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Lead Fashion Designer (Freelance / Project based)

Salary freelance, negotiable: Rates based on experience. As an early-stage social enterprise, we aim to align values and vision with fair and transparent compensation.
Hours Freelance/project based with option for long term
Location Hybrid – London or Cairo preferred, but open to international collaboration
Closing Date 07 July 2025
Position Type Freelance
Advert expires on 07 July 2025

Main Duties

Manna is a purpose-driven fashion label rooted in cultural richness, emotive storytelling, and artisanal craftsmanship. We are seeking a visionary Lead Fashion Designer to help create a small capsule of pieces to test the market — pieces that can become part of our debut collection. We’re looking for someone who thinks deeply, designs poetically, and values the richness of heritage and slow beauty.

Role Overview:

You’ll lead the design of a thoughtful, high-end womenswear collection that draws inspiration from art, history, and the natural world. Working closely with our founder and textile designer, you’ll translate a layered and research-driven creative direction into wearable poetry.

What We’re Looking For:

  • Deep appreciation for intellectual design with emotive storytelling
  • Strong portfolio in womenswear, ideally within luxury or slow fashion
  • Experience designing full looks and collections, from silhouettes to trims
  • Understanding of natural fabrics, artisanal techniques, and production considerations
  • Ability to produce or oversee tech packs, fit specifications, and collection cohesion
  • Familiarity with editorial storytelling and thoughtful brand building
  • Interest in (or openness to) traveling to Egypt to connect with artisans

Bonus if you:

  • Are curious about historical fashion, interiors, or botany
  • Have experience collaborating with textile/print designers
  • Value craft, meaning, and design as a form of cultural dialogue

**We are also looking for a freelance textile designer / print illustrator to collaborate on this project. If you might be a good fit, please feel free to see our other advert.**

Skills and Experience Required

Main Duties:

  • Design a small capsule of womenswear pieces, guided by a poetic, research-led vision, to test the market and shape Manna’s debut collection 
  • Translate moodboards and conceptual themes into thoughtful silhouettes 
  • Create tech packs, oversee fit, and collaborate with sample makers 
  • Work closely with our founder and textile designer to ensure artistic and cultural integrity 
  • Optional: travel to Egypt to meet artisans and support the vision’s implementation 

Skills & Experience Required:

  • Strong portfolio in womenswear or luxury design 
  • Familiarity with heritage techniques, natural materials, and slow fashion 
  • Passion for art, botany, history, interiors, or storytelling through design 
  • Skilled in creative direction, silhouette development, and production planning 
  • Editorial or brand-building sensitivity is a plus