Associate Director

Associate Director – Apparel (Performance & Active Sportswear)

Reports to: Senior Director, Apparel Design & Creative Strategy

About the Job

At Agilitas, we are building the next generation of performance and lifestyle sportswear for India and beyond. With brands such as one8 and Lotto, our mission is to deliver best-in-class technical apparel that meets the demands of athletes and active consumers across diverse climates, sports, and lifestyles.

We are seeking an Associate Director of Apparel to lead the design and development process for both men's and women's performance and active sportswear collections. While this role covers all genders, prior hands-on experience in women's high-performance apparel is a must. This leader will be responsible for driving the technical excellence, fit, and functionality of our apparel, ensuring every product delivers on performance and quality standards.

This position focuses on design execution and product development — working within the seasonal direction provided by the Senior Director and ensuring that designs are translated into innovative, functional, and commercially viable products.

What You'll Do

• Lead the design and development of men's and women's performance & active sportswear collections, ensuring technical excellence and functional performance.
• Apply deep knowledge of women's high-performance apparel to inform fit, construction, and material choices across all product lines.
• Translate seasonal direction into detailed design specifications, from sketches and CADs to tech packs and prototypes.
• Partner closely with Materials, Product Development, and Merchandising teams to meet performance, cost, and delivery targets.
• Oversee fit sessions, wear testing, and performance validation processes.
• Manage a small team of apparel designers, providing guidance, feedback, and development plans, with responsibility for growing the team in future seasons.
• Ensure design files, tech packs, and development assets are delivered on time, meeting all quality requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot production challenges and resolve design or construction issues quickly.
• Stay current on fabric innovations, technical trims, garment construction advancements, and sportswear manufacturing trends.
• Maintain alignment with the Senior Director's creative direction while ensuring execution meets the highest technical and quality standards.

What We're Looking For

• 12–15 years of professional apparel design experience, including minimum 3–5 years in women's high-performance/active sportswear.
• Proven ability to design and develop for both men's and women's categories.
• Strong technical expertise in performance fabrics, construction methods, and fit engineering.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and familiarity with PLM systems; CLO 3D or other 3D design tools is a plus.
• Experience managing and mentoring designers, with a track record of building high-performing teams.
• Strong understanding of sportswear industry standards and manufacturing processes.
• Excellent organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, evolving environment with multiple priorities.

Must Haves

• Experience designing women's high-performance apparel at a leading sportswear, outdoor, or activewear brand.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a solution-oriented approach to product challenges.
• Clear, respectful, and collaborative communication style.
• Passion for delivering functional, durable, and aesthetically strong performance apparel.