Apparel Designer Jobs in New York
Apparel Designer jobs in New York sit at the center of one of the world's most active fashion markets, with demand running from entry-level technical design assistants through senior creative directors across ready-to-wear, luxury, and activewear. Most openings concentrate in New York City's Garment District and Midtown Manhattan, with additional roles in Long Island City and Brooklyn's growing fashion-adjacent studios. Employers like Ralph Lauren, PVH Corp, and Tapestry maintain large New York design teams and hire consistently across pattern making, textile development, and trend-driven product design. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Description
The ideal Salesperson is passionate about fashion and styling and has the ability to cultivate and grow a customer following, both digitally and in-store.
A day in the life…
- Set and achieve sales goals, for both in-store and digital selling with effective use of selling tools (inclusive of text and social media)
- Build lasting relationships with customers
- Give the best service to our customers on their terms
- Provide honest and confident feedback to customers about style and fit
- Seek fashion and product knowledge to build your expertise
- Work with the team to keep the department customer-ready, which means filling orders, stocking, re-merchandising, price markdowns, and light cleaning
- Grow relationships by opening new Nordstrom Rewards program accounts
- The hours and schedule for this position will vary by week depending on business needs
- This role may require you to be flexible to occasionally performing work/duties in a department other than the one you were hired into
You own this if you have…
- Excellent communication and people skills
- A self-motivated, goal-oriented focus
- Strong interest in using networking and technology to achieve sales goals
- The ability to excel in a team environment
- The ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
- Organization and follow through
- The ability to work a flexible schedule based on business needs
-
Physical Requirements:
- Continuous movement for 6-8 hours per shift, which includes frequent bending, twisting, squatting, flexing and reaching in order to handle merchandise and assist customers.
- Frequent use of hands for grasping, fine manipulation, pushing and pulling
- Handle bulky and sometimes awkwardly shaped items, which includes reaching for and lifting these items above the head.
- Regularly lift items weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds
Pay Range Details
The pay range(s) below has been provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different for other locations.
Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
At Nordstrom, the commission most selling employees receive varies based on the merchandise they sell. Apparel, shoes, and accessories sales typically range from 3% to 14.5%. The commission Beauty and Men’s Fragrance sales roles typically receive is 3%.
We’ve got you covered…
Our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:
- Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
- Life Insurance and Disability
- Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources
A few more important points...
The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.
For Los Angeles or San Francisco applicants: Nordstrom is required to inform you that we conduct background checks after conditional offer and consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with legal requirements per Los Angeles, Cal. Muni. Code 189.04 and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For additional state and location specific notices, please refer to the Legal Notices document within the FAQ section of the Nordstrom Careers site.
Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation should contact the nearest Nordstrom location, which can be identified at www.nordstrom.com.
Please be mindful that there may be legal notices and requirements related to this job posting that are specific to your state. Review the Career Site FAQ’s for relevant information and guidelines.
Current Nordstrom employees: To apply, log into Workday, click the Careers button and then click Find Jobs.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
© 2026 Nordstrom, Inc
Job Description
The ideal Salesperson is passionate about fashion and styling and has the ability to cultivate and grow a customer following, both digitally and in-store.
A day in the life…
- Set and achieve sales goals, for both in-store and digital selling with effective use of selling tools (inclusive of text and social media)
- Build lasting relationships with customers
- Give the best service to our customers on their terms
- Provide honest and confident feedback to customers about style and fit
- Seek fashion and product knowledge to build your expertise
- Work with the team to keep the department customer-ready, which means filling orders, stocking, re-merchandising, price markdowns, and light cleaning
- Grow relationships by opening new Nordstrom Rewards program accounts
- The hours and schedule for this position will vary by week depending on business needs
- This role may require you to be flexible to occasionally performing work/duties in a department other than the one you were hired into
You own this if you have…
- Excellent communication and people skills
- A self-motivated, goal-oriented focus
- Strong interest in using networking and technology to achieve sales goals
- The ability to excel in a team environment
- The ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
- Organization and follow through
- The ability to work a flexible schedule based on business needs
-
Physical Requirements:
- Continuous movement for 6-8 hours per shift, which includes frequent bending, twisting, squatting, flexing and reaching in order to handle merchandise and assist customers.
- Frequent use of hands for grasping, fine manipulation, pushing and pulling
- Handle bulky and sometimes awkwardly shaped items, which includes reaching for and lifting these items above the head.
- Regularly lift items weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds
Pay Range Details
The pay range(s) below has been provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different for other locations.
Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
At Nordstrom, the commission most selling employees receive varies based on the merchandise they sell. Apparel, shoes, and accessories sales typically range from 3% to 14.5%. The commission Beauty and Men’s Fragrance sales roles typically receive is 3%.
We’ve got you covered…
Our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:
- Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
- Life Insurance and Disability
- Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources
A few more important points...
The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.
For Los Angeles or San Francisco applicants: Nordstrom is required to inform you that we conduct background checks after conditional offer and consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with legal requirements per Los Angeles, Cal. Muni. Code 189.04 and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For additional state and location specific notices, please refer to the Legal Notices document within the FAQ section of the Nordstrom Careers site.
Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation should contact the nearest Nordstrom location, which can be identified at www.nordstrom.com.
Please be mindful that there may be legal notices and requirements related to this job posting that are specific to your state. Review the Career Site FAQ’s for relevant information and guidelines.
Current Nordstrom employees: To apply, log into Workday, click the Careers button and then click Find Jobs.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
© 2026 Nordstrom, Inc
See All 9 Apparel Designer Jobs in New York
Find roles in New York that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Apparel Designer JobsApparel Designer Jobs by City in New York
Where New York roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Apparel Designer Job Market in New York
A snapshot from current New York openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What New York Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in apparel designer jobs across New York.
- Bachelor's degree in fashion design, apparel design, or a closely related field
- Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and CAD-based technical flat sketching tools
- Experience developing technical packages and working with overseas production teams
- Knowledge of garment construction, fit standards, and fabric selection processes
- Strong portfolio demonstrating original apparel concept and finished product development
- Ability to collaborate with merchandising, sourcing, and retail teams in fast-paced environments
Apparel Designer Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an apparel designer in New York?
Apparel design in New York does not require a state-issued license, so the path centers on education and portfolio. Most employers expect a bachelor's degree in fashion design or a related field from programs at schools such as the Fashion Institute of Technology or Parsons School of Design, both based in New York City. Graduates build a portfolio of technical flats and finished concepts, then apply to assistant designer or junior designer roles at brands headquartered in the Garment District or surrounding areas.
How much do apparel designers make in New York?
Apparel designers in New York earn a median of about $98,640 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $62,610 for the lowest 10% to over $177,430 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire apparel designers in New York?
Employers hiring apparel designers in New York right now include bettex, Nordstrom, and Delta Galil, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. New York's concentration of global fashion headquarters means large vertically integrated brands, department store private-label teams, and specialty retailers all post design openings consistently throughout the year.
Which New York cities have the most apparel designer jobs?
New York and Brooklyn account for the largest share of apparel designer openings in New York. New York City dominates because the Garment District and Midtown Manhattan house the headquarters and design studios of major fashion groups, while Brooklyn and Long Island City attract smaller independent labels and contemporary brands that have expanded out of Manhattan over the past decade.
Are there remote apparel designer jobs in New York?
Yes, but they're relatively limited. About 67% of apparel designer openings tied to New York are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of the work. Tasks like trend research, graphic print development, and digital illustration can shift remote, while fittings, fabric review, and sample approvals typically require in-person presence at a New York studio or showroom.
How can I get hired as an apparel designer in New York with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is an assistant designer or design intern role at a New York brand or manufacturer. Large companies like PVH Corp and Ralph Lauren run structured internship programs that convert to full-time offers, and the Fashion Institute of Technology's co-op program places students directly with Garment District employers. Candidates with a strong portfolio of technical flats, even from academic projects, and familiarity with Adobe Illustrator tend to advance past initial screening faster than those without visual samples of their work.
Where can I find and apply to apparel designer jobs in New York?
You can find and apply to apparel designer jobs in New York on Migrate Mate, which lists current New York openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your experience and specialization, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 9 Apparel Designer Jobs in New York
Find roles in New York that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Apparel Designer Jobs