Design Assistant

At Kotn, we’re reimagining the way our everyday items are made and purchased, beginning with your wardrobe, setting a new standard for social impact and traceability. Founded in February 2015, Kotn has been featured in over 80 publications such as New York Times, GQ, Vogue, Elle, and The Wall St. Journal. Kotn was founded in Toronto by three best friends, who were fed up with compromising on quality, design, sustainability, brand experience, and price.

Kotn is seeking a driven, passionate Design Assistant to support the Design team across all aspects of product design and development. The ideal candidate has a vibrant taste level and ethos that reflect the Kotn brand, thrives in a fast-paced, product-focused environment, and is comfortable shifting between creative and administrative tasks in support of the team.

Reporting to the Senior Designer, you will support tech pack creation and product execution, help maintain samples and records across the design process, and contribute to research and style development. This is a hands-on role requiring you to be in our Kotn Toronto office/studio 4 to 5 days per week.

What you’ll be working on:

Tech Pack Creation and Product Execution Assistance (60%)

• Technical Pack Creation in our PLM system — creating style numbers, product descriptions, fit development stage, fabric, and trim.
• Illustrator sketching — proportional, accurate, and clear technical sketches that demonstrate detailed knowledge of construction and garment design. Speed in technical sketching is an asset.
• Ensure product components and libraries are organized and up to date in the PLM system.
• Participate in the completion of the Bill of Materials in the Technical Pack as directed by the Senior Designer, ensuring accuracy and relevant updates as needed.

Design Team Support — Record and Sample Maintenance (25%)

• Organize samples, trims, lab dips, and prototypes for approval as requested.
• Maintain records and filing for all styles, as required by the Senior Designer.
• Support internal presentation preparation, including sample tagging, organization, and steaming.
• Organize and maintain samples, prototypes, fit samples, and production samples.
• Support sample maintenance for photoshoot samples as required.

Research and Style Development and Iteration (15%)

• Conduct creative research for design ideas in keeping with the Kotn ethos.
• Conduct competitive research under the direction of the Senior Designer.
• Support cross-functional teams as requested during busy periods, building knowledge of technical fit, product development, and merchandising.

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or equivalent.
• 0 to 3 years of experience in an apparel design environment.
• Highly proficient in Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Basic computer software skills, including Google Sheets and ChatGPT.
• Keen eye for product design details and quality.
• Knowledge of and experience with textiles, graphics, and color is an asset.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to communicate concepts through technical sketches.
• Ability to contribute and generate ideas with team members.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

KOTN Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to our mission.

Accommodation:

KOTN Inc. is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and ensuring equal access to employment opportunities. If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please notify the hiring manager of the role.

Compensation: CAD $48,000 - $58,000