RTW Designer

Senior RTW Designer – Job Description

About ANEST COLLECTIVE

ANEST COLLECTIVE is a contemporary luxury brand based in Shanghai and Milan. We work closely with Italian family ateliers to create timeless, finely crafted ready-to-wear pieces rooted in materiality, structure, and quiet refinement.
Our philosophy is grounded in long-term vision, architectural clarity, and a commitment to “fewer but better” creations—eschewing short-term trends in favor of enduring craftsmanship and cultural storytelling.

At ANEST, each piece is a meeting of artistry, precision, and craft, shaped through a dialogue between East and West. We seek individuals who can understand, elevate, and expand this vision through design and collaboration.

Position Overview

We are looking for a Senior RTW Designer with strong creative maturity, refined taste, and deep technical understanding.
This person will help shape ANEST’s evolving silhouette language—translating conceptual direction into thoughtful proportions, clean structures, and well-crafted garments that reflect the brand’s architectural and material sensibility.

The ideal candidate is someone who can understand ANEST’s design principles and translate them into concrete, original, and elevated design proposals.

Key Responsibilities

1. Seasonal Collection Development

• Lead design development for selected RTW categories

• Create sketches, silhouettes, moodboards, and design concepts

• Ensure design proposals align with ANEST principles: clarity, proportion, structure, and quiet refinement

• Develop hero items and carryover concepts with a coherent and recognizable aesthetic

• Translate ANEST’s design language into high-quality, contemporary RTW pieces

2. Fabric & Material Research

• Source and evaluate fabrics, leather, knit, and trims

• Understand how materials influence silhouette, structure, and drape

• Build seasonal fabric boards and collaborate with suppliers and mills

• Work closely with Italian ateliers to align fabrication with design intent

3. Prototype & Fittings

• Work with pattern makers and sample rooms in Shanghai & Milan

• Oversee first proto through final sample, ensuring accuracy and quality

• Provide precise comments on fit, structure, proportion, and finishing

• Maintain the design intent through all stages of development

4. Technical Documentation

• Prepare tech packs, construction details, and spec information

• Ensure clear communication with development, production, and atelier teams

• Track revisions and maintain accuracy through sampling phases

5. Research & Reference Development

• Conduct research across fashion, architecture, materials, and culture

• Build thoughtful reference boards and interpret references, not imitate

• Help evolve ANEST’s design DNA through proportion, structure, and material logic

6. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Partner with merchandising to define product mix and category strategy

• Align with production teams to maintain timelines and product excellence

• Support marketing/content teams with product insights and storytelling when required

Qualifications

Experience

• 6–10 years of womenswear and menswear design experience

• Previous experience in luxury contemporary brands preferred

• Strong background in tailoring, outerwear, dresses, and structured silhouettes

• Experience working with ITALIAN ateliers is a plus

Skills

• Strong sketching or digital illustration ability

• Solid understanding of garment construction and pattern logic

• Deep fabric knowledge and strong sensibility toward texture and drape

• Ability to interpret a brand’s design language and translate it into products

• Proficiency in Illustrator & Photoshop; CLO 3D is a plus

Working Style & Personality

• Refined taste level and attention to detail

• Calm, precise, organized, and communicative

• Able to work across Shanghai–Milan teams and manage timelines

• Proactive, solution-oriented, and collaborative