Join a dynamic NYC-based team as a Graphic Design Operations Associate, where you’ll play a key role in bridging creative design and production execution. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with cross-functional partners, ensuring artwork and production processes run seamlessly from concept to final product. Salary $60-70K
Now Hiring: Custom Graphic Designer (Apparel)
Our client is looking for a creative and detail-oriented Graphic Designer with 2+ years of experience, ready to bring fresh energy and thoughtful design to their growing custom apparel team. This is a remote freelance-to-perm opportunity with room for growth. If you're someone who thrives in a fast-paced, trend-driven environment and has a strong understanding of the custom apparel space—this could be a great fit.
Now Hiring: Product Designer
A women-owned lifestyle brand with a big boutique following is on the hunt for a Product Designer to join their team in Apex, NC. It’s a hands-on, creative role where you’ll get to work on fun seasonal collections and collaborate with a tight-knit, design-loving crew.
Interested?
Swimwear Hiring Trends: What Brands Need Now
Swimwear has evolved. What used to be a seasonal drop is now a year-round category tied to travel, lifestyle, and everyday wear. Brands are doubling down on fit, design, and storytelling, and the right team behind the scenes is what makes it all work.
We’ve supported swimwear brands like Hermoza, Monday Swimwear, Minnow Swim, Everything But Water, Pacsun, and more as they’ve scaled their teams across design, digital, and retail. Here’s where we’re seeing the strongest hiring trends—and how we can help.
Technical Designers are a priority. Fit is everything in swim, and hiring talent who understands stretch fabric, performance construction, and size inclusivity can make a major impact. These roles often require specific experience that can be hard to find, especially when timing is tight.
Social and influencer marketing roles continue to grow. Brands are looking for people who can create and manage content, build partnerships, and keep up with the pace of digital without losing sight of the brand’s tone. We’ve helped build out these teams with candidates who know how to drive reach and relevance.
Merchandisers and Buyers are thinking beyond swim. As brands expand into apparel, accessories, and even beauty, we’re helping hire talent who can build smart assortments and bring new categories to life while staying aligned with brand identity and margins.
Retail and pop-up hiring is also picking up. From seasonal stores to resort activations, we help place in-store talent who can deliver great service and represent the brand well—often with tight turnaround times.
And freelancers continue to play a big role. Many brands bring in flexible talent across copy, design, email, or paid media to support product drops or campaign cycles. We place creative and digital freelancers who know how to hit the ground running.
Whether you're wrapping up summer or planning for resort and next year, we help swimwear brands find talent who understand the category and how to move with it. Let’s connect.
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Now Hiring: Brand Designer
We're #hiring a Brand Designer to help bring story-driven campaigns to life across organic social channels like Instagram and Pinterest. If you have a strong eye for typography, layout, and illustration—and love designing for visual storytelling across platforms—this remote role could be a great fit! $75-115K DOE.
The Importance of a Personal Brand for Fashion Professionals
In an industry built on image and storytelling, your personal brand says as much as your resume. Whether you're a designer, buyer, merchandiser, or marketer, how you present yourself can help to open doors.
Your personal brand is the combination of your aesthetic, values, experience, and point of view. It shows up in your online presence, your portfolio, how you network, and even how you talk about your work. Think of it as your signature style, beyond the clothes.
Fashion professionals with strong personal brands stand out. They attract like-minded employers and collaborators. They create consistency across platforms. And they build trust with followers and decision-makers alike.
How to build your personal brand? Start simple: update your LinkedIn and portfolio with your latest work, share your insights on the industry, and be intentional about the projects you take on. Over time, your personal brand becomes a reflection of both where you’ve been and where you’re going.
At Emerging Blue, we work with brands looking for talent that brings more than just experience. A clear, authentic personal brand helps us connect candidates with teams where they can thrive. Connect with us!
Building a Fashion Portfolio That Gets You Hired
A portfolio isn’t just a collection of work, it’s a reflection of who you are as a designer and how you think. Whether you’re applying for a role in apparel design, textile, product development, or creative direction, a well-curated portfolio can make all the difference in getting noticed.
So what makes a portfolio stand out?
It starts with intention. The best portfolios are thoughtfully put together for a specific role or brand. That means curating your work based on the company’s aesthetic, whether that’s elevated, luxury, sporty, or trend-driven. Including pieces that match the vibe of the brand you’re applying to shows that you’ve done your homework and that you can design within a specific identity.
Equally important is showing your process. Hiring managers aren’t just looking for a pretty end product. They want to understand how you got there. Mood boards, early sketches, CADs, croquis, and tech packs all help tell the full story. And in a world where you’re not always in the room to explain your work, the portfolio should be clear and self-explanatory.
A strong portfolio also demonstrates range. While consistency is key, showing versatility across categories (like womenswear, menswear, or kids), design types (apparel, accessories, or print), and skills (hand sketching, pattern work, digital development) helps paint a complete picture. And yes—hand sketching still matters, especially for brands that appreciate craftsmanship and heritage. If you have it, show it.
Don’t forget usability. A clean layout, easy navigation, and thoughtful organization (by brand, category, or collection) make it easier for hiring teams to digest your work. PDF portfolios still work well, especially for email or LinkedIn outreach. But platforms like Adobe Portfolio or personal websites are great for those wanting to reflect more of their personal design aesthetic.
As fashion recruiters, we review portfolios every day. We help creatives at every level, from early-career designers to senior art directors, refine their materials and connect with brands that align with their vision. If you’re building or updating your portfolio and wondering what to include (or leave out), our team is here to help.
Ready to take your next step? Let’s find the right role and make sure your portfolio gets you there.
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Now Hiring: Design Director
We’re working with a well-known lifestyle brand to find a Design Director to lead their creative team. This role is perfect for someone with a strong visual point of view and experience bringing campaigns to life across print, digital, and performance marketing. Open to remote. $145-165K.
Now Hiring: Senior Trend Forecasting and Concept Designer
A fast-growing, Gen Z–focused fashion startup in LA is seeking a Senior Trend Forecasting & Concept Designer to drive cultural relevance and lead creative direction. This hybrid role is ideal for someone deeply tapped into emerging fashion, social media, and streetwear trends with a strong eye for what’s next.
Now Hiring: Senior Accessories Designer
Join our client’s legacy streetwear brand as a Senior Accessories Designer! You’ll work closely with Graphic Design, Sales, and Merch to lead multiple design areas and help drive the vision and execution of apparel lines from start to finish. 8+ years experience, NYC-based, $75–100K.
Now Hiring: Senior Kids Apparel Designer
Our client is seeking a seasoned Senior Kids Apparel Designer with a strong background in sportswear to lead the creation and execution of trend-forward, brand-aligned collections. This role involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams including Graphic Design, Sales, and Merchandising to drive product development from concept to final execution. Ideal candidates will bring a keen eye for design, strong leadership skills, and proven experience in kidswear, particularly in denim and cut-and-sew apparel. NY-Based. $90-120K.
Tech & Innovation in Fashion: Shaping the Future of Careers
The intersection of technology and fashion has never been more dynamic. As brands embrace AI, digital strategies, and cutting-edge materials, the industry is evolving at a rapid pace. From AI-generated designs to tech-infused wearables, innovation is driving both creativity and efficiency, shaping new opportunities for job seekers looking to make their mark in fashion.
AI is playing a pivotal role in fashion design, from trend forecasting to automated pattern creation. While some fear that AI could replace traditional design jobs, it’s more likely to serve as a tool that enhances the creative process. Designers who understand how to leverage AI for efficiency and inspiration will have a competitive edge. Roles that merge AI expertise with fashion knowledge—such as digital stylists or AI-driven textile developers—are on the rise, signaling a shift in how brands approach design and production.
Techwear and innovation are also reshaping the future of fashion careers. Smart fabrics, sustainable innovations, and augmented reality shopping experiences are becoming industry standards. As brands integrate more technology into their business models, demand for professionals who can navigate these advancements continues to grow. Whether it’s engineers creating interactive garments or marketers strategizing digital rollouts, the fusion of tech and fashion is generating new career paths across the board.
With major fashion tech events setting the tone for the year, brands are refining their digital strategies to stay ahead. Companies investing in AI, blockchain for supply chain transparency, and 3D printing for sustainable production are setting new industry benchmarks. For job seekers, staying informed about these innovations and upskilling in relevant tech areas can open doors to exciting career opportunities in an industry that thrives on transformation.
At Emerging Blue, we connect fashion brands with forward-thinking talent ready to embrace innovation. Whether you’re a designer exploring AI tools, a developer passionate about fashion tech, or a marketer strategizing digital trends, we help match top talent with brands shaping the future. Let’s innovate together.
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Now Hiring: Senior Custom Graphic Designer - Apparel
Our client is looking for a skilled designer to create high-quality custom apparel graphics for music, sports, lifestyle, and corporate brands. This role requires strong design instincts, screen printing experience, and the ability to balance multiple projects while bringing fresh, creative ideas to the table. Preferably based in Tempe, AZ but also open to remove candidates.
Now Hiring: Senior Manager, Digital Designer
Our client, Janie and Jack, an iconic Children’s brand based out of San Francisco, is looking for a Sr. Manager, Digital Designer to join their team. Reporting to the Sr. Creative Director, the Sr. Manager, Digital Designer will work closely with the creative team to develop and produce the e-commerce website, email campaigns, social, and online marketing initiatives for Janie and Jack. $120-$132K
Hiring Freelance Designers in NYC!
Calling freelance designers in NYC! Our client is hiring talented freelancers at both Designer & Senior Designer levels for a 3-4 month long project. Denim + Athletic experience is a plus. Hourly $40-50.
Now Hiring: Design Operations Manager - Accessories
We’re hiring a Design Operations Manager with an accessories focus in NYC. Know someone who may be a fit? Share today! $65-100K.