Lead, Apparel Designer, Outerwear, Local Creation GC
Nike · Shanghai
Become a Part of the NIKE, Inc. Team
NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world’s best athletes. It is a place to explore potential, obliterate boundaries and push out the edges of what can be. The company looks for people who can grow, think, dream and create. Its culture thrives by embracing diversity and rewarding imagination. The brand seeks achievers, leaders and visionaries. At NIKE, Inc. it’s about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game.
Nike Local Creation GC is one of Nike’s fastest-moving product engines, enabling designers to connect with geo-specific consumers quickly and effectively. As part of the Local Creation Design organization, this role focuses on creating inspiring products tailored to specific marketplaces and geographic audiences, capturing fast-moving trends and delivering regionally relevant narratives with flexibility and speed. The Local Creation team’s mission is to amplify and incubate new ideas, advance consumer favorites, and serve local consumers with products that offer greater relevance and immediacy. We seek a candidate who embodies our values of authenticity, accountability, collaboration, and courage—someone eager to grow, challenge themselves, and work independently as a self-driven contributor.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We’re looking for a Lead Apparel Designer, Outerwear, Local Creation GC to join our dynamic, fast-paced design team. Based in Shanghai, China, this individual will work closely with cross-functional partners across Design, Product Management, Development, Merchandising, and Marketing. The ideal candidate is a seasoned creative leader with broad apparel industry experience and deep expertise in designing and executing outerwear products for the Nike brand. They will create apparel products across a range of Greater China consumer, sport, and lifestyle opportunities and lead the execution of multiple categories through a hyper-local lens. This designer has a strong eye for detail, a passion for premium craftsmanship, and the ability to create highly covetable products that connect with Greater China consumers through authentic local narratives. They can operate independently, advance the brand vision, foster creativity within the team, navigate ambiguity, manage multiple timelines, and collaborate with multidisciplinary partners to bring ideas from concept through execution.
WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH
This is an individual contributor role reporting to the Senior Manager, Apparel Design, Local Creation GC. You’ll collaborate closely with key functional partners throughout the product design process, including:
GC Apparel and Footwear Design teammates across categories
GC Product Management and Development teams
GC Merchandising and Marketing partners
Global Design counterparts and Nike Creative stakeholders
You’ll also engage with external vendors and suppliers to bring your designs to life, ensuring alignment with Nike’s brand standards and regional consumer expectations.
WHAT YOU BRING
Education:
A BA, BFA, MA, or MFA in Apparel Design or a related field is preferred, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
Experience:
7 years of professional apparel design experience in the apparel or sporting goods industry, with extensive expertise in outerwear materials, functionality, construction, and fit.
Clear understanding of apparel segments and multidimensional consumer profiles; experience in the Greater China market is preferred.
Ability to design and execute lifestyle and performance apparel.
Comprehensive understanding of apparel materials, construction, fit, tech packs, and schematic development.
Strong collection-building skills, with the ability to translate insights into authentic narratives and storytelling through color, silhouette, and key looks. Ability to apply a holistic point of view and create cohesion across products within a collection and across categories.
Ability to lead, curate, and advance the design vision across assigned categories, collaborate cross-functionally, and align design expectations with key partners.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and adhere to timelines.
Excellent visual and verbal presentation skills.
Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts clearly and collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams.
Proven teamwork and leadership skills, with the ability to foster a positive and inclusive environment and achieve shared creative goals.
Sound decision-making abilities and strategic thinking skills.
Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D/AI rendering software, and Miro.
WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON
As the Lead Apparel Designer, Outerwear, Local Creation GC, you will:
Create apparel products that align with global creative direction, seasonal key concepts, gender strategies, franchise journeys, and geo assortments while connecting with Greater China consumers.
Work closely with Product Management and Development to establish and manage seasonal new-creation toolboxes based on consumer insights, design direction, product intent, and margin targets.
Lead pre-development and innovation exploration in outerwear.
Bring seasonal creative direction to life through market-relevant trends and insights across color, material functionality, Greater China-specific fit and proportion, and brand- and trend-relevant coordination of key looks and outfits. Build depth across the range through thoughtful use of color and clearly defined trend levels that create excitement and cohesion.
Communicate design concepts effectively, collaborate in a fast-paced environment, and incorporate Greater China-relevant trends and solutions into seasonal products.
Monitor prototype and sample development and partner with Development to finalize production details, conduct fittings, and ensure execution excellence across multiple categories.
Champion storytelling and clearly communicate the “why” behind the work. Present concepts to internal teams, leadership, and external partners, explaining the rationale behind design decisions.
Manage design deliverables and project timelines, planning and executing product details, reviewing samples, resolving feasibility issues, and ensuring timely project completion.
Demonstrate deep consumer curiosity and strong trend forecasting capabilities, maintaining a strong connection to city culture, emerging trends, and Nike's design ethos.
#MYNEXT: Be Empowered to Grow within Nike and Create the Future
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
NIKE, Inc. is a growth company that looks for team members to grow with it. Nike offers a generous total rewards package, casual work environment, a diverse and inclusive culture, and an electric atmosphere for professional development. No matter the location, or the role, every Nike employee shares one galvanizing mission: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.
NIKE, Inc. is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.