Associate Director/ Director of Design

Who We Are:

Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We're #2.

Since 2009, we've been on a mission to bring sustainable fashion to everyone. Named one of Fast Company’s Brands That Matter and winning a Best Carbon Footprint award, we have big goals like being Climate Positive by 2025, Circular by 2030, and pushing the whole industry forward along the way. Our work has gotten love in Drapers and Sourcing Journal, and TIME wrote about how great our CEO, Hali Borenstein, is. Basically, we're saving the Earth and looking damn good doing it.

We're a global brand with 50+ stores (and counting) around the world, and our own sustainable factory in LA. We innovate across categories like accessories, swimwear, and sleepwear, and we reach millions of people with campaigns like this, this and this.

None of this work is possible without the incredible people behind it. We're a mission-based company that invests in an inclusive culture, so we can innovate together and ensure everyone has the space to grow, thrive, and belong.

And starting right now, we want to do all that with you.

Work Location/ Schedule:

Based in Los Angeles or NYC, 3 days a week in the office.

The Role:

We’re looking for an Associate Director or Director of Design to join our team and lead some of Reformation’s largest and most iconic categories: tops, bottoms, jumpsuits, and outerwear. This role will serve as the connective tissue between strategy and execution, mentoring a high-performing team while driving design excellence and product innovation. You'll report to and collaborate closely with our VP of Design to shape the brand vision and keep Reformation ahead of trends, customer needs, and the competition.

What You’ll Do:

• Own the performance and execution of the roadmap for key woven categories (tops, bottoms, jumpsuits, and outerwear)
• Guide trend forecasting and competitive market research, filtering what’s relevant for the Ref customer and our brand DNA
• Lead design concepting, line planning, sketching, fittings, and product development with a sharp focus on quality, commercial viability, and aesthetic elevation
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level designers across categories; serve as a strong people leader and coach
• Support the VP of Design to unlock more strategic and creative capacity
• Build strong partnerships with Merchandising, Technical Design, Product Development, and Production to bring collections to life—on time and on margin
• Infuse sustainability and circularity principles into the design process at every turn
• Set high standards for taste, quality, and innovation in every category under your scope
• Drive results by analyzing sell-through and performance metrics to iterate, evolve, and scale what works
• Proactively identify white space and future category opportunities

What You Bring:

• 8+ years of experience in apparel design, with at least 2–3 years minimum managing or mentoring a team
• Strong track record of designing for high-growth, elevated contemporary or premium brands
• Deep category expertise in wovens, especially tops, bottoms, outerwear, and jumpsuits
• Highly skilled at sketching, fitting, fabric sourcing, and garment construction
• Strategic executor with strong commercial instincts and customer obsession
• Confident, clear communicator with the ability to influence across levels and functions
• Experience working with both domestic and overseas vendors; able to balance creative vision with production reality
• Fierce attention to detail and a passion for elevating product
• A collaborative, kind, roll-up-your-sleeves leader who thrives in fast-paced environments
• Deep alignment with Reformation’s mission, values, and design philosophy

You Are:

• Bold but thoughtful. Strategic but decisive. Curious but focused.
• A mentor and a doer—you coach others, but can also dig into the work and lead by example
• Excited to help scale and evolve a beloved, values-led brand
• Inspired by fashion’s future and serious about shaping it for the better

Compensation:

At Reformation, we believe in transparency and equity when it comes to compensation. For this role, the anticipated base salary range is $160,000 – $185,000 + bonus 15% eligibility, depending on a variety of factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and internal compensation equity.

This role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus based on a range of factors, including company performance, department goals, and individual contributions. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and are determined at the company’s discretion.

Please note that compensation decisions are made thoughtfully and may vary from the listed range to reflect individual circumstances and evolving business needs. Our total rewards package also includes benefits, perks, and opportunities for growth that contribute to overall compensation.

Benefits & Perks:

• Eligible employees get employer-sponsored private medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as commuter benefits to help support your travel to and from work.
• We offer competitive paid time off policies including vacation, sick leave, and company holidays for eligible employees.
• We offer retirement planning support for eligible employees, including the option to invest in Environmental Social Governance-aligned (fancy way to say sustainable) funds.
• We’re a mission-based company with offices in LA, NYC and London, as well as a global retail team, which means you’ll get to collaborate with people all around the world.
• You’ll get access to fertility care support through Carrot, and up to a $5,000 USD reimbursement for related fertility expenses after 1 year of employment.
• We care about the causes our employees care about so we donate to community efforts on a yearly basis.
• We offer a clothing discount, culture events (like our annual Ref Values week and Volunteer Time Off), you know, all the meaningful and fun stuff!

Reformation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the world we want to live in. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status—in accordance with applicable international, federal, state, and local laws.

If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, please let us know. We’re here to ensure you have what you need to show up as your best self.

Still don’t know if you should apply? We get it—studies show that many women and individuals from historically underrepresented communities hold back from applying unless they meet every single requirement. At Reformation, we’re all about growth, not gatekeeping. If you’re passionate about the role and excited about making fashion more sustainable, we’d love to hear from you. If this role doesn’t totally excite you, consider applying to our general application.

CRPA Notice found here

Want some more?! - Sustainability, Forbes, Fast Company