Apparel Designer– Activewear/Casual wear/Loungewear

Hoodies / Activewear / Athleisure / Casualwear / Loungewear

Company: AOGU Apparel

Location: United States (Remote initially; hybrid/on-site in Southern California planned)

Employment Type: Full-time

Salary Range: USD $72,000 – $115,000 annually (based on experience)

Who We Are

AOGU Apparel is a global apparel manufacturing partner focused on comfort-driven casualwear, activewear, and athleisure essentials for U.S. and international brands.

We specialize in OEM & ODM development, supporting brands from early concept and design refinement through sampling and large-scale production. Our work is grounded in fit, comfort, fabric performance, and scalable execution—where design decisions must translate seamlessly into real, wearable products.

As our U.S. business expands, we are building a US-based design function to bring stronger local market insight, faster iteration, and closer collaboration with our brand partners.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Senior Adult Apparel Designer with a strong point of view on modern comfortwear and performance-driven basics.

This role is for a designer who understands that great everyday apparel is defined by subtle details, fabric choices, fit, and proportion—and who is excited to work closely with development and manufacturing teams to ensure designs perform just as well in production as they do on paper.

You will own the adult apparel design process from concept to production-ready execution, with a focus on high-volume, core categories.

What You’ll DoDesign Vision & Product Creation

• Design adult apparel across core categories including:
• Hoodies, sweatshirts, and sweat sets
• T-shirts, tanks, shorts, and everyday knits
• Activewear and athleisure sets
• Yoga sets and performance-driven comfort styles
• Translate market trends, lifestyle insights, and brand direction into designs that feel modern, wearable, and commercially strong
• Focus on fit, fabric hand feel, comfort, and movement, especially for everyday and performance use
• Maintain brand-specific aesthetics while adapting designs for manufacturability and scale

Fabric, Fit & Function

• Select and develop fabrics and materials suited for comfort, durability, and performance
• Design with a strong understanding of:
• Knit constructions
• Stretch and recovery
• Breathability and moisture management
• Participate in fittings, sample reviews, and wear-testing to refine fit and function
• Collaborate with technical teams to optimize construction and finishing details

Design Execution & Technical Development

• Own the design process from initial concept through production handoff
• Create clear, detailed tech packs, including:
• Measurements and grading direction
• Construction methods
• Trims and BOMs
• Develop seasonal color palettes, graphics, and print directions
• Review and comment on samples with precise, actionable feedback

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with:
• U.S.-based brand clients
• Product development and sourcing teams
• Overseas factories and technical partners
• Clearly communicate design intent to ensure alignment across all stages
• Track development calendars and meet fast-paced timelines

Commercial & Production Awareness

• Design within target cost structures while maintaining quality and comfort standards
• Balance trend-forward ideas with real-world production constraints
• Support client presentations with strong design storytelling and rationale

What You BringDesign & Market Expertise

• 6–10+ years of experience in adult apparel design
• Strong understanding of U.S. casualwear, activewear, and athleisure markets
• Proven ability to design products that are commercial, wearable, and scalable

Technical Skills

• Deep knowledge of:
• Knit fabrics and garment construction
• Fit standards and grading
• Performance materials for activewear
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
• Experience with 3D design tools (e.g. CLO3D) is a plus

Professional Strengths

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Comfortable managing multiple projects across different brands
• Clear communicator, especially with international teams
• Solutions-oriented and adaptable in a fast-paced environment

You Are

• Passionate about designing everyday apparel that people actually live in
• Detail-driven, with a strong appreciation for fit, fabric, and comfort
• Comfortable working close to manufacturing and technical execution
• Confident balancing creativity with timelines, costing, and scale
• Excited to help shape a growing U.S. design function

Why Join AOGU Apparel

• Design products that go from concept to large-scale production
• Work closely with experienced global manufacturing teams
• High level of ownership and creative influence
• Exposure to multiple brands and product categories
• Opportunity to grow into a lead role as our U.S. operation expands
• Flexible remote setup during the initial expansion phase

Work Environment

• Remote for the first 3–6 months
• Hybrid/on-site setup planned as the team grows
• Southern California (Los Angeles area) is a potential future office location

Equal Opportunity

AOGU Apparel is an equal opportunity employer and values diverse backgrounds and perspectives.