Design Director - Fleece

Location: Remote
Type: Full Time
Experience Level: Mid Level

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About Comfrt

Comfrt is the fastest growing ecommerce brand built on a mission to support mental health and create everything comfortable for an easy, stress-free, cozy lifestyle. We are obsessed with our customer and dedicated to building the ultimate comfort brand ecosystem.

About the Role

The Design Director – Fleece is responsible for defining and driving Comfrt's fleece product vision across hoodies, sweatpants, shorts, outerwear, and future fleece-based categories. As Comfrt's largest and most important product category, fleece serves as the foundation of the brand, driving the majority of sales, customer acquisition, and brand recognition. This role is responsible for setting the fleece product direction that influences the overall brand strategy, customer experience, and future growth of the business.

This leadership role combines strategic thinking, creative direction, and hands-on product design to ensure Comfrt remains the market leader in comfort-driven apparel. The Fleece Design Director will establish the category product vision, aesthetic direction, and innovation roadmap for the category while leading a team of designers and partnering cross-functionally to deliver best-in-class products that support both brand and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Creative & Product Leadership

• Own and evolve Comfrt's fleece product aesthetic, design language, and category vision

• Establish a clear point of view on fit, proportion, silhouette, fabric, color, wash, and construction details

• Translate customer insights, sales performance, trend research, and market opportunities into commercially successful assortments

• Drive seasonal and long-term fleece product strategy across all core and emerging categories

• Ensure all products remain authentic to Comfrt's brand DNA while introducing meaningful innovation

Product Design & Execution

• Lead the end-to-end design process from concept through production approval

• Oversee silhouette development, fit, trims, graphics, branding, wash treatments, and construction details

• Partner closely with Product Development and Technical Design to ensure products meet quality, fit, margin, and timeline requirements

• Drive continuous improvement of Comfrt's core fleece programs while introducing newness and innovation

• Maintain a strong understanding of consumer needs, comfort expectations, and product performance

Trend, Fabric & Innovation

• Lead trend research across fashion, streetwear, lifestyle, wellness, and comfort categories

• Identify emerging product opportunities, white space, and future growth categories

• Partner with Fabric Development to elevate fleece innovation, fabric hand feel, performance, sustainability, and comfort

• Drive innovation in fleece construction, garment washes, finishes, and functional product features

• Stay ahead of industry trends while maintaining a unique brand perspective

Business & Merchandising Partnership

• Collaborate with Merchandising, Product Development, and Planning to build assortments that support sales, margin, and inventory objectives

• Utilize sales reports, market analysis, customer feedback, and business insights to influence product strategy

• Understand category performance at the SKU and style level to identify opportunities and risks

• Participate in assortment architecture, category planning, pricing strategy, and product roadmap development

• Balance creativity with commercial decision-making to maximize business results

Team Leadership & Design Operations

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of designers across fleece and related product categories

• Establish clear priorities, creative direction, and accountability across the design organization

• Build scalable design processes that support rapid growth while maintaining design excellence

• Own the design calendar and ensure all milestones and deliverables are completed on time

• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, speed, and continuous improvement

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Product Development, Technical Design, Sourcing, Merchandising, Marketing, and Creative teams

• Align product strategy with business objectives, launch calendars, and operational capabilities

• Collaborate on product storytelling, campaign concepts, and seasonal launches

• Support vendor partnerships by providing clear design direction and product vision

• Ensure design intent is maintained throughout development and production

Qualifications

• 12-15+ years of apparel design experience, with significant experience in fleece, sportswear, casualwear, or comfort-driven apparel

• 5+ years of leadership experience managing and developing design teams

• Strong understanding of fleece fabrics, garment construction, fit, washes, trims, and manufacturing processes

• Proven ability to build co