Creative Director / Lead Designer - Sleepwear Division
Job Description
Sleepwear Brand + Global Licensed Entertainment Portfolio
We are building a modern sleepwear brand rooted in elevated comfort, timeless design, and disciplined execution. In parallel, we work with a world-class portfolio of licensed entertainment, character, and cultural IP, translating globally recognized brands into product that feels intentional, premium, and emotionally resonant.
This is not novelty licensing. The focus is on tasteful interpretation, brand alignment, and long-term relevance—bringing iconic IP into sleepwear and comfort-wear in a way that feels considered, modern, and commercially scalable.
The sleepwear division is early-stage but well-capitalized, with deep experience in sourcing, production, and retail distribution. We are looking for a Creative Director / Lead Designer who can help define the core brand while also leading creative execution across licensed programs.
The Role
This is a hands-on creative leadership role spanning owned brand development and licensed IP execution. You will own the creative vision end-to-end—product, brand, and storytelling—while partnering closely with the founder, licensing partners, and production teams.
You will start as both architect and operator, with the opportunity to build and lead a broader creative organization as the business scales.
Key Responsibilities
Brand & Creative Direction (Owned Brand)
- Define and evolve the brand’s creative vision, aesthetic, and design language
- Establish guidelines across color, typography, materials, imagery, and tone
- Ensure consistency across product, packaging, digital, and physical touchpoints
Licensed IP Creative Leadership
- Translate world-class entertainment and character IP into elevated sleepwear and comfort-wear
- Interpret brand DNA thoughtfully—balancing authenticity, restraint, and commercial appeal
- Partner with licensors to ensure creative alignment and approval readiness
- Elevate licensed product beyond logo placement or novelty execution
Product Design & Development
- Design collections across owned and licensed lines (silhouettes, fabrications, trims, color)
- Create production-ready tech packs and manage design handoff to factories
- Collaborate with sourcing to align design intent with cost, MOQ, and scalability
- Lead line planning across seasons and retail moments
Visual Storytelling & Assets
- Oversee creative for lookbooks, packaging, e-commerce, and on-model photography
- Direct and collaborate with external creative partners
- Shape campaign concepts that work for both owned brand and licensed programs
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with production, merchandising, and licensing teams
- Support retail presentations, pitch decks, and line reviews when needed
- Ensure creative decisions align with margin targets and delivery timelines
Who You Are
- 3+ years of experience in apparel and/or creative direction
- Experience working with licensed brands, entertainment IP, or character-driven product is a plus but not required
- Background in sleepwear, intimates, loungewear, or soft goods preferred
- Strong design taste with restraint—elevated, modern, not trend-chasing
- Ability to interpret IP without diluting either the license or the brand
- Deep understanding of fabric, fit, and garment construction
- Comfortable working with overseas factories and production partners
- Entrepreneurial mindset—you thrive in early-stage environments
- Highly organized, decisive, and able to operate with autonomy
What This Role Offers
- Opportunity to build a core brand from the ground up
- Creative ownership over a best-in-class licensed portfolio
- Long-term leadership trajectory as the business scales
- Real influence—not a “yes-person” execution role
Compensation
- Competitive salary based on experience
- Meaningful upside and long-term growth potential
- Leadership opportunity as the brand and portfolio expand
Location
- 4 Days in Midtown Manhattan Office, 1 Day WFH