOQ (minimum order quantities) for materials and production
• Ability to conduct factory audits and quality assessments
• Problem-solving for manufacturing issues

Cost Engineering:

• Material cost calculation and yield optimization
• Understanding of labor costs in Chinese manufacturing
• Ability to value-engineer designs without compromising quality
• Knowledge of pricing strategies and margin calculations

Testing & Compliance:

• Understanding of leather goods testing standards
• Knowledge of hardware durability testing
• Familiarity with color fastness and abrasion resistance testing
• Basic understanding of chemical compliance (REACH, California Prop 65)

Design Sensibility

• Strong aesthetic aligned with minimalist, architectural, sculptural design philosophy
• Understanding of Scandinavian/European minimalism and contemporary luxury aesthetics
• Ability to design bags that are distinctive yet timeless
• Eye for proportions, balance, and refined details

Language & Communication

• Fluent in Mandarin Chinese (required for local supplier communication)
• Professional working proficiency in English
• Ability to present design concepts clearly to stakeholders
• Strong written communication for technical specifications

Soft Skills

• Self-motivated with ability to work independently
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities
• Excellent attention to detail and quality consciousness
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Industrial Design, or related field
• Experience with direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands
• Knowledge of sustainable leather sourcing and eco-friendly production methods
• Experience with 3D bag design software (Rhino, CLO3D)
• Understanding of Chinese leather goods manufacturing ecosystem
• Experience in premium leather goods segment
• Familiarity with certification standards (ISO 9001 leather certification)

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual leather industry trade show attendance
• Health insurance
• Relocation assistance (if applicable)

Working Conditions

• Location: Shenzhen, China
• Regular travel to factories (within China and potentially Italy/Spain)
• Occasional weekend work during sample development phases
• Fast-paced startup environment with high autonomy

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

• Comprehensive portfolio
  (PDF format, max 20MB)
• Show 10-15 of your best designs that align with our aesthetic
• Include technical drawings and final production pieces
• Highlight projects in the premium accessible luxury segment
• Resume/CV
  highlighting relevant experience
• Cover letter
  addressing:
• Why you're interested in building a new premium leather goods brand
• Your design philosophy and approach to accessible luxury
• Specific experience with our target competitors or similar brands
• Your understanding of the SGD price point market
• References
  from previous employers or collaborators

About Our Design Philosophy

Our focus is in leather goods and our design language emphasizes:

• Timeless minimalism
  over trendy details
• Sculptural forms
  with architectural integrity
• Exceptional materials
• top-grain and full-grain leathers
• Thoughtful functionality
• practical, wearable designs
• Honest pricing
• luxury quality without luxury markups
• Minimal branding
• let the design speak
• Sustainable practices
• quality that lasts, responsible sourcing

We believe in creating products that become more beautiful with age and use, that empower the wearer with confidence and comfort, and that represent genuine value in the accessible luxury segment.

To Apply:
Please send application materials to [] with subject line "Senior [Handbag/Footwear] Designer Application - [Your Name]"

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis