The title and function of a person employed by an apparel manufacturer who is responsible for studying the needs of specific customer segments (via market research), analyzing appropriate fashion trends, creating design concepts and sketches, selecting the fabrics, and overseeing all aspects of garment design. This employee manages a design room team comprised of an assistant designer, associate designer, patternmaker, and samplemaker. Designers must possess good illustration abilities and detailed flat-sketching skills, as well as a strong technical knowledge of draping, patternmaking, garment construction, and fitting. In the twenty-first century and beyond, apparel designers also need computer skills to proficiently supervise the operators of CAD, bodyscanning, and other computer-assisted design tools in both their own groups and retail organizations.
Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Francesca Sterlacci and Joanne Arbuckle.