Job Title: Shoe Designer
Department: Design
Reporting to: Design Director
Contract type: Freelance
Location: Remote, with in-person attendance required at our London office for sketch selection sessions and range sign-off
About the Fold:
The Fold London is an award-winning British luxury womenswear brand built on a singular, powerful idea: that the women who run boardrooms, lead teams and shape the world deserve clothes as ambitious as they are. Founded with a clear mission to dress professional women with intention, The Fold has built a loyal global community of customers who value craft, quality, and considered design over fast fashion.
With a multi-channel presence - led by ecommerce and supported by our two London stores in Chelsea and the City – The Fold has built a loyal and growing customer base across the UK, US and internationally.
As we enter the next stage of growth, we are investing heavily in our international expansion, commercial capability, systems, customer insight and operational infrastructure. This role is a key part of that journey.
You can explore our world at www.thefoldlondon.com and find us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook as @thefoldlondon.
Role Overview:
We are looking for a talented freelance Shoe Designer to join us on an ongoing project basis.
You'll bring creative vision and technical expertise to develop original footwear designs — from initial concept sketches through to production-ready specs. This is a great opportunity for a designer with a premium design background who thrives in a flexible, collaborative environment and wants to contribute to a growing brand.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design original footwear concepts based on brand direction, market trends, and target customer needs
- Create detailed sketches, technical drawings, and tech packs for development and production
- Source materials, trims, and colours appropriate for the collection and price point
- Collaborate with pattern makers, sample rooms, and manufacturers — particularly Italian and Portuguese factories — to bring designs to life
- Lead and attend fittings, providing clear feedback for revisions and construction adjustments
- Review and refine prototypes/samples through to final approval
- Stay current on footwear trends, materials innovation, and competitor offerings
- Present design concepts, mood boards, and colour stories to internal team
Qualifications
- Proven experience designing footwear (portfolio required), ideally within a premium brand environment
- Experience working with Italian factories and sample rooms strongly preferred
- Strong modern handwriting/sketching ability — able to communicate ideas quickly and clearly on paper
- Excellent eye for colour, shape, and proportion
- Hands-on experience with fittings and construction feedback
- Skilled in sourcing materials, trims, and colours from suppliers
- Strong proficiency in design software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop; CAD experience a plus)
- Solid understanding of footwear construction, materials, and manufacturing processes
- Ability to create clear, accurate technical specs and tech packs
- Strong communication skills and ability to work independently on deadlines
About You
Essential Experience & Skills
- Proven experience designing footwear (portfolio required), ideally within a premium brand environment
- Experience working with Italian factories and sample rooms strongly preferred
- Strong modern handwriting/sketching ability — able to communicate ideas quickly and clearly on paper
- Excellent eye for colour, shape, and proportion
- Hands-on experience with fittings and construction feedback
- Skilled in sourcing materials, trims, and colours from suppliers
- Strong proficiency in design software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop; CAD experience a plus)
- Solid understanding of footwear construction, materials, and manufacturing processes
- Ability to create clear, accurate technical specs and tech packs
- Strong communication skills and ability to work independently on deadlines
Why The Fold
- A brand with a clear point of view and a fiercely loyal customer base — you will be selling something you can believe in
- Opportunity to play a highly visible role in a growing premium fashion brand
- Direct exposure to the leadership team and key strategic initiatives
- Broad and genuinely commercial remit with real influence on business performance
- Opportunity to help shape the next stage of international and operational growth
- Entrepreneurial environment with high levels of ownership and autonomy
- Collaborative culture with ambitious plans for the future
- Recent investment from a new owner. The brand is at a new chapter of growth across both existing and new channels, and operates internationally.
Diversity and Inclusion
We promote a diverse and inclusive workplace which harnesses the benefits of the diversity of our team and strives to represent the communities in which we live and work. Our vision is to establish an environment that attracts individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and talents, empowering them to contribute their best and authentic selves. We welcome and encourage applications from those who share our commitment to fostering this inclusive and authentic work culture.