Footwear Designer at DNAM Brands (Beverly Hills, CA)

DNAM Brands· Beverly Hills, CA·2d ago

Role details

Work type

Onsite

Employment

Full-Time

Job description

DNAM Brands is a family-owned and operated company that owns and licenses a portfolio of globally recognized fashion and lifestyle brands, including Von Dutch, Ed Hardy, Valentino Orlandi, Allbirds, Badgley Mischka, and more. We're looking for a Footwear Designer to join our growing design team. You'll take styles from concept through to production-ready specs, working closely with product development, merchandising and overseas factories. This role suits someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, thinks in materials and construction, and has a strong instinct for what's next on the shelf and on the street.

Responsibilities

Design both men and women’s footwear across multiple brands.
Involvement throughout the production process, from the initial concept through final sample approval, aligning with brand DNA and merchandising direction.
Create detailed tech packs including material callouts, colorways, construction notes, and measurements
Own the process from first proto through TOP approval, ensuring consistency and alignment with brand standards
Document feedback clearly, and issue detailed, production-ready corrections to factories
Ensure timely sample turnaround by anticipating production risks and communicating daily with factories
Partner cross-functionally with Design and Production to balance aesthetic intent with manufacturability and cost efficiency
Manage multiple projects against the seasonal calendar and keep deliverables on track
Maintain organized, up-to-date technical files to support seamless development-to-bulk transitions

Qualifications

2+ years of footwear design experience in fashion, lifestyle, or athletic categories
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and familiarity with 3D tools
Strong portfolio showing range across casual, fashion, and/or performance footwear
Deep knowledge of footwear construction, lasts, materials, and manufacturing processes
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage several brands or projects at once
Experience working with overseas factories and a clear understanding of costing and production timelines
Excellent hand-sketching and communication skills; comfortable presenting ideas and taking direction

Why work at DNAM Brands

Culture: Family-owned and operated environment emphasizing collaboration, high-touch service, and cross-functional teamwork. Job postings highlight partnership with executive leadership and cross-departmental alignment.
Work Policy: Not explicitly stated, but roles in Beverly Hills and New York suggest a hybrid/in-office expectation. Travel required for sales roles (1 week/month to NYC).
Perks & Engineering Culture: Exposure to multiple globally recognized fashion brands; opportunity to work across the entire fashion supply chain from design to logistics. Emphasis on innovation, quality, and growth.

About DNAM Brands

Company Overview

One-liner: DNAM Brands is a global fashion group specializing in end-to-end manufacturing, brand licensing, e-commerce, and distribution for a portfolio of premium apparel and accessories.
Entity Type: Private (family-owned)
Headquarters: Beverly Hills, California, United States
Founded: 2001
Founders: Not publicly available

Core Business

Primary industry: Retail Apparel and Fashion
Target customers: B2B (wholesale accounts, major department stores, independent retailers), B2C (direct-to-consumer e-commerce), and brand licensing partners
Mission: To combine global reach with boutique-level service, delivering elevated collections with precision and consistency across design, production, and distribution.

Products & Services

DNAM Brands offers a vertically integrated suite of services and manages a portfolio of owned and licensed brands.

Creative & Design: In-house team delivering brand identity, visual direction, and concept-to-collection development for apparel, accessories, and lifestyle products.
Sampling & Production: Global sampling and full production runs across categories, managed from prototype to final delivery.
Licensing: Strategic licensing programs that amplify brand reach while protecting commercial integrity and creative control.
Fulfillment & Logistics: Global logistics infrastructure managing inventory, warehousing, freight, and tracking for both DTC and wholesale models.
Sales & Distribution: Direct connection to a global retail network, including high-visibility department stores and independent retailers, with dedicated account management.
Brand Portfolio: Includes Clergerie Paris, Ed Hardy, Von Dutch, Valentino Orlandi, Kendall + Kylie, Badgley Mischka, Trina Turk, Gilda Paris, Natasia Swim, West Coast Blends, Forever USA, Spyzone Exchange, and J. Dawt.

Market Standing

Valuation: Not disclosed (private, family-owned)
Key Metric: Employee headcount ~7 (LinkedIn, 2026), with +44.4% year-over-year growth; LinkedIn followers ~334 with +307.3% yearly growth
Notable Partners: 15 international distributors; major department stores and independent retailers globally. Recent addition of Von Dutch brand.
Growth Signals: Expansion into new brand licensing (Von Dutch), headcount growth, increase in social following, and global office presence (Beverly Hills, Madrid, Paris, London, Dongguan, New York).

Competitive Advantages

Vertically integrated model: Owns the full supply chain from design and production to fulfillment and sales, ensuring quality control and speed to market.
Diverse brand portfolio: Manages both owned legacy brands (Ed Hardy, Von Dutch) and licensed collaborations (Kendall + Kylie, Badgley Mischka), reducing reliance on any single brand.
Global infrastructure: Offices and distribution in the U.S., Europe, and Asia enable seamless cross-border operations and rapid scaling.

Strategic Focus

Scaling wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels, particularly through the reintroduction of Von Dutch for a new generation.
Strengthening operational infrastructure (as evidenced by Director of Operations hiring) to support growth across e-commerce, wholesale, and international supply chain.
Expanding licensing partnerships and leveraging existing brand equity to enter new categories.

Sources

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Why work at DNAM Brands

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