Working as a fashion designer
The job of a fashion designer does not have to be an unattainable feat, something reserved for foreign, eccentric personalities. “I work as a fashion designer and my collections are worn by Poles, Brits and Italians” – this is what designers from Gdańsk, Kraków or Warsaw say. These are our designers — LPP specialists — contributors to the success of these well-known and strong brands: Reserved, Cropp, House, Mohito and Sinsay, sold in almost 40 countries worldwide.
Working at LPP can be a gateway to the world of great fashion for you too. Do you aspire to become professionally involved in the fashion industry? You have some experience and are looking for an organisation in which you can spread your wings? We offer you engaging work free of monotony and boredom, in creative teams, far from the reality of a stiff corporation.
Our organisation continues to grow. Our expanded structure presents a variety of opportunities for growth. What makes us unique is that we do not have a corporate atmosphere. As a designer, you work in small, expert teams of fashion buyers, graphic designers and fashion technologists.
We are diverse, and this diversity is what we cherish. Friendly and supportive relationships come first for us — we attract through our projects, while inspiring with our people. We foster conditions for finding innovative solutions and engaging in a creative exchange of knowledge.
Find a topic for you:
- What is the job of a fashion designer?
- How can I become a fashion designer?
- What are our requirements for fashion designer job applicants?
- Your development and career path at LPP
- Terms of cooperation
- Benefits
- What does our recruitment process look like?
- Job offers for designer of clothing, accessories and home products
- “LPP od podszewki” podcast
What is the job of a fashion designer?
Every day you pass dozens of people on the street. Imagine that some of them wear clothes that you have designed. What kind of feeling would that create? Zuza Feliga, our leading designer at Reserved, admits that this gives her a great sense of satisfaction. “This is what you become a designer for,” she says in an episode of “LPP od podszewki”.
Our designers keep abreast of current trends at all times. They find it easy — after all, fashion is their passion. They are aware of developments around the world and in the culture. They translate the things that occupy us every day into their designs. In this, they draw inspiration from their foreign trips. Shopping is one of the most exciting aspects of the job.
This is teamwork, and it very often pulls us away from our desks and computers. We go to many different corners of the world to see how things are going, and this travelling is definitely one of the more exciting things about the job. We went as a team to Tokyo, Los Angeles and Shanghai, skipping all those European capitals.
No day at work is ever the same for me, as we face completely new challenges every day here. Sometimes it’s building new trends, sometimes it’s building a collection and sometimes it’s testing it.
A major part of our work is creating collections and starting from different inspirations. We travel a lot, so this process, the creative process itself, is actually about 70% of our work.
It’s a complex job because it’s not just about designing, that is, coming up with something in your head and transferring it to a journal drawing, CAD, and creating the documentation in PDM. We also explore trends, we examine what sells, what colours and styles are popular in a given season. We talk to traders, discuss our design with technologists and wait for the first samples to be able to review them afterwards.
Designers know the value of teamwork. They work closely with fashion traders, graphic designers and clothing technologists. It is with these specialists, to name but a few, that they form small, expert teams, selected within a single range of products. They work as designers of children’s clothing or focus on suits and shirts only. They can focus on a particular product, but they know no monotony.
How can I become a fashion designer?
In one episode of “LPP od podszewki”, Zuza Feliga — a leading designer at Reserved — admits that she has always had a passion for designing and drawing. Gosia Maciejewska — now our Junior Head Designer — has also always enjoyed creating something from scratch.
Many of our designers were driven to work at LPP by their passion. They are creative, artistic souls. But not everyone has graduated from a school or college related to clothing design. They have been led to where they are now by different paths. Some of them, like Łukasz Smoła — Head Designer at Reserved — knew from the start that they would be involved in the fashion industry. Others chose to retrain. Iga Pniewska — a Fashion Designer at Reserved — embarked upon her adventure with the fashion world as a graduate in business psychology. For some, working as an assistant fashion designer was also a good prelude to a solo career.
I wen to a vocational school, then to a clothing high school. I planned the process. I had a goal in mind and just dreamt of acquiring all those secrets of structure and material science.
I got a degree in business management, and then I decided to go to a fashion design school in Kraków. Some stages in my life ended and new ones opened up, so I thought it was important to pursue my passions.
What are our requirements for fashion designer job applicants?
We are looking forward to working with experienced designers with an excellent understanding of the fashion industry. We will value your skills and offer you space to develop in international projects.
You have no commercial experience yet? No problem. Show us your portfolio and maybe you will get a junior position. We will make you familiar with the daily work of a designer of clothes or accessories for well-known brands. Remember that you need to be able to align your ideas with the style of our brands and know the latest trends inside out. We welcome a degree in the field as well, but if you have gained practical skills elsewhere, we would be happy to meet you as well.
- Proficiency in use of graphic software,
- Conversational level of English,
- Knowledge of basic cutting and sewing,
- Readiness to start an office job as a fashion designer in Gdańsk, Kraków or Warsaw (depending on the offer).
We are looking for people with potential. We are well aware that you cannot put every talent into a rigid CV framework. That is why we invite you to apply even if you do not meet all the above requirements. See you at LPP!
head designer at Reserved
The important thing is for the designer to introduce themself in the portfolio: to show their vision and sense of aesthetics. It does not matter whether you were the best student or not. What we do care about is the kind of person you are, your perspective on the world.
Want to create a really good portfolio?
In our guide, you can find more advice from experienced designers and HR experts.
to Head Designer
Your development and career path at LPP
Our designers help to create a range that is sold in almost 40 countries around the world. International projects for well-known brands and expert, interdisciplinary teams foster daily development. Being a fashion designer at LPP gives you plenty of freedom and opportunities to have a real influence on the look of our products.
Our employees can use an e-learning platform with material on a variety of subjects. We support our employees in English language learning and their desire to develop through postgraduate studies. Working at LPP will allow you to develop not only your creativity and business acumen, but also valuable communication skills, teamwork skills and managerial competences.
- Head Designer at Reserved
I took part in a workshop that LPP organised at my university. I was offered a summer internship and after this my career snowballed. After my internship, I became an assistant in the jumper department. After some three months, I took part in the creation of a new brand. A career in our company is like stair stepping. I moved up the ladder gradually from assistant to senior designer. After 4 years I learnt about an opportunity to get the job of head designer. I was successful — I made it through our internal recruitment process. I became a head designer. After 2 years, I took part in an internal recruitment again and succeeded once more. I am where I am now — head designer of the Reserved line.
Terms of cooperation
New employees are offered an employment contract of 12 months without a trial period. After that, we wish to conclude a contract for an indefinite term. We pay close attention to the needs of our professionals and constantly seek to create an attractive workplace where people want to stay for longer. We are the largest Polish fashion company with an international reach, operating for more than 30 years now. The scale of our business and the form of cooperation guarantee stable employment.
Designers work in our offices in Gdańsk, Kraków and Warsaw. We do our best to create friendly spaces where they can feel at ease and are free to engage in creative tasks. We have no dress code. We value an informal atmosphere at work and full freedom of expression.
You can come to the office with your four-legged friend and exercise before or after work in one of our sports areas. We regularly organise yoga classes and other activities. Our employees have access to a free car park, including bicycle parking. They can have tasty meals in the canteen and buy food from the vending machines. We organise a fruit day once a week. We have also plenty of something essential for work: good coffee!
- Junior Head Designer
From sole proprietorship to LPP
“Working at LPP is about the awesome people who keep me here”
A big change for me was to switch to a full-time job. A sole trader sets their own working hours. I found it pretty dramatic, but I gradually got used to it. If I need to go out, I can do so after consulting my supervisor.
Working at LPP is also about meeting great people. A group of us meet after work and celebrate each other’s birthdays. We also have our fixed times when we have coffee or meals together. These are the little things that we strive to cherish, because it’s fun to turn our minds to something else – to laugh together and sometimes complain.
There are some people in our department that I have always worked with. Cool people at work do make a change, and I like people, which is why I’ve decided to sacrifice that freedom for a full-time job. At the moment, I like to do my work for LPP in the office, sticking to these hourly rituals. If we are sometimes sent back to a home office, everyone always makes fun of the fact that I’m the first person who’s going to be very unhappy about it this.
You would like to join us, but you do not live in the Tricity, Kraków or Warsaw? If you meet the criteria, you will receive a financial relocation bonus to make it easier for you to handle the move.
Bear in mind also that the job of a fashion designer at LPP involves frequent business travel.
Do you know now how you can benefit from joining us?
Workplace prestige
LPP is the largest Polish fashion company, recognised on the global market. Designing for our brands is a valuable addition to a professional CV.
Development and promotion opportunities
International structures in the top 5 brands offer real growth opportunities.
Influence on the fashion world
Our designers have a real opportunity to create and develop the world of fashion.
Friendly organisational culture
One of our distinguishing features is that we work in an informal atmosphere, enjoy full freedom of self-expression and foster close-knit teams. You will be surprised at how non-corporate we are.
Accountability, respect for others and environmental awareness
We see accountability, sustainability, respect for others and environmental awareness as meaningful ideas. Check out how we put them into practice.
Charitable initiatives
Our employees support the LPP Foundation in many ways and get involved in campaigns that change the world for the better.
Other benefits:
Product discounts
Our employees receive a 25% discount on purchases in LPP brand shops, which they can share with their loved ones.
Medical care, sports and insurance
Medical care, a sports pass and life insurance on preferential terms are all standard benefits within our company.
heLPP programme
We put a premium on mental health, work-life balance and wellbeing. Our heLPP is an employee support programme offering free and anonymous consulting in 3 areas: psychology, finance, and law.
Additional benefits
Every young parent receives a layette for their child, and Santa Claus leaves presents on employees’ desks over the Christmas period. We also regularly arrange various in-house incentives, such as competitions with prizes and discounts on cultural events.
LPP Team
We bring together enthusiasts of various disciplines and sponsor participation in over 100 sporting events every year!
Supporting education
After working for three months, our employees can apply for funding for postgraduate studies and an English language course.
E-learning platform
Our staff have access to an e-learning platform with a wide variety of free courses and training sessions.
Stable employment
We offer an employment contract with no trial period.
Relocation support
If working with us means a move for you and you meet the specified criteria, you can receive a financial relocation bonus.
Meals for everyone
You do not need to prepare meals for work. You can order food from the company’s restaurant or vending machine.
Free parking
Our employees have no problems parking their cars and bicycles.
Travelling
Some employees (including designers) go on business trips to other countries, where they have the opportunity to experience different cultures.
A fashion designer looking for a job
What does our recruitment process look like?
We respect your time. Our recruitment process is clear, and we do our best to keep it short. We give you feedback even if we decide not to hire you.
Use our guides. Read advice from experienced designers and HR professionals. LPP experts give you tips on how to prepare a remarkable CV and build an attractive portfolio.
If we find your application interesting, a recruiter will call you.
The next step involves a task for you.
The final stage is an interview with the project manager, head designer and recruiter.
- Talent Acquisition Specialist
Hello!
I came to LPP after many years of working in the clothing retail industry. I believe that it is important to always pursue the career path of your dreams. While I love creativity and out-of-the-box thinking about fashion, minimalism — black and white — is what rules in my wardrobe. I personally love pandas and French bulldogs, and for me they are the most adorable animals in the world!
As a talent acquisition specialist, I can guide you through the world of recruitment in our company. If you have any questions about the recruitment process or working as a designer for clothing, accessories or home products, I would be glad to answer them!
Do not hesitate to contact me at: alicja.roza.durzynska@lpp.com
You can also find me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alicjadurzynska/.
Let’s get to know each other and see you in the corridors of LPP!
Ready to become one of our designers?
Want to discover the stories behind our fashion designers?
Discover “LPP od podszewki” – the only podcast of its kind about working in the fashion industry.