About the Company

Makeship empowers influencers, creators, and brands of all sizes to develop and launch limited-edition products that matter to their fans. Leveraging our design, manufacturing, and marketing expertise, we work with our partners to bring their products to life through our community-powered crowd-funding platform. Each product is given a window of 21 days to be funded by the community before we produce and ship to fans worldwide. We put our brand behind every product and guarantee quality and ethical sourcing.

We're profitable, have grown the team from 2 to 70 people in 5 years, and have a three-year revenue growth of over 400%, ranking us 98th on The Globe and Mail's Canada's Top Growing Companies of 2024 list. We are also excited to announce that Makeship has officially been Great Place to Work-Certified™ for 2 years! Learn more about us at Makeship.com.

About the Role

As an early member of the team, you'll play a huge role in shaping our culture, our process, and the future of Makeship. Every day, you'll collaborate learn more about the content creation space, and watch your work make an impact (on the company and their community!).

We want this to be the best work experience of your life, so we'll pay you well, offer great benefits, invest deeply in your growth, and welcome you with our branded swag.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for an Intermediate Apparel Designer who'll create innovative and trend-forward apparel designs that align with Makeship's brand and client expectations. We are looking for a creative and technically skilled designer with experience in garment construction, a strong eye for detail, and the ability to manage projects from concept through production. As an Intermediate Apparel Designer, you'll work independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams, including sales, product managers, other designers, and clients, to deliver high-quality apparel that stands out in the market. You will also be joining one of Canada's fastest-growing start-up companies!

Your Key Responsibilities

• Apparel Design: Create innovative and trend-conscious apparel designs (hoodies, t-shirts, etc.) using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and other design tools, ensuring all designs align with the Makeship brand and client expectations.
• Product Development: Independently manage the entire design lifecycle, from concept through to production, creating production-ready files and working closely with suppliers to ensure design feasibility.
• Trend Analysis: Regularly research and apply industry trends and consumer preferences to your designs, ensuring Makeship's apparel offerings are cutting-edge and in line with market demands.
• Collaboration: Work with internal teams (sales, product managers, and other designers) to ensure a cohesive brand look across different merchandise lines, including plushies, keychains, and vinyl figures.
• Client Communication: Effectively communicate design ideas and limitations to clients, balancing their vision with manufacturing constraints while maintaining creative integrity.
• Technical Expertise: Apply strong knowledge of apparel manufacturing processes, materials, and costing to create designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective.
• Quality Control: Independently review samples, identify design improvements, and make necessary revisions to ensure product quality before approval.
• Project Management: Lead apparel-focused design projects, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with overall campaign goals. Manage your workload and collaborate effectively to meet tight deadlines during high-demand periods.
• Mentorship: Provide informal mentorship to junior designers by offering feedback, sharing industry knowledge, and supporting skill development where needed.

What You Bring

• 3-5 years of experience in technical apparel, including garment construction, fabric selection, production methods, and costing.
• A strong portfolio that showcases your previous client work, personal work, and creative skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple design projects from concept through to production.
• Deep understanding of current fashion trends, market insights, and consumer behaviour.
• Experience collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams such as sales, designers, managers, and suppliers.
• Clear and professional communication skills when working with both clients and internal teams.

Bonus

• Familiarity with 3D apparel design software such as Clo3D or Marvelous Designer.
• Experience designing merchandise for influencers or content creators in areas like anime, art, gaming or entertainment IPs.
• Knowledge of sustainable materials and eco-friendly design processes.

Benefits & Perks

• Work remotely anywhere in Canada and/or access any of our hubs
• Health and dental benefits from day 1
• 4 weeks of paid vacation (including paid time off on your birthday)
• Additional 1 week of paid time off during the holidays
• Monthly phone allowance
• $400 home office setup allowance
• RRSP Matching Program
• Pregnancy and Parental Leave Top-up Program
• Education Assistance Program
• Employee Referral Program

Salary Band: $67-87K CAD per annum. Individual salaries will be dependent on unique skills, experience and qualifications.

At Makeship we are committed to fostering an environment that welcomes people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. We are passionate about building an equitable and inclusive culture for our unique and diverse team of employees which makes us Makeship. As an equal-opportunity employer, we value and embrace everyone's opinions and differences, and actively seek new Makeshippers who will work respectfully with our team, propelling our company and the community forward. If there are any accommodations we can provide to make your interview experience more accessible and inclusive, please let us know in your application.