Head Of Fashion And Design

Introduction Role Purpose : Define and lead the creative and strategic direction of OIH's owned and distributed fashion, apparel, and accessory brands. Act as creative steward, ensuring each brand retains its distinct identity while delivering commercially successful, cohesive collections that reinforce the group's luxury outdoor lifestyle positioning. Duties & Responsibilities Responsibilities : Creative Direction : Develop seasonal concepts, mood boards, brand narratives, and storytelling elements that translate global trends into an authentic African context. Design Leadership : Oversee the full design lifecycle — from initial concept and sketching to prototyping, sampling, and final production. Range Architecture : Build balanced, commercially viable collections by category, price point, margin targets, and production feasibility. Brand Guardianship : Evolve and protect each label's aesthetic, visual DNA, and "Romantic Africa" heritage while balancing tradition with contemporary innovation. Market Intelligence & Consumer Insight : Integrate global and local trend insights with sales data, consumer behaviour analysis, retail feedback loops, and customer surveys. Collaborate closely with retail teams for on-the-ground insight gathering and use data-driven tools to guide design decisions and range planning. Localization Strategy : Translate international trends into localized assortments for African markets; balance heritage authenticity with innovative adaptations for climate, culture, and consumer preferences across all brands (e.g., Ruark, Safari Collection, Safari Country). Key Deliverables (First 12 Months) : Seasonal design briefs for our complete range plans with defined margin, volume, and production viability. Quarterly trend and innovation reports aligned with global direction. Final sign-off on all designs, trims, packaging, and labelling. Updated brand identity guidelines for each fashion label. 1–2 high-impact collaborations or capsule launches (e.g., Barbour x Safari). Design capability uplift across internal and franchise teams. Brand & Market Alignment : Strategic Partnerships Barbour (Distribution Partner) Co-develop localized South African assortments in collaboration with Barbour UK. Adapt global collections for local climate, culture, and consumer preferences. Ensure brand visuals and storytelling, and in-store experiences align with OIH's luxury outdoor positioning. Ruark Design Team : Define seasonal direction, approve final outputs, and mentor on fabric innovation, fit standardisation, and craftsmanship. Preserve the "Romantic Africa" DNA while ensuring international relevance and market competitiveness. Required Competencies : Deep aesthetic fluency in global luxury trends and African design narratives. Proven ability to blend bold creative vision with sharp commercial strategy. Exceptional communicator and influencer across cross‑functional, executive, and international teams. Strong digital fluency (Adobe Creative Suite, CLO 3D, PLM systems, AI design tools) paired with expertise in sustainable and circular design practices. Knowledge of sustainable materials, ethical sourcing, and ESG‑aligned product development (essential for building a globally responsible brand). Composed, decisive, and inspiring under pressure in fast‑paced, multi‑brand environments. Demonstrated experience in building high‑performance design teams, leading through organizational change, and managing brand repositioning. Desired Experience & Qualification Qualifications & Experience Preferred : Degree in Fashion Design, Creative Direction, or Brand Management or related field. Required : 10+ years in fashion, apparel, or lifestyle product development within premium / heritage brands. Proven track record leading multi‑brand or cross‑category creative portfolios. Deep understanding of manufacturing, sourcing, production timelines, and supply chain dynamics. Background in luxury outdoor, heritage, or lifestyle brands (distinct advantage). Success Metrics (Year 1 KPIs): Deep aesthetic fluency in global luxury trends and African design narratives. Proven ability to blend bold creative vision with sharp commercial strategy. Exceptional communicator and influencer across cross‑functional, executive, and international teams. Strong digital fluency (Adobe Creative Suite, CLO 3D, PLM systems, AI design tools) paired with expertise in sustainable and circular design practices. Knowledge of sustainable materials, ethical sourcing, and ESG‑aligned product development (essential for building a globally responsible brand). Values & Leadership Style : We're seeking a leader who : Views design as storytelling — deeply rooted in heritage, place, purpose, and the untamed spirit of Africa. Masterfully balances visionary creativity with commercial pragmatism and data‑driven decision‑making. Leads through mentorship, clarity, quiet confidence, and inclusive collaboration. Thrives in dynamic, cross‑functional environments and excels at building high‑performance teams. Navigates conflict with empathy and drives successful outcomes during organizational change or brand repositioning. Embodies "rugged elegance" — where form, function, and sustainability coexist beautifully. Interested? #J-18808-Ljbffr